ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL: WE ARE POSITIVE TOWARD REQUEST FOR SOLDIERS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said they were positive toward request of the United States calling for soldiers from Turkey in rebuilding process of Iraq. Gul said, ''we will convey our views at the beginning of the week in a written way.''
Gul said this issue would become definite in the coming days.

OUR PEOPLE DEFEND THEM
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, at his arrival to Southern Cyprus, was encouraged by the exuberant people and said they achieved ''Enosis''. This caused reaction on the island.
Voice of People Newspaper announced this as ''in the end, they confessed''. The opposition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), who met with Simitis despite the oppositions of TRNC President Denktas, commented on the statement as saying, ''something said by mistake''.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GOVERNMENT RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF BERLUSCONI
The government, which considered the difficulties that would be caused by membership of southern Cyprus on May 1, 2004, is getting ready to take a very big step. The first target is to implement all the political criteria till the end of 2003.
Italy will become the term president in July. Ankara plans to issue the expression that ''Turkey completed criteria'' with the support of Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi in Rome summit in December.

HE CALLS FOR PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all the institutions in the country should integrate with people and a consensus should be reached to bring presidency system.
Erdogan said, ''I believe that Turkey will take a very big step as long as it manages to do this. Erdogan said this system is very well implemented in the United States at the time being.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN'S TARGET IS PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked very clearly and said ''my desire in politics is presidential system. The most ideal model for me is the American model.'' Erdogan participated in a tv programme yesterday and said that ''Turkey will advance significantly with the presidential or semi-presidential system. This was also the ideal of Turgut Ozal, the ex-president; however, he didn't live long to make his dream come true. Regarding the accession of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU, Erdogan said that ''EU admits a country which could not solve its problems. EU will regard that family photo as a shame for itself tomorrow.''

BAYKAL SAYS HE IS VERY MILD WHEN COMPARED TO PAST
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal told reporters that he became milder in his style when compared to the past, adding that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to benefit from his mild style in politics although he didn't deserve that.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PATRIOTIC MASK TO FUNDAMENTALIST ORGANIZATION
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that there were certain fundamentalist sections within the Islamic Community Denominational Vision, adding that ''when such kind of organizations are completely isolated, they can find themselves having close relations with the intelligence organizations of other countries. Rather than isolating them, we should be interested in these organizations.'' Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his part that ''why should not our embassies abroad be in contact with the foundations and associations which protect the sensitivities of the country if those foundations are not involved in terrorism or in any other violent incidents?''

SENER REACTS TO SIMITIS
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said yesterday that Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis's expressions were contrary to international law and facts. When reminded about Simitis's gaffe on 'Enosis' saying that ''we succeeded in Enosis,'' which was mentioned in the press, Sener said that Simitis's expressions were contrary to international law and facts. ''I think that those expressions which disturbed us must have disturbed much more the European Union (EU),'' Sener stated and noted that their interest in Cyprus would further increase.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AK PARTY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT CONSTITUTION
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ruling, which based on the Law on Re-Structuring of Borrowings of the Financial Sector, started to control the accounts of upper boards. In fact, the Constitutional Court annulled Article 7 of the law pertaining to control, saying it was against the constitution.

FROM GUL TO U.S.: WE ARE OPEN TO ALL DEMANDS FOR IRAQ
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said a positive response was given to the United States in principle who wanted contribution from Turkey in rebuilding process of Iraq. Gul said Turkey was ready to send soldiers for peace in Iraq.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''SIMITIS JUSTIFIES US''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said regarding the statements of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis who said ''we succeeded in Enosis,'' that he didn't know if these words were true. ''If such things were told, none of these words would contribute to peace. Besides, the rightfulness of the Turkish side would be proven in the world and it will show how much the concerns of the Turkish side are right. But I don't think that such words were told. If they are told, it will show how right TRNC President Rauf Denktas is,'' he said.

U.S. EVACUATES INCIRLIK
U.S. administration which decided to evacuate Incirlik base, which lost its importance after the war, withdrew 50 of its war planes from Incirlik. While the U.S. plans to decrease its military presence in Turkey to the minimum, it will control the Middle East and Asia with four permanent bases in Iraq.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY PREVENTED MASSACRE OF TURKMEN
Iraqi Turkmen Front leader Sanan Ahmed Aga said a very big massacre could be committed if Turkey had not put its influence. Speaking about the developments in Mosul and Kirkuk, Aga said they met the liaison officers coming from Turkey, and that the officers determined attitude according to this. Aga said it would be determined in the coming elections to whom Mosul and Kirkuk belong.

GUL: WE WERE TO ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ IF THE UNITED STATES HAD NOT TAKEN OVER THE ISSUE
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Turkey would have had intervened in the issue if the United States had not taken over the issue in Kirkuk in two hours. Gul said they were positive over request of the United States for soldiers.

(ÖS-AY-AÖ) 21.04.2003