ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 1, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''MANY REFORMS WILL BE PUT INTO PRACTICE''
In response to criticisms in the Progress Report of the European Union (EU) which will be released on November 5, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that many reforms would be put into practice in November. ''Some western countries have begun restricting fundamental rights and freedoms due to security reasons. On the contrary, Turkey has succeeded in improving these rights and freedoms under the same conditions,'' he emphasized.

TALIBAN ABDUCTS A TURKISH ENGINEER
Hasan Onal, a Turkish engineer who has been working in a Turkish firm in Afghanistan, was abducted by Taliban. A mine-detecting vehicle waylaid the automobile of Onal near capital Kabul. Onal and his driver were abducted by eight Taliban members. He was believed to have been taken to border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Later, Taliban released the driver. Officials said that Onal was in good health. The Turkish Embassy in Kabul has begun launching necessary initiatives for release of Onal.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL MEETS WITH AMBASSADORS
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul came together with Turkish ambassadors acting in Middle Eastern countries. The five-hour meeting focused on the issue of Iraq. Speaking at the meeting, Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Osman Paksut said that conditions had been deteriorating in Iraq day by day. ''There has not been any change in negative attitude of Iraqi groups against all foreign soldiers,'' he noted.

HERE IS LIGHT
The Economist, one of the most leading economy magazines of the world, published its latest survey. According to the survey, Turkey will become one of the two countries having the greatest growth rate in 2004. The second country is announced as Hong Kong. In 2004, Turkey is expected to realize a growth rate of 4.8 percent.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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AL-QAEDA KIDNAPS TURKISH ENGINEER
Hasan Onal, a Turkish engineer working for Cukurova-Gulsan construction company in Afghanistan, was kidnapped by terrorists. Onal and an Afghan driver were kidnapped when they were on the road between Kabul and Kandahar. Terrorists later released the Afghan driver and sent a letter including their demands through the driver. Terrorists demanded release of their friends who were in prison in return for Onal in the letter. Officials launched initiatives to rescue Onal.

ECONOMIES OF TURKEY AND HONG KONG TO SHOW GREATEST DEVELOPMENT IN 2004
Economist periodical published in Britain said that economies of Turkey and Hong Kong would show the greatest development in 2004. The periodical gave a list of 25 countries' economic development. Economist said that Turkey was expected to have 4.8 percent of growth and Hong Kong was expected to have 5.1 percent of growth in 2004.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CHILDREN DETAINED
A total of 15 children aged under 14 were detained on charges of holding a demonstration in favor of the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK. Ten of them were released ten hours later, however, a criminal investigation was launched against five of them aged between 11 and 14 on charges of ''propagandizing for the terrorist organization''. Jurists described the event as ''unbelievable'' and ''inhuman''.

CHP WITHDRAWS ITS MEMBERS
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has been maintaining its insistence on its efforts to add the ''national opinion'' into the state protocol. Earlier, a commission was formed in order to investigate and solve problems of Turkish people living abroad. The Republican People's Party (CHP) has decided to withdraw its members saying that the commission had turned into a body investigating problems of fundamentalist organizations.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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'UNITED STATES CANNOT BRING ORDER TO IRAQ'
Turkish ambassadors in the Middle East region who came together upon the invitation of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul assessed recent developments in Iraq and peace process of the region. Ambassadors in the Middle East gave Turkey significant warnings. They said that there was a need for an intensive dialogue between Ankara and Washington and wanted the issue of dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq should become definite. Ambassadors said that the United States could not bring an order to Iraq and stated that neighboring countries should launch initiatives on humanitarian aid as soon as possible.

ERDOGAN TO VISIT CYPRUS BEFORE ELECTIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on November 15 before elections in TRNC in December. Erdogan will give the message that he had the same distance to all political parties in TRNC.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NOW, IT IS TIME OF IMPLEMENTATION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government fulfilled important reforms and stated that there was a powerful political power in Turkey now. Speaking to TGRT private TV channel, Erdogan said that the government had a very good dialogue with the people. Stating that many important steps on economy, health and education were taken in Turkey, Erdogan said that they were determined on the issue of Turkey's accession to the European Union. He noted, ''Turkey is a model country. We have passed the adjustment laws in a very short time. Now, it is the time of implementation.''

SENER CALLS ON BSEC MEMBER STATES TO CONTRIBUTE TO PROJECT PROMOTION FUND
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener invited Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) member states to contribute to the BSEC Project Promotion Fund. Addressing the ninth meeting of BSEC Foreign Ministers Council, Sener said that four member states contributed to the Project Promotion Fund and they also expected the contribution of other members. Stressing the importance of contribution of BSEC institutions such as the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank to the fund, Sener said that concrete cooperation could be ensured with other international institutions through that fund.


ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CONTRACTORS ACQUITTED
Most of contractors who were brought to courts for causing people to die and financial damage in buildings in Marmara quake were acquitted. A total of 921 of 932 cases which were opened against contractors were concluded in favor of them.

CELIK SAYS HE WANTS HEYBELIADA SEMINARY TO BE REOPENED
National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that he wanted Heybeliada seminary which had been closed for 32 years to be reopened as soon as possible. Celik said that similar steps should be taken for education of Turkish minority in Western Thrace. Celik received the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman and replied to questions of reporters. Celik said that Heybeliada seminary was an issue which had not been solved for 32 years and stated, ''the main approach here stems from this reciprocity matter. Especially, as you know we have a Turkish minority in Western Thrace as a requirement of Lausanne Treaty and there is a Greek minority in Turkey. They are our friends and our first-class citizens. This should be a reciprocal move.''
(EÖ-UK) 01.11.2003