TOPTAN URGES EU TO END UNFAIR ISOLATION OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS
Turkey will determinedly continue to support full-fledged talks between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot administration towards a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said late last week during an official visit to the TRNC. As part of his visit, Toptan was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu in Lefkosa. Speaking to reporters while receiving Toptan, Talat expressed hope that a just and permanent peace on Cyprus would be reach at the end of the current talks, adding that they want to see a solution on the island by year's-end. For his part, Toptan said that Turkey would continue to support the TRNC in all areas, as it always has. "We expect the ongoing negotiations on Cyprus to yield a positive outcome without concessions from basic principles, and the European Union to fulfill its duties to end the unfair isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots." Stressing that Turkey and the TRNC have the same views on the issue, he said, "We have never regarded a deadlock as a solution. The hastiness with which the EU accepted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member (in 2004) caused difficulties in solving the Cyprus problem." Toptan also met with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Hasan Bozer. During the meeting, Toptan said, "Our relations have the goal of establishing a just and permanent peace on Cyprus. Turkey supports the ongoing comprehensive talks between President Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias. In order to facilitate a permanent and just solution to the Cyprus issue, the existence of two separate communities, two separate sovereignties, two separate democracies and two separate states must be accepted." Toptan also met with Turkish Peace Forces Commander Gen. Hilmi Akin Zorlu. /Hurriyet Daily News/

BAGIS RULES OUT ANY OUTCOME FOR TURKEY'S EU TALKS BESIDES FULL MEMBERSHIP
Speaking to French daily Le Monde yesterday, State Minister and chief negotiator for European Union talks Egemen Bagis said there is no option for Turkey's EU accession talks besides full membership. Stressing that Turkey would never accept "privileged partnership" proposals, he said, "Turkey will either be a full EU member, or it will never be a member of the Union." Such proposals have no legal grounds, and Turkey is already in Europe with the Customs Union Agreement, and its membership in European institutions and organizations, he added, also pointing to the more than 5 million Turkish citizens living across Europe. /Hurriyet Daily News/

FINNISH PM: "AN EU WITHOUT TURKEY IS UNTHINKABLE"
The European Union will keep its promises to Turkey, said Finnish Prime Minister Matt Vanhanen yesterday. Speaking to Hurriyet daily, Vanhanen added that an EU without Turkey is unthinkable. Stating that no matter how difficult and long the accession process may be, he added that there is no turning back from full membership. /Hurriyet/

IN KABUL, DAVUTOGLU MEETS WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the weekend in Kabul. Afterwards, Davutoglu told reporters that Turkish troops and civilians face little danger here because of the good relations that Turkish citizens have built with Afghans. "If you give confidence to the people that you are here for civilian purposes, not just for security and that you don't ... see them as a threat, this physical relationship is very important," he added. He added, "We see nonmilitary measures as important, even more important than military and security issues. Sustainable security can only be achieved through economic development, political stability and cultural coexistence." /Today's Zaman/

FM DAVUTOGLU TO VISIT FOUR COUNTRIES THIS WEEK
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu today begins a five-day trip that will take him to Luxembourg, Germany, the US and Russia. A Foreign Ministry statement said Davutoglu would attend an unofficial working luncheon hosted by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and International Peace Institute (IPI) head Terje Roed Larsen in line with a meeting of the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg to discuss geopolitical developments in the Middle East. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY TO HOST MEETING OF LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Turkey is set to host next year's UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the fourth such gathering since 2001. Currently, 49 countries with a combined population of 610.5 million are identified as "least-developed countries." The conference aims to significantly improve the human conditions of people living in these countries throughout the world. It provides a framework for a strong global partnership to accelerate sustained economic growth and sustainable development in these countries, to end marginalization by eradicating poverty, inequality and deprivation there, and to enable them to integrate beneficially into the global economy. The conference's overarching goal is to make substantial progress toward halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and suffering from hunger by 2015 in line with the UN Millennium Declaration and promote the sustainable development of the least-developed countries. /Turkiye/

HUGE DANCE MUSIC EVENT SET FOR ISTANBUL IN JULY
The third Global Gathering Istanbul, part of the world's biggest dance music festival, is scheduled to take place at Maslak's Refresh The Venue on July 4. Among the DJs who will perform during the event are Orbital; Carl Fox, in Turkey after a long absence; legendary house music figure Mark Knight; James Zabiela; and Sebastien Leger, who has many fans in Turkey. In related news, top alternative band Placebo, fresh from releasing their new album "Battle for the Sun," will perform in Istanbul on June 23, their fourth appearance in Turkey's largest city. /Today's Zaman/