UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TURKISH LEADERS
Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko, who is currently visiting Turkey, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer. After their talks, six agreements for increased cooperation in various areas were signed. Sezer told reporters that cooperation between the two countries would serve regional stability, while Yushchenko said that the countries’ bilateral trade volume would rise to $10 billion within five years. Then the Ukrainian president and his accompanying delegation paid a visit to Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. Addressing a panel in Ankara, he stressed that Turkey and Ukraine share the same political will to integrate with Europe. In the evening, Sezer hosted a banquet in honor of Yushchenko and his wife. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN BEGINS CONTACTS IN WASHINGTON
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday arrived in Washington for talks with top US leaders. Erdogan held a meeting with the Washington Post’s editorial board and then met with 13 leading decision-makers during a luncheon. He also had an interview with CNN International. The Turkish premier is set to meet with his US counterpart George W. Bush today in a bid to reconfirm strong relations between the two allies. The Cyprus issue and continued presence of the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq are expected to dominate the two leaders’ talks. Erdogan also plans to have talks with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to urge him to end the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) international isolation and push Greek Cypriots to resume talks for a settlement on the island. /Sabah-Turkiye/

GUL: “MISUNDERSTANDINGS WITH THE US WILL END”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul traveled to the US yesterday to accompany Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his talks with US President George W. Bush and to hold contacts with other top US officials. Speaking to reporters after his arrival, Gul said that certain problems which recently emerged between Turkey and the US had stemmed from misunderstandings, adding that those would end via a summit today between the top leaders. After meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later in the day, Gul told reporters that they had reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to further cooperation in various areas, including anti-terrorist efforts and the Cyprus issue. The Turkish foreign minister also addressed an annual meeting of the American-Turkish Council (ATC). /Star/

GEN. BASBUG URGES THE US TO DO MORE AGAINST PKK
Speaking to a defense panel at the American-Turkish Council (ATC) yesterday in Washington, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug said that the US having the PKK on its list of terrorist organizations was not in itself enough. “We are discussing these issues in trilateral meetings with the Iraqi government,” he said. “However, it’s quite striking that to date no offensive active has been taken against the group. The terrorist group should be starved of outside support and its hope for success should be ended. Now Turkey is expecting more from its American friends concerning the issue.” Citing how the concept of moderate Islam has recently received wide attention, Basbug said, “It shouldn’t be forgotten that not only the transition from radical to moderate, but also from moderate to radical is also possible. In addition, I would like to emphasize that a secular state and a moderate Islamic model can’t coexist. Secularism is the main engine of democracy.” Basbug added that it was well understood that the US forces in Iraq has certain difficulties but that attacks of the PKK using explosives had risen. Basbug also said that Turkey was willing to normalize its relations with Armenia but that Armenia should comply with basic international legal rules and act like a good neighbor towards this end. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace said that Turkish-US relations would continue to be as important in the next 50 years as in the last 50. Pace praised Basbug as “forthright, honest and a real Turkish patriot.” /Cumhuriyet/

SEZER POSTPONES ASIA TOUR
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has postponed an upcoming Asia tour due to back problems. Sezer had been scheduled to travel starting this Friday to Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China and Afghanistan to pay official visits. /Star/

BAYKAL: “TERROR IS RISING AGAIN”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal warned yesterday that the terrorist threat had recently begun to rise again in Turkey. Addressing his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said that terror could not be prevented through military means alone. Citing how 14 security personnel had been killed in recent clashes with terrorists, Baykal called on the government to evaluate the threat. “Terror cannot be neglected,” said the CHP leader. /Sabah/

US SENDS LETTER OF PROTEST TO GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION
After the Greek Cypriot administration protested a US congressional visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) last week, the US responded in kind by sending it a letter of protest. This marked the first official US protest of the Greek Cypriot administration, which is doing its best to keep the TRNC isolated. In the letter sent to the Greek Cypriot Embassy in Washington, US State Department Undersecretary Daniel Free wrote that the US was very distressed over the Greek criticism of US Ambassador to Cyprus Michael Klosson, who welcomed the congressional delegation visiting the TRNC. Free emphasized that the stance of the Greek Cypriot administration, political parties and media concerning the US ambassador was unacceptable. /Hurriyet/

BELGIAN SENATE REJECTS “GENOCIDE” MEASURE
The Belgian Senate’s Justice Commission yesterday turned back a proposal to criminalize denying claims of an Armenian genocide. The bill was returned to the Federal Assembly. Belgian senators said that it wasn’t Belgium’s job to judge historical contorversies and stressed that the positive steps taken by Ankara concerning the issue couldn’t be ignored. /Milliyet/

HIGH SCHOOL EXTENDED TO FOUR YEARS
Education Minister Huseyin Celik yesterday approved a decision to extend the period of education in high schools from three years to four. Celik is to give more details concerning the issue at a press conference today. /Hurriyet/

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION TURNS 85
A delegation of officials from the Directorate General of Press and Information led by Director General Abdurrahman Bilgic visited Ataturk’s mausoleum, Anitkabir, yesterday to celebrate the institution’s 85th anniversary. Bilgic and the delegation entered the mausoleum through the Lion’s Way and observed a minute of silence. Then Bilgic signed the commemorative guest book, and officials and administrators of the directorate toured the Ataturk and War of Independence Museum. /Cumhuriyet/

INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL MUSIC FEST BEGINS
The 33rd International Istanbul Music Festival yesterday opened with a Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra concert at the Hagia Erene Museum in Istanbul. Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation (IKSV) Chairman Sakir Eczacibasi made the opening speech of the festival, sponsored by Eczacibasi Holding. Following the ceremony, the orchestra gave a concert led by State Symphony Conductor Pavel Cogan. The festival will include over 30 events, including orchestra and chamber music and recitals, through July 2. /Aksam/