ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 6, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''IT CAN'T BE A CONDITION''
The European Union (EU) did not put Cyprus as a condition in the Regular Report on the progress towards accession of Turkey for 2003. But, in another page it said, ''this is not a condition.'' And Ankara responded, ''Cyprus can't be a condition.'' Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul defined the progress report as balanced and objective. On the issue that solution of Cyprus issue was showed as a precondition for Turkey's membership, Gul said, ''Cyprus is not a part of political criteria. Everybody knows this. EU is imposing same criteria to candidate countries. It should do the same thing for both Turkey and other candidate countries and it will do so,'' Gul added, ''everybody wants solution of Cyprus issue. Efforts will be exerted for a solution before May 2004. We hope that positive steps will be taken in coming months.''

BILGIN TO REPLACE AKCAKOCA
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) Chairman Engin Akcakoca resigned. Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Abdullatif Sener announced that Halkbank Director General Tevfik Bilgin was proposed for the office which became vacant after Akcakoca had resigned.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IT WAS REVEALED BRITISH COMPANIES BELONG TO UZANS
As the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) opposed, yachts of Hakan Uzan, who is wanted in absentia within the scope of Imar Bankasi investigation, and Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan named ''Air Waves'' and ''Frequency'' were seized. Two British companies which were claimed to be the owner of Uzans' yachts were revealed to be bogus companies.

''HERE IS EU REALITY''
The Regular Report on the progress towards accession of Turkey for 2003 was unveiled yesterday. Despite Ankara's pressure, the report included an expression that ''absence of a settlement could become a serious obstacle to Turkey's European Union (EU) aspirations.'' EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen defended article on Cyprus saying that they have established a link between Cyprus and Turkey taking a new step. Noting that this was political preference, he said reactions bewildered them.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DO NOT BREAK OUR ENTHUSIASM
This message of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi changed the expression that establishes a direct connection between Turkey's European Union (EU) membership and Cyprus issue taking place in EU Progress Report for Turkey. The language of the expression which puts ''Cyprus obstacle'' in EU Progress Report is softened with diplomatic contacts of Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Gul said that this certain expression was turned to an expression which included a possibility through these efforts.

CYPRUS CRISIS
The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen announced 2003 Turkey Progress Report which was given final shape by 20 members of EU Commission. The Commission established a direct connection between Cyprus issue and Turkey's starting membership negotiations in Strategy Paper which was additionally prepared and including EU's expectations and suggestions. EU Commission determines the condition in Progress Report and expresses expectations and suggestions in Strategy Paper which is the final part. EU Commission clearly expressed that in spite of steps that Turkey took, Copenhagen criteria were not fulfilled completely.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EU INSISTENT ON CYPRUS
Enlargement Strategy Paper, which was prevailed together with Progress Report of the European Union (EU) Commission for Turkey, included the expression that insolubility in Cyprus could be an important obstacle before Turkey's membership process. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, which could not have any results from its initiatives for removing expression regarding Cyprus from the report, gave a weak reaction to Cyprus condition. The government stated that Progress Report was objective and solution of Cyprus issue was not burdening a responsibility in accordance with Copenhagen criteria.

WHITE PROTEST
Health personnel went on one day strike and warned Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government. Laborers and students also supported health personnel who shouted slogans as ''health is right, it cannot be sold''. While operations were not interrupted at hospitals, emergency rooms were serving all day.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANKARA HAS COMMON SENSE DESPITE CYPRUS
Ankara tried to change expression regarding Cyprus in the Regular Report on the progress towards accession of Turkey and Strategy Plan for 2003 till the very last moment. After the report was officially announced, Gul only said, ''Cyprus is not a political criteria.'' Expression regarding Cyprus in the Strategy Plan caused tension between Ankara and Brussels. The government tried to erase the expression that '''the absence of a settlement could become a serious obstacle to Turkey's EU aspirations'' till the very last moment. When the report is unveiled, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul preferred a statement of common sense and said, ''report is objective. Our reforms and determination to implement them are appreciated. Problems in implementation are things we know. Cyprus is not a political criteria. We all want its solution before May 1, 2004.''

BID FOR TEKEL IS 1.4 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS
Around 1.4 U.S. dollars of bid for cigarette and liquor enterprises of state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL) caused disappointment in Turkey. Japanese Tobacco International (JTI) submitted a bid of 1 billion 150 million U.S. dollars for cigarette enterprises while a consortium comprised of four companies submitted the highest bid for alcoholic beverages enterprises with 292 million U.S. dollars.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WHITE DEMONSTRATION NOT SO POPULAR
One-day strike of doctors and health personnel throughout Turkey which was staged in line with the decision of Turkish Physicians' Union was not as popular as it was expected. Doctors and other health personnel staged one-day strike yesterday for ''rise in their salaries for a humanly living, labor security, and free of charge and equal health right.'' However, the demonstration was not as popular as it was expected. Health personnel came to the hospitals they were working in the morning. The demonstration did not cause any problems as expected because some doctors continued to work and did not back the demonstration. Hospitals worked all day in many provinces. Health personnel joined the demonstration in metropolises as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir while the demonstration was not so popular in Anatolia, East Anatolia and Black Sea regions.

TWO CONDITIONS BEFORE 2004
The European Union (EU) put forth two important conditions before Turkey's membership process in the Regular Report on the progress towards accession of Turkey. One of them is solution of Cyprus issue within a year and the second is putting into practice reforms that have been made in Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRACTICING OF REFORMS AND CYPRUS TO OPEN 2004 EU LOCK
Turkey 2003 Progress Report which was prepared by the European Union (EU) Commission was prevailed officially yesterday. The report comprising of 147 pages praises reform efforts of the government, while showing that there are serious deficiencies in practice. In spite of objections of Ankara, Enlargement Strategy Paper, which was also prevailed together with the report, established a connection between Cyprus issue and Turkey's EU membership. The paper which said that insolubility in Cyprus could be a serious obstacle before Turkey's EU expectations caused uneasiness in Ankara.

IMF: EXECUTIVE BOARD CAN CONVENE IN END OF NOVEMBER FOR LOAN
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Representative to Turkey Odd Per Brekk said that Executive Board could convene in the end of November for negotiations on new loan tranche worth of 500 million dollars.

(BRC-GC-AÖ) 06.11.2003