Gul to rnew diplomatic push for Turkey's EU membership

In a series of trips abroad in the weeks and months to come, President Abdullah Gul is set to renew his efforts to promote Turkey's European Union membership bid, along with other foreign policy goals. Along with upcoming official visits to Lithuania, Latvia and Moldova, Gul will also attend the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 14-19, representing Turkey as the guest country of honor, and address the opening of the prestigious German cultural event. Orhan Pamuk, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, will also speak at the fair. Turkey's rich cultural and historical heritage will be spotlighted through 200 different musical and cultural activities during the fair, including 12 scholarly panels and four symposiums, as well as an exhibit of Turkish writers and publishers. Gul will also travel to New York to attend the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, set to start on September 16. During the assembly, Gul is expected to hold bilateral talks with fellow UN members to promote Turkey's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2009-2010. An invitation from Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to watch a World Cup qualifying football match between the two countries' national teams next Saturday (Sept. 6) in Yerevan is still being considered, but Gul is expected to accept the invitation.