GUL, ABBAS INAUGURATE NEW PALESTINIAN EMBASSY
At the official inauguration ceremony for the new Palestinian Embassy in Ankara late last week, President Abdullah Gul said he would like some day to open a Turkish Embassy in Palestine, hopefully in East Jerusalem. Gul, accompanied by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, attended the opening ceremony for the new embassy and ambassador's residence, built in Ankara's Oran district, a newer section of the city. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also attended the opening. The building was constructed with the assistance of the Turkish government. During the Palestinian president's official two-day visit to Ankara, Turkish officials decided to build a university hospital and a new industrial zone in Palestine and a convention center in Ramallah. Turkey will reportedly also help set up the technological infrastructure for Palestinian state television. Abbas described the embassy building as a "symbol of friendship and brotherhood" between Palestine and Turkey and thanked Turkey for its continuing support of the Palestinian people. He also expressed hope to see a new Turkish Embassy in East Jerusalem, which he called the capital of the soon-to-be-realized independent Palestinian state. To mark the occasion, Gül and Abbas planted a blue spruce tree in the embassy's garden. The ceremony was also attended by Abbas' senior advisor Yasser Abed Rabbo, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Nabil Marouf. Ambassadors and representatives of other embassies were also present at the ceremony. /Today's Zaman/

ERDOGAN DUE IN DAMASCUS TO REVIVE TURKEY-BROKERED PEACE TALKS BETWEEN SYRIA, ISRAEL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a previously unscheduled visit to Damascus, Syria on Wednesday to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on restarting Turkey-mediated peace talks between Syria and Israel. During the meeting, the two leaders are also expected to exchange views on forging a consensus among Arab states for lasting peace in the Middle East, and Syria's mediation efforts to solve problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia in light of Assad's recent visits to both countries. During the visit, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will accompany Erdogan. In other news, addressing his Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) delegates in Ankara at the AKP provincial congress over the weekend, Erdogan stressed that Ankara is striding confidently towards European Union membership. "Turkey is no longer a country whose agenda is set by others. Turkey is now a country that sets the agenda itself," Erdogan said. He added that Ankara has been made a world capital in many respects, including commercial, economic and political. /Sabah/

TURKISH CYPRIOTS MARKING 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEACE OPERATION
Today Turkish Cypriots are celebrating July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, which marks the 35th anniversary of Turkey's 1974 Peace Operation on the island. In a televised address marking the day yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat pledged that Turkey's security guarantees on the island will never be a bargaining chip in the TRNC's ongoing talks with the Greek Cypriots. "Turkey as a guarantor state is essential, and we are making our case on this issue very firmly in the course of the negotiations," he said. Stating that the Peace Operation will have achieved its target only when Turkish Cypriots have a secure settlement and safe conditions supported by the international community, Talat said, "What we ask for is basic human rights and the right to self-rule. We have been struggling for our rights, and our ultimate purpose is a just, lasting and confident solution for the island and to get our deserved place in the European Union recognized by international law." Talat added that peace, meaning stability, security and welfare on the island, will not be provided by others, so this must be obtained through Turkish Cypriot efforts, calling on all TRNC political parties to compromise and unite around the foreign policy and negotiation strategy determined in cooperation with Turkey. In his message marking the day, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots would never allow the return of the troubled days prior to the Peace Operation. Stating that the TRNC's economic and diplomatic position has improved remarkably in recent years, Erdogan pledged to continue joint efforts of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to further develop that position. He also expressed his belief that the TRNC would be a symbol of peace for future generations. Celebrations of the day include an official reception in Girne (Kyrenia), as well as parades and air shows around Turkish Cyprus. The Turkish military has also sent two warships to dock off Girne which will be open to public visits throughout the day. UN-brokered efforts to reunite Cyprus collapsed in 2004 when the Greek Cypriots rejected a reunification plan in a referendum. The Turkish Cypriots approved the plan in a simultaneous vote. Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Christofias launched peace talks last September aimed at finding a comprehensive solution to the division of the island. Talat has said progress had been made in the talks, although there remains a number of "difficult issues to solve." /Aksam-Turkiye/

BYRZA WARNS UNSOLVED CYPRUS ISSUE COULD HARM THE EU'S FUTURE
US State Department Undersecretary for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Bryza yesterday warned that if the Cyprus issue remains unsolved, this could harm the European Union itself as well. Speaking to a Greek daily, Byrza said, "There is an important window of opportunity to reach a just solution to the issue that should not be missed," stressing the importance of US, UN and EU support to this end. "If the ongoing efforts to settle the Cyprus issue fail, this could also harm the processes related to the EU's future, making the revival of a promising peace negotiation process very difficult," Byrza said, referring to the current talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. /Turkiye/

TOUGHER SMOKING FINES GO INTO EFFECT
Under new antismoking legislation which went into effect yesterday, restaurant patrons violating a smoking ban are subject to fines of TL 69, while owners who fail to enforce the ban could be fined between TL 560 and TL 5,600. The measures come after the government banned smoking from most enclosed public spaces last May in an effort to improve the nation's health. /All papers/

TURKEY SEASON IN FRANCE FEATURES 'CAFE TURC'
Paris' Jardin des Tuileries was the venue Saturday for a traditional Turkish music concert as part of the cultural events for Turkey Season in France. Internationally acclaimed Turkish ney player Kutsi Erguner and his band Bohemes de Thrace performed at Le Cafe Turc, a Turkish coffeehouse. The cafe, designed by Turkish architect Han Tumertekin to resemble old Istanbul coffeehouses, will host Turkey season events through August 8. Besides concerts and exhibits, the cafe will offer marbling, calligraphy and illumination courses, shadow play puppet shows - particularly Karagoz and Hacivat - and conferences on Turkish cuisine. Percussionist Okay Temiz, traditional Turkish clarinet player Selim Sesler, traditional Turkish bagpipe player Birol Topaloglu, and jazz guitarist Onder Focan will also give concerts. Nesrin Topkapi will give belly dancing dance lessons. The Turkey Season activities began in France this month with performances by the Fire of Anatolia dance group and Mercan Dede. During the season, Turkey will be promoted by more than 400 artistic and cultural activities in more than 70 cities in France for nine months. Highlights include an Ottoman Caftan show at the Louvre and an Istanbul exhibit at the Grand Palais. /Hurriyet Daily News/