ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 24, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HISTORIC DAY ON GREEN LINE
Citizens of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) who are allowed to pass to the Greek Cypriot side under a decision taken by the TRNC Council of Ministers, go to the other side for curiosity and to see the lands of their ancestors. After 29 years, Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people passed to the other side from ''green line.'' A total of 2500 Turkish Cypriot people passed to Greek Cypriot side where they were born. A total of 1300 Greek Cypriot side visited TRNC.

CELEBRATION WITH BOYCOTT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Republican People's Party (CHP) representatives and military officials did not attend the reception which was hosted by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, although Arinc earlier said that his wife Munevver Arinc wearing headscarf would not participate in the reception. Sezer, Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok and CHP leader Deniz Baykal did not attend the reception.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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STATE OFFICIALS HAVE CRISIS ON APRIL 23
President, commanders and the leader of the main opposition party boycotted the reception held by parliament speaker upon April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the nation would not forgive that. Nearly ten AK Party deputies attended the reception with their wives wearing head scarves. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc said that ''those who tried to cast shadow over the reception and national sovereignty day could not be successful.''

PEOPLES UNITE CYPRUS
Some Turkish Cypriots who proceeded to the Greek Cypriot side visited the places which they could not visit for years. When the TRNC Council of Ministers permitted passages to the Greek Cypriot side, the people living on the island got together after 29 years. Nearly 2000 Turks and 1300 Greek Cypriots who passed to the other side were happy to see the houses where they were born and the cities which they had to leave. The Greek Cypriot administration was surprised by the number of Greek Cypriots who passed to TRNC.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BUSH GIVES PROMISE
U.S. President George W. Bush said regarding the Armenian genocide claims that he would not use the word 'genocide.' Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called U.S President George W. Bush and thanked him for the support he extended for adoption of the one billion dollars assistance for Turkey from by U.S. Congress. Erdogan also conveyed his uneasiness over the Armenian genocide claims. Bush told Erdogan that he would not use the word 'genocide' in the letter he would send to Armenian community in the U.S. today regarding the anniversary of the so-called ''Armenian massacre.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CHILDREN CALL FOR PEACE
April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day was celebrated throughout Turkey, in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and foreign representations on Wednesday. Children who had opportunity to express their views on agenda of Turkey and regional issues wanted a world without war. A delegation headed by National Education Minister Huseyin Celik visited Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum) on April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Celik laid a wreath on the mausoleum. A delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc also visited Anitkabir. The delegation including; Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, ministers and other officials laid a wreath on the mausoleum and observed a minute of silence.

BAYKAL: ''WE ARE PASSING THROUGH POLITICAL CRISIS''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who delivered a speech at special session of the parliament on the occasion of April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day warned the government. Baykal said that Turkey was passing through a political crisis, not economic crisis. Stressing that period of democratic authority started on April 23, Baykal said, ''we have problems today. There is a political crisis in Turkey, not an economic one. International Monetary Fund (IMF) or World Bank cannot solve the problem, but spirit of April 23 can solve it.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIRST PASSAGE IN CYPRUS
Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots passed the Green Line which divided the island into two since 1974, without any restrictions for the first time yesterday. Politicians in the Greek Cypriot side are uneasy about the passages. A new page has been opened in the history of the island after the decision taken by TRNC cabinet which liberated the passages between the two parts of the island. Turkish and Greek Cypriots came together for the first time after 29 years in real meaning of the term after TRNC administration permitted passages between the two sides between the hours of 09.00-24.00.

MODERATE MESSAGES FROM FRANCE
French Foreign Minister De Villepin responded moderately to the warning of Turkey about Armenian genocide claims. De Villepin also praised the attitude of Turkey during the Iraqi war. De Villepin, who came to Ankara for a working visit on Tuesday evening, responded to questions of Turkish journalists about the genocide claims and said that the issue was a difficult one. Villepin said that the deep friendship relations between Turkey and France gave the opportunity to make a distinction between what was important and what was not important. Villepin said that ''this issue should be left to historians.'' Villepin said that none of the developments in France about the issue aimed to hurt the Turkish people.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BABACAN MEETS WITH OFFICIALS OF BANKING SECTOR
State Minister Ali Babacan met with officials of banking sector to exchange views on economic issues. Banks Association of Turkey Chairman and Is Bankasi General Director Ersin Ozince, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, Garanti Bankasi General Director Ergun Ozen, Yapi Kredi Bankasi General Director Naci Sigin, Akbank General Director Zafer Kurtul, Kocbank General Director Halil Ergur, Disbank General Director Faik Acikalin and Tekfenbank General Director Mehmet Nazmi Erten and high-level administrators of these banks participated in the meeting. Upon questions on aim of the meeting which was held closed to press, Babacan said that they would exchange views on economic issues with officials of banking sector.

TRABZONSPOR WINS TURKISH CUP
Trabzonspor defeated Genclerbirligi 3-1 Wednesday and won the Turkish Cup. Gokdeniz Karadeniz scored twice for Trabzonspor club while Mehmet Yilmaz added an early goal. Genclerbirligi, from Ankara, got its only goal from Ahmed Hassan in the 45th minute. The match was played in the southern province of Antalya.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COMMON SENSE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, commanders and CHP leader Deniz Baykal didn't attend the April 23 reception hosted by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc yesterday. Although Arýnc said that he would not take his wife to the reception, the high ranking officials didn't come to the reception. Upon questions of journalists, Prime Minister Erdogan said that ''we won't be a side of the tension. The nation won't forgive those who hinder the celebration of April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day.''

(EÖ-ÖS-AÖ) 24.04.2003