ERDOGAN MEETS WITH BUSH, EU LEADERS IN BRUSSELS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Brussels to attend the NATO summit there, yesterday met with US President George W. Bush to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Erdogan said that relations between Ankara and Washington were positive. “We’re not trying to derail our relations with our strategic partner the US,” he said. Erdogan stressed that Ankara would donate €100,000 to aid Iraq and would continue its help training Iraqi security units. During the summit, Erdogan also met with Danish Premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to discuss bilateral relations. /Aksam/

GUL: “THERE IS NO TENSION BETWEEN ANKARA AND WASHINGTON”
Appearing on television yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that there was no tension between Ankara and Washington, adding that cooperation between the two countries was continuing. “Sometimes our interests may be at odds, but there is no hostility between us,” he said. “Claims that there is tension between our countries are artificial and overblown.” Gul added that there was no crisis in relations with the US. /Hurriyet/

BAYKAL: “ERDOGAN MUST FIRST GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF HIS OWN RECORD”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent charge that the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) had a record of being involved in corruption drew sharp criticism yesterday from CHP head Deniz Baykal, who told the premier that he should first clean his own house. Speaking at his party’s group meeting, Baykal reproved Erdogan, calling on him to give an account of his own record. “The premier has no right to slander our party,” said Baykal. “He must respect the CHP as a citizen of this Republic.” In addition, Baykal underlined that contrary to recent media reports of growing anti-Americanism in Turkey, Turkey’s official institutions have always respected and stood by Washington as a close ally. /Hurriyet/

BAYKAL TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal is due to travel to Stockholm, Sweden today to attend the European Socialist Party (ESC) leaders’ meeting. The gathering will focus on creating job opportunities in Europe, with Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson expected to deliver the opening speech. /Cumhuriyet/

“SICK MAN” EDITORIAL DRAWS SWIFT CRITICISM, CONDEMNATION
The Wall Street Journal yesterday published a number of letters criticizing last week’s controversial essay by editor Robert L. Pollock, a piece whose claim that anti-Americanism in the Turkish media exceeds even that of the Arab world led to a transatlantic firestorm. Turkish Ambassador to Washington Faruk Logoglu over the weekend sent a letter to the WSJ lambasting the contentious piece, underlining his extreme dissatisfaction with Pollock’s style and way of describing Turkish-US relations. In addition, Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) Deputy Chair Gunay Evinc wrote that opposing the Bush administration was not the same as being anti-American. “Most Turkish people share the views of the half of the US nation which disapproves of Washington’s Iraq policy,” she said. In addition, Kufi Seydali from Austria also stressed that the Turkish people are not opposed to the US. “Turkey is neither a banana republic nor a second-class country,” he added. “Turkish citizens don’t hate either Americans or Jews.” Denouncing Pollock’s arguments, all these letters underscored that Turkey has been a steadfast ally and friend to the US and that the strategic partnership between the two countries should be preserved despite certain differences of opinion. /Hurriyet/

WASHINGTON HAILS TRNC ELECTION RESULTS AS “REAFFIRMATION” OF SEARCH FOR SETTLEMENT
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Monday expressed Washington’s satisfaction with the results of the weekend elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “In their vote on Sunday, Turkish Cypriots exercised their right to participate in free, fair and democratic elections,” Boucher told reporters. “We welcome the result as a reaffirmation of the Turkish Cypriot commitment to a comprehensive solution and reunification of the island with Greek Cypriots. The United States will continue to work with United Nations' Secretary-General Kofi Annan to promote a just and durable solution to the longstanding division of the island, based on the secretary-general's settlement plan.” /Star/

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT URGES GREEK CYPRIOTS TO REJOIN PEACE TALKS
Attending ongoing meetings of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Socialists MEPS urged Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos to respond positively to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Premier Mehmet Ali Talat’s call for new peace talks. A declaration made by the EP’s Socialist group said that it was ready help Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC government develop more active policies to integrate them into the work of the European Union. In addition, Liberals and Greens also called on the EU to develop relations with the TRNC and praised the outcome of last weekend’s elections. “We’re satisfied with the triumph of PM Talat. Now it’s time to work to resolve the Cyprus issue,” said EP Greens Group Co-Chairman Monica Frassoni. /Turkiye/

BRITISH FOREIGN COMMITTEE CALLS FOR DIRECT FLIGHTS TO TRNC
In the wake of the Turkish side’s intense efforts, the international community has finally begun initiatives to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). After steps taken by the United Nations and the European Union, the British House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Commission has prepared a report on Cyprus. The 90-page report makes a series of proposals, including putting pressure on the Greek Cypriots and urging British and other EU member states to begin direct flights and trade with the TRNC. /Turkiye/

KORAY AYDIN TRIAL AT STATE SUPREME COURT BEGINS TODAY
Former Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin is set to begin his trial at the State Supreme Court today. The court will consider a Parliament investigation commission report alleging corruption and irregularities during Aydin’s term in office. /Turkiye/

GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS ANKARA
Visiting Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili was received yesterday by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and met with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul in Ankara. The officials’ talks focused on military cooperation between the two countries. /Turkish Daily News/

WB’S VORKINK URGES ANKARA ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM
World Bank Turkey Representative Andrew Vorkink said yesterday that the most important and involved issue facing Ankara was carrying through social security reform, adding that the need for this was urgent. “The WB will help Turkey to carry out this reform,” Vorking told a conference in Ankara. For his part, Labor and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu said that a draft for social security reform would soon be sent to the Prime Ministry. /Cumhuriyet/