ERDOGAN VISITS BLACK SEA REGION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to Black Sea region provinces including Trabzon, Rize and Artvin over the weekend. Addressing locals during his visit, Erdogan stated that Turkey had entered a period of development and change through the rule of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. “We’ll take all steps together with the nation and we’ll always remain united,” said the premier. Stressing that the Black Sea Coastal Highway would contribute greatly to regional development, Erdogan said that it would also make the region more attractive. Concerning recent oil price hikes, Erdogan said that three or four price increases over three weeks was not proper. He added that the government could step in if the hikes continue. After completing his contacts, Erdogan returned to Ankara last evening. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO AZERBAIJAN THIS WEEK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to travel to Azerbaijan on Wednesday for talks with Azeri officials. During his two-day visit, Erdogan will meet with President Ilham Aliyev. Following interdelegationary talks, various agreements are expected to be signed. He will also meet with the Parliament speaker and then address the Parliament. /Turkiye/

TALAT: “I’M READY TO MEET WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOTS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat stated over the weekend that he was ready to meet with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos. “We can meet at the United Nations building or in the house of UN representatives here,” Talat said. “We both prefer the talks to be held under the auspices of the UN.” In related news, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to hold his first meeting with Talat in early August. Sezer will also receive former TRNC President Rauf Denktas on July 5-6. The president will host a ceremony at the Cankaya Presidential Palace where he will present Denktas an order of merit. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok are also expected to be present at the ceremony. /Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet/

PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE VETOED LAWS
Parliament is expected to debate early this week the vetoed Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) law and the vetoed regulations of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) reducing punishments for unlicensed educational institutions. It will work overtime until the end of this week in order to complete the work before the scheduled parliamentary recess, set to start Friday. /Turkiye/

FRATTINI: “IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO EXCLUDE TURKEY FROM THE EU”
European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini over the weekend said that closing the doors of the European Union to Turkey would be a mistake. "Depriving Ankara of the opportunity to begin its membership negotiations is a mistake that we should never make," he stressed. In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, Frattini argued that if Turkey is refused, the EU would be sending a negative message to the Muslim world. He also called on Ankara to continue its reforms on its path towards EU membership. /Hurriyet/

HANNAY: “TURKEY IS THE KEY COUNTRY FOR A SOLUTION ON CYPRUS”
Britain’s former Special Envoy to Cyprus Lord David Hannay over the weekend said that Turkey’s European Union membership bid was the key to a possible solution of the Cyprus problem. Hannay claimed that if Turkey’s EU bid was turned back, then there would be no settlement on the island. “If the Turkish application is rejected then forget about it, there is not going to be a settlement,” he warned. “It is as bad as that. That’s my prediction. But I don’t think that will happen.” Hannay predicted that Turkey’s accession negotiations would probably take up to 10 years. “It all really depends on the evolution of Turkey’s relationship with the EU,” he said. “That is the key to everything. No Turkish negotiations, no Cyprus settlement in my view.” /Cumhuriyet/
AGAR: “FARMERS ARE SUFFERING DUE TO MISGUIDED GOVT POLICIES”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said yesterday that people are suffering under difficult economic conditions. Speaking to citizens in the Western Thrace province of Edirne, Agar said all farmers in the country were facing woes due to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s mistaken policies. Stressing that the people have no faith in their future, the DYP leader stated that the nation’s salvation lies in early elections. /Turkiye/

BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL COME TO POWER”
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said yesterday that the nation should be saved from the ruling of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Addressing people in the Mediterranean city of Osmaniye during the Eighth Ergenokon Feast, Bahceli said that the country had been badly ruled for some two-and-a-half years by the AKP. He also claimed that his party was the strongest contender for coming to power. /Aksam/

MUMCU SPEAKS ON EDUCATION, HEADSCARF ISSUE
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Erkan Mumcu said over the weekend that religious courses in schools should be electives so that Sunnis and Shiites would both be taught according to their beliefs. Speaking on CNN Turk, Mumcu warned that holding a referendum on the headscarf issue, as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recommended, would cause a split in the nation. “The headscarf issue is covered by Board of Higher Education (YOK) regulations,” added Mumcu. “We could change Articles 130 and 131 of the Constitution. We would reform YOK by dealing with the headscarf problem.” He also said that the term “public areas” should be redefined, and charged that ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leaders were trying to use headscarf issue as a ploy to gain votes. He also added that the religious educational system should be changed, as imam hatip schools have lost their function. /Milliyet/

SABANCI: “TUSIAD WILL REPRESENT ITSELF ALONE”
Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer Sabanci said over the weekend that TUSIAD doesn’t belong to other associations and will represent itself in the business world alone during Turkey’s European Union negotiations period. He also added that TUSIAD’s efforts for EU membership are known by both the public and the government and that Turkey’s business community should be represented during the talks by an association that has great knowledge. The business community should be represented by various associations and TUSIAD is not the only representative, just one of them, he said. “TUSIAD has been the most active nongovernmental organization (NGO) especially during this parliamentary negotiation period,” added Sabanci. He stated that some EU member states are against Turkey’s membership and that changing these attitudes should be job number one. The recent Belgian court ruling about terrorist Fehriye Erdal concerns the entire country, he added. /Hurriyet/