ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WILL CONTINUE ITS REFORMS”
Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at recent remarks over Turkey made by some European Union member countries. “Our view on the EU is clear and definite. We’ll continue our efforts on the road to democratization,” said the premier. Stressing that Turkey’s EU membership would contribute to the development of democracy and civilization, Erdogan said a powerful Turkey would be a great opportunity for the world. /Turkiye/

GUL DELIVERS ADDRESS AT OIC MEETING IN SANAA
The foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) yesterday started in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. On the first day of the conference, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul delivered two speeches as the OIC’s term president. He called on Islamic countries to develop a roadmap for future reforms. Remarking that the OIC should lend more support to economic, social and political reforms in its member countries, Gul laid out several principles which, in his opinion, should be adopted by the Muslim world to catch up with modern standards. Stressing that these reforms deserved state support, Gul urged the OIC members to develop a legal framework for reforms and improve gender equality, the rule of law and transparency in state administration. Gul also underlined that the reform process should be gradual and designed in line with the particular conditions of each country. “Islamic countries should move more actively in the international community to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots,” he added. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) attended the meeting as “Turkish Cyprus” for the first time in the OIC’s history. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO BAKU TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to pay his first official visit to Azerbaijan today as the premier of the Republic. Erdogan is expected to be received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and then will meet with Turkish businessmen in Baku. He will also address the Azerbaijani Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/

EU COMMISSION SPOKESMAN: “THE ENLARGEMENT PROCESS WILL CONTINUE”
The enlargement process is continuing as planned and it can’t be stopped, a spokesman for the European Commission said yesterday. “The enlargement process is continuing in line with the resolutions which were previously approved by the highest organs of the bloc, so it is impossible to stop this process,” the spokesman added, rebuffing recent calls by some politicians to halt enlargement. In related news, the framework document for Turkey’s membership negotiations will be discussed by the EU Commission today. /Aksam/

OZKOK: “TURKEY IS A GUARANTOR FOR PEACE”
Turkey is an important country promoting peace both in its region and NATO, said Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday during the opening of a seminar of the Silk Road-2005 Flag Officers. Stressing that Turkey serves as a bridge between NATO and crisis regions, Ozkok said that it would continue to contribute to efforts for global peace. NATO’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin and NATO Military Committee Chairman Gen. Ray Henault of Canada also attended the three-day seminar in addition to 85 generals, admirals and civilian leaders from NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “THE AKP IS CHANGING TURKEY INTO AN ISLAMIC REGIME”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal charged yesterday that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to insert religion into education, law and politics. “They are trying to change Turkey’s vision to an Islamic way,” added Baykal. He also cited Prime Minister Undersecretary Omer Dincer’s words saying that nationalism, secularism and the republic need to be rearranged along religious lines. Baykal said that people like Dincer are trying to alter the balances in Turkey by, for instance, championing efforts to lower the age of students in Koran courses and by supporting these courses. Also they are trying to change imam hatip schools into university preparation schools and have more imam hatip graduates in universities, he said. By doing such things they are planning to first allow headscarves in universities and then in other public areas, he alleged. /Hurriyet/

CHP LOSES ANOTHER DEPUTY
Opposition Republican People’s Party CHP Mersin Deputy Huseyin Guler yesterday quit the party. Criticizing the party administration, Guler claimed that it had failed to produce policies to address the nation’s problems. On the other hand, Hatay independent Deputy Zuheyir Amber yesterday joined the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN). The new distribution of seats in Parliament is as follows: Justice and Development Party: 356, Republican People’s Party (CHP): 158, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN): 14, True Path Party (DYP): 4, Social Democrat People’s Party (SHP): 4, People’s Ascent Party (HYP): 1, independent: 10, vacant: 3. /Star/

OECD: TURKEY HAS THE FIFTH-HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
According to Employment Outlook 2005 report of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Turkey has the fifth-highest unemployment rate among OECD member states with 10.2%, after the top four, namely Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Greece. The OECD predicts that the Turkish economy will develop at a rate of 6.3% this year and continue developing with a ratio of 6.15% in the coming year but that unemployment will also continue to rise and reach 10.4% this year and 10.5% the next. The report adds that Turkey has the lowest rate of employment compared to its adult population which is able to work. Turkey’s employment rate last year was 45.5%, but it has been falling since 1999, when it was 54.5%. /Cumhuriyet/