ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 18, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE HAVE OPENED DOORS TO GREEK CYPRIOTS
Turkey will open its doors to Greek Cypriots after initiatives taken by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who addressed the world and Europe, described this decision as good news, and pointed out that, ''Turkey will open its doors to Greek Cypriots after 40 years. Greek Cypriot citizens will be able to enter Turkey without any need for visa as of May 22. We expect similar steps from Greece.''

DOORS OF UNITED STATES ALWAYS OPEN TO TURKISH LEADERS
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson denied the news reports that visit of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to Washington would not be right at the time being. Gul and Pearson spoke by phone in southern Antalya province upon the statements which created uneasiness in Ankara. A written statement was issued from U.S. Embassy in Ankara after this telephone conversation. The statement pointed out that there was no communication problem between the governments.
The written statement said, ''this morning the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul and Ambassador Pearson spoke and agreed that these reports are a complete misinterpretation of what has been discussed.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DOOR OPENING TO EU
Greek Cypriots can enter Turkey after 40 years of interval. Thus, Ankara has taken a big step for solution in Cyprus on which the European Union (EU) is continuously stressing. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the decision which will enter into force on May 22 as follows: ''Turkey has opened its doors to all the Greek Cypriot people after 40 years of interval. They can stay in Turkey for one month. Now, we hope Greece to take a similar step.'' Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who said that the decision was not a surprise, noted, ''it is a good step.''

GOLDEN PALM IS NOT 'DISTANT'
Turkish movie is searching for a chance to get Golden Palm with the film named 'Uzak' (Distant) directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Critics in the Cannes Film Festival appreciated 'Uzak.' French TV5 television channel reporter asked on the air how this magnificent return of Turkish cinema happened.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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MATCH PROPOSAL TO ERDOGAN
Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase proposed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take part in the match of the parliamentary soccer teams of Turkey ad Romania. Nastase told Erdogan that he started training and sent a message that he would like to play together with Erdogan in that match.

TURKISH DAY FESTIVAL IN BERLIN
Tens of thousands of Turkish citizens joined the Turkish day parade in Berlin. Turks, who convened in Aleksander Platz in Berlin, walked through Unter den Linden and came to historical Brandenburg door. Turkey's Ambassador in Berlin Osman Koruturk, Counselor Hayri Yalav and Consul General Aydin Durusoy, some Turkish and German local parliamentarians also participated in the parade. There were also two Americans wearing t-shirts on which Turkish flag was drawn among those who joined the parade.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CRITICISM FROM AK PARTY TO ARMY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said 30-40 percent share was allocated from budget to security, stating that, ''if you allocate 30-40 percent of budget for your security, then this means there is a system which is broken from the people. ''Do you protect yourself from people?'' said Firat, recalling that 0.008 percent share was allocated to Justice Ministry. He said, ''there can not be a legal state with this budget.''

MESSAGE FROM SEZER TO NEW YORK
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said Turkish-American relations would gain new dimensions in the coming period with the contributions of the dynamic Turkish society living in the United States.
Sezer sent a message to ''Turkish Night'' held in New York, and pointed out that, ''fulfillment of such activities, which strengthen unity and solidarity between our citizens living in the United States, give us pleasure and pride.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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OUR LIVES WILL CHANGE RADICALLY
A total of 108 of 127 articles of labor law bill which regulates the relationship between the employer and the employee have been passed from the parliament. Representatives of the employees and Republican People Party are uneasy about 16 arrangements while the employers are uneasy about two arrangements. The articles which have been adopted can change any time.

GUL: ''EU CAN BE A DREAM TWO MONTHS LATER''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned his party in southern Antalya province: ''If the constitutional and legal arrangements are not made and put into implementation in two months, we have to totally forget the European Union (EU) dream. Relations with the United States are not as bad as they are said to be.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TUZMEN DUE TO TURKMENISTAN
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen will go to Turkmenistan with a delegation of 160 businessmen. Tuzmen will pay a visit to Turkmenistan between May 18 and 20. Businessmen will hold contacts with representatives of official and private sector in Turkmenistan. Besides common investment and commercial cooperation opportunities, cooperation opportunities in fields of electricity, energy and oil-gas, agriculture industry, water ministry projects, textile, transportation and communication will be taken up during the contacts of Tuzmen and the accompanying delegation.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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WORKERS WARN GOVERNMENT FROM SQUARE
A demonstration took place in Ankara by the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is), aiming to protest new draft Labor Law, privatization implementations, and failure to pay the bonus of civil servants.
Workers, who are members of Turk-Is, came to Ankara from various provinces, and chanted slogans expressing their demands and privatization implementations.

ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER NASTASE WANTS TO HOLD A MATCH WITH PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN
Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said he wanted to hold a match with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a match which will take place between the Parliament soccer teams of the two countries. Nastase said he started training.

(BRC-AY) 18.05.2003