ERDOGAN VISITS LUXEMBOURG
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to Luxembourg, which is due to take over the European Union term presidency early next year, to pay an official visit at the invitation of his counterpart Jean-Claude Juncker. Before his departure from Ankara’s Esenboga airport, Erdogan told reporters that during his contacts with Luxembourg officials, Turkey’s EU membership bid would be taken up. He added that Luxembourg had lent its support to Ankara’s EU’s aspirations from the very beginning and that he expected this would continue. Commenting on French President Jacques Chirac’s stance on Ankara’s membership, Erdogan said that he could personally attest that Chirac favors Turkey beginning its accession talks. /Turkiye/

FOREIGN MINISTRY TO HOLD IRAQ SUMMIT
Foreign Ministry officials chaired by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul are set to hold a meeting this week concerning the Iraq issue. During the gathering, recent developments in Falluja, security issues of Turkish citizens, preparations for an international conference on Iraq in Egypt next week, and humanitarian aid will be taken up. In addition, possible developments in the post-Yasser Arafat Mideast will be discussed. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL DENOUNCES KILLING OF UNARMED IRAQI BY AMERICAN SOLDIER
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday denounced the killing of an unarmed injured Iraqi prisoner by a US marine in a mosque in Fallujah. The killing was captured on tape by an American reporter on Saturday. Baykal harshly criticized the US’ Iraq policy, accusing American forces of committing crimes against humanity in the country. He further condemned American forces’ attacks on mosques and civilian settlements, arguing that the US is violating the international rules of war. “Such inhumane and unlawful acts will not bring peace and stability to the region,” he added. “On the contrary, the US will grow more and more isolated in the region if it continues to act like this.” /Hurriyet/

OZKOK ISSUES MESSAGE MARKING TRNC’S 21ST ANNIVERSARY
In a message marking the 21st anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would continue to be the guarantor of the security of Turkish Cypriots. “The TSK has both the determination and ability to fulfill this mission,” he said. Ozkok further urged that the isolation of the TRNC be brought to an end. /Star/

PORTUGAL LENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP BID
In the runup to next month’s European Union summit, Portugal has lent its support to Turkey’s EU membership bid. During a press conference yesterday, Portuguese Foreign Ministry spokesman Antonio Carneiro Jacinto said that by virtue of political, strategic and cultural reasons, his country favored Ankara beginning its accession talks with the EU. /Turkiye/

EP DISCUSSES DUTCH PARLIAMENTARIAN’S REPORT ON TURKEY
The European Parliament yesterday discussed a report on Turkey prepared by Dutch Deputy Camiel Eurlings. During the meeting, Socialist, Liberal, and Greens group members criticized the report, saying that it had failed to take into consideration Turkey’s reforms and also didn’t give a clear message to begin Ankara’s accession talks. Former French Prime Minister Michael Rocart said that it would be unjust to expect Ankara to fulfill criteria different from those required of other EU candidates. For his part, Greens group member Dutch Deputy Joost Lagendijk stated that his group supported Ankara beginning its EU accession talks, adding that the Union should make it clear when the talks would begin in 2005. “We want Ankara to begin its accession talks in the second half of next year,” he added. One British deputy, Andrew Duff, charged that the report had ignored positive developments in Turkey. For his part, Eurlings said that he was ready to change the report in light of the criticisms. /Cumhuriyet/

PAPADOPOULOS: “I’VE TOLD UN AND EU MEMBER STATES OUR CONCERNS OVER THE ANNAN PLAN”
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday that he had sent letters to both United Nations and European Union member states laying out his concerns over the Annan plan for Cyprus’ reunification, adding that the Greek Cypriot government had a strategy to amend the plan. Speaking to his ruling party, Papadopoulos stated that he didn’t expect any initiative on the Cyprus issue before next month. Greek Cypriots’ rejection of the UN plan this spring, despite international support, derailed hopes of reunifying the island before Greek Cyprus’ EU accession. /Star/

STATE MINISTER BABACAN TOURS EUROPE
As part of a tour of three European countries, State Minister Ali Babacan yesterday traveled to Brussels, Belgium to hold meetings with finance officials and international investors. During his six-day tour, Babacan is also scheduled to visit London and Berlin. /Turkiye/

BAHCELI CRITICIZES EU’S DEFINITION OF MINORITY
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli yesterday criticized the European Union’s definition of minority as used in the last month’s EU Commission progress report on Turkey. “We won’t allow anyone to divide our country through such definitions,” he said. “Nobody has the right to call our Kurdish, Sunni and Alawite citizens ‘minorities,’ for many of them gave their lives during the establishment of our country. Every person in the nation is tied to one other by bonds of citizenship.” /Hurriyet/

FORMER FRENCH PREMIER: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD PEACE”
In an interview in French daily Le Figaro, former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard stated that he believed that Turkey’s European Union membership would greatly contribute to world peace. “I don’t see any conflict between Ankara’s EU membership and the European project,” he said. /Star/

GERMAN SOCIOLOGIST: “THE EU SHOULD OPEN ITS DOORS TO TURKEY”
Speaking to Italian daily Corriere della Serra yesterday, German sociologist Ralph Dahrendorf said that the European Union should open its doors to Turkey. “I believe that it’s important for Ankara to join the Union,” he added. /Turkiye/