PRESIDENT GUL: "A PRIVILEGED PARTNERSHIP IN LIEU OF EU MEMBERSHIP IS OUT OF THE QUESTION"
President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his visiting Slovakian counterpart Ivan Gasparovic in Ankara. At a joint press conference later, asked about "privileged partnership" proposals for Turkey in lieu of full European Union membership, Gul said, "There's no such limited partnership in the EU. Turkey started to its full membership negotiations with a consensus and is determined to complete its negotiation process." For his part, Gasparovic reiterated that there's no such status in the EU and that Turkey will become a full member after fulfilling the necessary criteria like other candidates. Gasparovic also said he believes that Turkey's participation will enrich the EU. In related news, defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and his Slovakian counterpart Miroslav Lajdak signed a memorandum to construct a war cemetery for Turkish soldiers who lost their lives during World War I at the Galicia front. /Turkiye/

FM DAVUTOGLU ATTENDS D-8 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN MALAYSIA
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday attended a meeting of D-8 member states' foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Stating that the D-8 needs a new framework and a common position on emerging new global financial systems, especially after the global crisis, Davutoglu said that a working team to tackle these questions should be quickly established. Davutoglu said that a meeting will be held in Istanbul in two or three months, adding that a consultation mechanism will be established before each international platform and Turkey will spearhead this. /Star/

FIRST COUPLE ON JAPANESE POSTAGE STAMPS, ALONG WITH FRIGATE ERTUGRUL
New Japanese postage stamps feature the Turkish Frigate Ertugrul, which sank off Japan on September 15, 1890, along with a portrait of Turkey's first couple. The voyage of the ship, which sank off the coast of Ooshima Island in a severe typhoon, was planned as a goodwill trip to Japan in response to a Japanese delegation's 1887 visit to Istanbul. The accident left a total of 533 Turkish sailors dead, while 69 of them were rescued by Japanese rescue teams. Published in honor of the Turkish-Japanese friendship, the stamps also feature a portrait of President Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa. The stamps' catalogue, called "The Development of the Turkish-Japanese Friendship thanks to the Ertugrul Frigate," was presented yesterday by Tashima Katsumasa, the mayor of Kushimoto, Wakayama, to Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay, on an official visit to Japan. /Milliyet/

CLINTON PRAISES TURKEY'S ROLE AS A KEY COUNTRY OF THE 21st CENTURY
Former US President Bill Clinton yesterday praised Turkey for its successful endorsement of secularism while letting people express religious beliefs without imposing them on others. Speaking at a privately organized Istanbul conference on Leadership for Sustainable Success, Clinton delivered warm and supportive messages on Turkey and its role in the world. In his speech, Clinton advised Turkey to tackle its own problems to reach a win-win solution. The key to success in the 21st century, according to Clinton , is to get away from zero-sum games where there are no winners. He also advised rising above political debates to face the challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change. The former president, still popular in Turkey, also praised the reconciliation process with Armenia. Clinton also told how he was an ardent supporter of Turkey's European Union accession. "As president, I came to the conclusion that Turkey will determine a great deal of what will happen in the 21st century," he said. "And thus, strong relations with Turkey were forged during my administration." His efforts for Turkey's EU bid were also "for the good of the American people," he said, recalling that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was built during his tenure. "I am happy to see Turkey's energy interconnections continue to expand," Clinton said. "The world is more interdependent than ever before," he continued. "During my presidency, I worked to create networks to maximize the positive forces of interdependence and minimize their negative effects." Clinton also said, "The US has the historic responsibility to help Turkey exercise its radiating influence over this region in all four directions." /Hurriyet Daily News/

SCHROEDER: "THE EU WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM TURKEY 'S ACCESSION"
Speaking in Istanbul yesterday at a privately organized conference on Leadership for Sustainable Success, Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said he "regretted" that the European Union has failed to appreciate Turkey's role in solving regional conflicts. He called for the continuation of reforms in Turkey and for patience on its EU membership bid. " Europe can survive the challenges of globalization only if it pursues a common internal market policy and external enlargement process," he said." Europe should be the third pole in the world. We will only succeed if the EU continues its internal integration policy and its external enlargement, by building bridges to Arab countries through Turkey 's accession process." Schroeder also said Turkey 's ongoing EU negotiations should serve the end of full membership only. "The principle of pacta sunt servanda, meaning that promises should be kept, is important," he said. "No one can ignore this principle." He added, " Turkey 's accession will bring considerable benefits to Europe . Over the decades, Turkey has been a reliable partner for Germany and Europe in general." He also said, "The vital importance of Turkey 's accession is that Turkey serves as a model for other Muslim countries in our European neighborhood," and that a democratic Turkey is proof that there is "no contradiction between the Islamic faith and an enlightened society." /Hurriyet Daily News/

CAGLAYAN CALLS ON TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS TO EXPAND INTO NEW MARKETS, INCLUDING AFRICA
State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan yesterday called on Turkish businesspeople to expand their operations into more markets in order to reach Turkey 's export target of $500 billion by 2023. Caglayan is currently in Johannesburg , South Africa , with a delegation of more than 100 businessmen, for trade talks with South African officials and to attend the Turkish-South African Business Forum, co-organized by the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (DTM), the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), and the Istanbul Exporter Unions (IIB). In opening remarks to the event, Caglayan said that to promote Turkish businesspeople exploring new markets, his ministry is planning to have talks with exporting committees, adding that measures will be taken this month to encourage entrepreneurs. Telling entrepreneurs the advantages of expanding into South Africa , Caglayan said its markets offer lucrative opportunities for the Turkish vehicle industry. On the work of TUSKON in South Africa , he said the confederation acts as a bridge between Turkey and African countries, enhancing Turkey 's trade ties with those countries. Turkey 's exports to South Africa rose 90 percent from $121.5 million in 2003 to $1.2 billion last year. Along with coal, automotive products, chromium and stainless steel, Turkey mostly imports gold from South Africa, which is also rich in diamonds, iron, manganese, nickel, phosphate, tin, uranium, copper, vanadium and salt. Turkey 's main exports to South Africa are automobiles, paper products and tractors. Turkish investments in South Africa have reached $60 million. Caglayan also said Turkey wants to sign a free trade agreement with South Africa as soon as possible. Stating that Turkey 's trade volume with African countries has risen continually since the 2003 announcement of its Africa strategy, Caglayan said Turkey wants to improve its trade with African countries based on a win-win approach. /Today's Zaman-Sabah/