FM DAVUTOGLU IN PARIS FOR OFFICIAL TALKS
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday left for Paris for a working visit. Davutoglu is expected to meet today with his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, to discuss bilateral relations, Turkey's European Union membership bid, and regional and international issues. While in Paris, Davutoglu will also deliver a speech on "Turkey's European Union Vision Through the Perspective of Global and Regional Peace" at the International Diplomatic Academy, established in 1926. Davutoglu will also hold a press conference at the Foreign Press Centre with both French and foreign journalists. Davutoglu will then visit the exhibit "From Byzantium to Istanbul: One Port for Two Continents" at the Grand Palais which was opened last month by President Abdullah Gul and French President Nicolas Sarkozy as part of Turkish Season in France. /Turkiye/

IN ATHENS, BAGIS MEETS WITH PAPANDREOU
State Minister and chief European Union talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday met with Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Athens. During the meeting, Papandreou said that he welcomed a recent letter from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on solving problems through dialogue. Stating that European Union membership is Turkey's right, Papandreou added, "I supported Turkey's membership negotiation process in 1999. I still hold that same opinion, and I still support Turkey's EU membership." For his part, Bagis told Papandreou that his visit to Turkey last month was very constructive and had a positive impact on the Turkish people. /Star/

UK'S MILIBAND DISCUSSES EU BID, CLIMATE CHANGE IN ANKARA
A roundtable meeting at Parliament yesterday brought members of Parliament's Environment Commission together with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband to discuss efforts to fight climate change. Later in the day, Miliband spoke with senior Turkish leaders about Turkey's European Union accession bid. In Parliament, the commission's chair, Haluk Ozdalga of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), expressed his honor at being able to host the gathering, as there are only four weeks left before the Copenhagen conference on climate change. During the meeting, stressing that climate change is an issue that affects all nations and is a significant, long-term political issue, Miliband said, "The most important problem in the world with the fight against climate change is insufficient political willpower. Politicians need to be courageous on this issue." Climate change can affect many fields, including politics, economics, culture and security, but despite this tremendous influence, it is not given enough importance, he said, stressing that nations like Turkey need to take the lead in the struggle against global warming. Later in the day, Miliband held talks with both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Speaking at a joint press conference afterwards, Miliband called Turkey a global actor. Stating that Turkey and Britain are working together to resolve problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Miliband also voiced firm support for Turkey's European Union accession bid. "Turkey's EU perspective is towards full membership. Turkey's membership would be a significant symbol, as the EU is a union of values," he said. Calling for a quick settlement to the Cyprus problem, he added, "Progress in Cyprus peace talks is also very important for relations between the EU and NATO." For his part, Davutoglu stressed that Turkey's foreign policy has not shifted orientation, despite charges to the contrary, adding that Turkey is working to promote global and regional peace. Davutoglu also thanked Britain for supporting Turkey's EU accession process. "Britain is not a third party in the Cyprus issue, but it is one of the guarantor states under the (1960) treaties that founded Cyprus," he said. Davutoglu said Britain and Turkey have agreed to monitor developments on Cyprus more closely from now on. Davutoglu said they had also discussed Turkey's Middle East policy, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visits to Iraq, Syria, Iran and Pakistan. /Today's Zaman/

TRNC'S TALAT URGES EU'S REHN TO PROMOTE CYPRUS RESOLUTION
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn in Brussels. Afterwards, Talat said that the European Union can make two contributions to solving the Cyprus problem. "The first is to encourage the Greek Cypriot administration to move quickly towards a solution, which can come from member states, because the Greek Cypriot side relaxed when it joined the EU," he said, referring to the 2004 admission of Greek Cyprus after it rejected a UN reunification plan in a referendum. "An EU incentive is necessary for a solution. The second is for the Turkish Cypriots. The EU should continue its ties with Turkish Cypriots, and in fact should strengthen them." /Star/

ITALIAN FM FRATTINI: "TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT"
Turkey's full membership in the European Union could be a development with deep symbolic importance, much like the fall of the Berlin Wall, said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini yesterday. Stating that Italian President Giorgio Napolitano will visit Turkey on Nov. 16, Frattini added, "Italy doesn't want to lose Turkey." /Hurriyet/

SIMSEK PREDICTS THREE-STAGE RECOVERY FOR TURKEY
Turkey's recovery from the global economic crisis should take place in three stages, said Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek yesterday. Speaking in Istanbul to the Organization of the Islamic Conference's (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), he said the first stage was the recent decrease in inventory stocks, along with an upcoming recovery in domestic and foreign demand to stimulate inventories. Simsek said he anticipates an increase in lending from banks by early next year, adding that this would help galvanize private sector investments. He added that the banking sector will play a crucial role in improving labor market conditions. The last phase of the recovery, Simsek continued, will come from increased and stable investments. He said the global manufacturing sectors and increase in capacity utilization would also play a crucial role in this phase. Issues such as the global financial crisis, cooperation among member states, and combating poverty will be discussed during the two-day COMCEC meeting. /Today's Zaman/

FORMER ECONOMY MINISTER DERVIS TO BE AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS JAPANESE MEDAL
Kemal Dervis, a former Turkish economy minister and more recently head of the UN Development Program, will be awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's most prestigious medals. A statement from Sabanci University, whose International Advisory Board Dervis currently serves on, said that only seven foreigners have been awarded the medal, which is usually given to Japanese people, and that Dervis, 60, is the youngest of these recipients. /Cumhuriyet/