ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 29, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MORE THAN 80,000 GREEK CYPRIOTS PASS TO TRNC
A total of 30,000 Greek Cypriot people passed to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Monday. More than 80,000 Greek Cypriots have crossed into the TRNC since April 23 on which TRNC Council of Ministers took decision on free passages between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side. During the same period, about 29,000 Turkish Cypriot passed to the other side.

VERHEUGEN GIVES DATE
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said that if Turkey fulfilled political conditions, full membership negotiations could start in the first half of 2005. Stating that they knew the role of military in Turkey, Verheugen said that however this role should be put in order.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN AND FOREIGN MINISTER GUL COME TO DINNER ALONE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer hosted a dinner in the honour of New Zealand Governor-General Silvia Cartwright on Monday evening. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul did not bring their wives to the dinner. Acting Parliament Speaker Ismail Alptekin, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin, Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Mehmet Dulger also participated in the dinner.

EU TIMETABLE OF GOVERNMENT READY
Council of Ministers decided to complete shortcomings in regulation regarding the European Union (EU) till the end of 2003 and to carry on implementations in 2004. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul informed the cabinet about studies on the EU. Following the meeting, Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said, ''Turkey and the government will never give up the aim of EU membership. Turkey should reach this aim as soon as possible. Turkey's joining the EU is to its interest. We believe it completely.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SIXTH ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE IS ON THE WAY
The Council of Minister decided to send the sixth adjustment package to the parliament in May. Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek who made a statement after the meeting of Council of Ministers gave information about the sixth package which included issues; abolishment of Article 8 of Anti-Terrorism Act which restricts freedom of expression and defining terrorism in line with the resolutions of the United Nations, broadcasting of private radio and televisions in different languages and dialects, international observers' watching the elections and limiting the period of the ban on broadcasting in times of elections, amendment made in law on reconstruction and amendment made in law on population.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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WEXLER: DID TURKEY CHANGE ITS DIRECTION?
U.S. House of Representatives member and Turkey Friendship Group Co-Chairman Robert Wexler conveyed some concerns in Washington administration about Turkey during his contacts in Ankara. ''I can say that we were shocked when Turkey met with Syria and Iran. We thought whether Turkey was changing its direction?'' he said.

ABDULLAH GUL IN DAMASCUS
The cooperation which AK Party government started with the Middle East countries to overcome the war threat particularly develops with Iran and Syria. Although Turkey does not particularly want to give the image as if Turkey develops special relations with Iran and Syria, it does not deny the fact that the relations will be strengthened.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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2003 IS MOBILIZATION YEAR FOR EU
Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek who issued a statement after the Council of Ministers meeting yesterday, said that the government would undertake reforms for starting full membership negotiations with the EU in 2004. The government took onto its agenda the six-article adjustment package which was kept waiting in the Justice Ministry since April 11. The package aims to decrease the role of the military in the state and it lifts Article 8 of Anti-Terrorism Act which is regarded as one of the impediments that stand in front of the right to freedom of expression.

ERDOGAN TO GO TO CYPRUS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to TRNC next week within the scope of efforts launched for solution of Cyprus question until May 2004. Erdogan also aims to warm up the relations with TRNC President Rauf Denktas.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DENKTAS SAYS WE COULD NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR 40 YEARS SINCE OTHER COUNTRIES INTERRUPTED IN PROBLEMS BETWEEN TRNC AND GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that they could not solve problems for 40 years since other countries interrupted in problems between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side. Denktas who received a delegation said regarding free passages between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side that he wanted to meet with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to remove problems on the border gates.

ECONOMY STARTS TO REVIVE
Turkish economy which had difficult days because of the U.S. operation against Iraq started to give positive signals since war lasted shorter than expected. There is a positive atmosphere in tourism and construction sectors. Construction sector will revive with new tourism sector and there will be activity in employment in some tourism regions.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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VERHEUGEN: NEGOTIATIONS CAN START IN 2005
Guenter Verheugen, EU Commissioner for Enlargement said that full membership negotiations could start with Turkey in the first half of the 2005 if Turkey fulfilled the political criteria. Verheugen said that the Turkish government took very seriously the EU reforms, adding that EU had to see the things done by Turkey to date. ''We'll examine the reforms, if the result is positive, we will start full membership negotiations without any delay,'' he said. Noting that the existing role of the military in politics had to be re-considered, Verheugen said that Turkey should also adjust itself to EU regarding military issues.

(EÖ-ÖS-AÖ) 29.04.2003