ERDOGAN VISITS ANTALYA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by Forestry Minister Osman Pepe, Education Minister Huseyin Celik and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Güler visited Antalya over the weekend for a series of opening ceremonies. After opening of the Kepez Municipality building, Erdogan attended inauguration of a seven star Rixos Premium Hotel in Belek. /Star/

AKP DEPUTY VISITS ARMENIA
Turhan Comez, Balikesir deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), who is carrying out contacts in neighboring Armenia, yesterday met with French Ambassador Henry Cuny in Yerevan. During their talks, Cuny said that some 20-25 Turkish students who can speak French might study at the French University in Yerevan and Armenian students studying at the French University could go to a Turkish University as part of a student exchange program. Comez the first Turkish parliamentarian to visit Armenia also met with Ghiro Manoyan of the nationalist Dashnaksutiun Party. He said the meeting was unofficial and pointed to the importance of exchanging views. Manoyan said it was the first time he had met with a Turkish politician, adding that he was hopeful that two nations could live in peace. /Turkiye/

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO BE SIGNED TODAY
The foreign ministers of the European Union member countries are expected to sign the additional protocol which will extend the Customs Union to 10 new members today in Luxembourg. The foreign ministers will sign the additional protocol of Turkey’s Ankara Agreement that will extend the country’s Customs Union to 10 new EU countries including the Greek Cypriot administration. Ankara is expected to declare that although it accepts the protocol, this would not mean that Turkey officially recognizes the Greek Cypriot administration. /Hurriyet/

BAYKAL TRAVELS TO SPAIN
Opposition Republican of People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday traveled to Madrid, Spain, to attend a Socialist International meeting for presidential election. In addition, Baykal spoke to the NTV news canal over the weekend. Commenting on recent headscarf dispute, Baykal said, “If the president wore a headscarf, no one would be able to walk without one.” Stressing that a woman wearing a headscarf may be elected as the president, the CHP leader said, “But, Turkey needs to decide where it wants to go.” He also called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to keep country far from such crisis, adding that new president should be elected by a new Parliament formed after early elections that can be carried out next year. /Star/

GREEK CYPRIOTS OPPOSES EU’S DIRECT TRADE WITH THE TRNC
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday met with Turkish and Greek Cypriot officials on Cyprus to discuss the issue of a possible EU’s 256-million euro financial aid to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which was previously blocked by the Greek Cypriots. During his visit, Rehn held talks with Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos and TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat. The meetings focused on the issue of EU’s direct trade with the TRNC, which Brussels decided to initiate last year but was never implemented because of the Greek Cypriot opposition. Weekend’s meetings also ended in failure because of excessive demands from the Greek Cypriots. For his part, Talat stated that his country is ready to resume peace talks if the Greek Cypriots meets the requests of the United Nations. /Hurriyet/

NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL: “TURKISH MILITARY FULLY ADOPTS THE COUNTRY’S EU STRATEGY”
In an interview with Greek daily To Vima, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan remarked that the Turkish military fully adopts Turkey’s European Union membership strategy, denying the rumors that the military opposes Turkey’s EU membership bid because it wants to keep its ‘special’ position in the country. “Such rumors don’t reflect the views of the Turkish military,” he said. He also added that the Dutch and French no to the EU constitution would not affect Turkey’s EU membership bid, stressing that everybody should focus on Oct. 3 when Ankara’s official membership talks are set to begin. /Hurriyet/

KOEHLER: “TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP TALKS SHOULD BE OPEN-ENDED”
German President Horst Koehler yesterday the European Union should remain committed to its agreements with Turkey but the country’s membership negotiations should be open-ended. “Only a small part of Turkey is in Europe,” said Koehler. “There are major cultural differences. The understanding of rule of law and the position of women are also different in Turkey, and it takes long time to change dominant mentalities.” /Milliyet/

SWEDEN’S PRINCESS TO VISIT TURKEY
Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria is set to arrive in Turkey today to have talks with officials in Ankara and Istanbul. During her four-day contacts, Victoria is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and State Minister Ali Babacan. In addition, the Princess, accompanied by Swedish businessmen, will attend a seminar on Swedish Investment. /Turkiye/

ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROTEST BUSY OIL TRAFFIC IN BOSPHORUS
Maritime traffic in Bosphorus halted for an hour over the weekend as some 1,000 boats carrying Turkish environmental activists clogged the waterway in a demonstration against the passage of oil tankers. The protesters brandished banners reading, "Let's join hands to protect the Bosphorus" and "I love Istanbul" as the boats sounded their sirens. Three gliders accompanied the marine procession from the air. Increasing traffic through the Boshporus, particularly of tankers carrying dangerous cargo, has recently forced Turkey to step up safety measures and impose restrictions. /Milliyet/