ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 11, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''WE ARE BOUND TO SET A DATE FOR OPENING OF ACCESSION TALKS WITH TURKEY''
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder extended full support to setting a date for opening of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU). Noting that they had committed set a date for opening of the accession talks, Schroeder said that their support to Turkey had been continuing. Stressing that Turkey had succeeded in making astonishing reforms, Schroeder added that those who were opposed to Turkey's accession to the EU, had a little opportunity of saying no.

''WE CAN REACH A SOLUTION TILL MAY''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that he was hopeful about settlement of a solution in Cyprus till May of 2004. Gul left for Italian capital Rome to attend the Turkey-European Union (EU) Troika meeting. He is scheduled to meet with his Italian and Irish counterparts and with EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for Enlargement. During the meetings, Gul is expected to give the message that the Turkish side had been preparing itself to a new initiative in the Cyprus question. The Troika meeting is of special importance since it will be the first meeting in the political dialogue between Turkey and the EU following release of the Progress Report by the EU Commission.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY COMMEMORATE ATATURK WITH LOVE
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was commemorated with love on the 65th anniversary of his demise across the country. A chorus comprised of musicians from Bilkent University Symphony Orchestra, military academy, and university students gave a concert on a platform in front of the Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk. A total of 1,200 youths who came from Izmir to Ankara visited the parliament. A ceremony was also held in Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Pianist and composer Tuluyhan Ugurlu gave a concert in the Palace.

OFFICIOUSNESS OF AK PARTY
A dispute took place, as Foreign Ministry which host parliamentary commission for seeking problems of Turkish citizens in several cities of Europe included a prayer in the official schedule of the commission. Foreign Ministry bureaucrats put prayer in the schedule of the commission including Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies who visited London, Rotterdam, Brussels, Paris and Lyon between November 1 and 7. Prof. Said Yazicioglu who earlier served as the religious affairs director reacted to the schedule. Yazicioglu said that when he saw prayer in the schedule, he reacted to it and stated that prayer was peculiar to person.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''TURKEY CAN GROW RAPIDLY TILL 2010''
The World Economic Studies Unit released a report entitled ''Economic Outlook'' and noted that future of Turkish economy would depend on the European Union (EU). Describing 2004 as the year of destiny, the report said that growth rate of Turkey in 2003 could exceed 7 percent. Noting that there would be significant opportunities in the agenda of 2004 for Turkish economy, the report said that Turkey could grow rapidly till 2010.

TWO LAWSUITS DAMAGING TURKEY'S RECORDS
There are two negative examples in the Progress Report of the European Union (EU) Commission for Turkey. One of these examples is re-trial process of Leyla Zana and her friends, former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP). And the other is allegation about torture on Gulbahar Gunduz of Democratic People's Party (DEHAP). In its report, the EU defended that re-trial process of Zana and her friends was exactly the same with the trial process of 1994. The report of the EU included just a few names. One of these names except for Zana, was of Gulbahar Gunduz. Gunduz was included in the report as an evidence of ongoing torture in Turkey. The report included allegations saying that Gunduz was tortured and raped by people who were actually policemen.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SECULARISM ACCORDING TO ERDOGAN
In a statement extending support to the issue of Islamic-style headscarf, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the secularism was considered separation of state and religious affairs from each other, adding, ''actually, this is an incomplete definition. Secularism is that anyone should not be exposed to discrimination because of his religious beliefs and identity.''

AK PARTY MEMBERS UNEASY ABOUT PEOPLE'S VISITING MAUSOLEUM OF ATATURK
With Turkish flags and flowers in their hand, thousands of people visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey, on the 65th anniversary of his demise. People's respect to Ataturk created uneasiness among some members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). AK Party Deputy Group Chairman Salih Kapusuz said that such crowded ceremonies and efforts to make the biggest flag of the world would not help Turkey to reach the level of modern civilizations.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIRST CLASH WITH PKK IN NORTHERN IRAQ
The U.S. forces, which have been expending efforts to settle public order in Iraq, experienced their first clash with members of terrorist organization PKK/KADEK on November 8. Addressing journalists prior to his departure for Italian capital Rome, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said PKK terrorists opened fire on U.S. troops and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) peshmerga fighters over the weekend while they were patrolling border areas between Turkey and Iraq. A peshmerga fighter was killed in the clash. U.S. Command in Mosul said that the terrorists who fled from the area after they sent helicopters, could not be identified. Meanwhile, a U.S. official said that they would increase controls in the border region.

A NATION'S RESPECT TO ITS LEADER
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey, was commemorated throughout Turkey on the 65th anniversary of his demise. Thousands of people visited the Mausoleum of Ataturk in Ankara and the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul where Ataturk passed away 65 years ago.

A BLACK DAY ON HIGHWAYS
Extreme speed and violation of traffic rules on rain-slicked roads claimed 29 lives yesterday. The first accident occurred near central province of Kirikkale in which a minibus collided with a lorry killing 17 people and injuring two others. In the second accident in northern province of Corum, 12 people lost their lives while 13 others were injured.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CLASH BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND PKK CONFIRMED
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul confirmed a clash which erupted on Sunday between the U.S. soldiers and members of terrorist organization PKK/KADEK in north of Iraq. Foreign Minister Gul left for Rome, Italy to attend the Turkey-European Union (EU) Troika meeting. Prior to his departure, Gul replied to questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Gul informed reporters about the clash between the U.S. soldiers and members of terrorist organization PKK/KADEK in north of Iraq and stated that some U.S. helicopters also went there for clash.

ERDOGAN: ''TURKISH PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID FROM INVOLVING IN UNNECESSARY DISCUSSIONS AND TENSION''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that those who loved and were concerned about Turkey should protect the values of the Republic and democracy and avoid from involving in unnecessary discussions and tension which could harm the national integrity and solidarity. A ceremony was held in the Turkish Language Institution upon the 65th anniversary of demise of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Turkish Republic. Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok, Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Judge Eraslan Ozkaya, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and other officials attended the ceremony.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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29 PEOPLE DIE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN A NIGHT
A total of 29 people died in two separate traffic accidents in central provinces of Corum and Kirikkale and 16 people were injured. What will happen during the feast at the end of Ramadan? Government Spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek announced on Monday that the feast would be nine days. People will have a nine-day holiday at the end of Ramadan and some of them will travel by their cars to several cities to spend their holiday. Experts warn people who will travel by their cars to obey traffic rules.

''NO ONE CAN BE EXCLUDED DUE TO HIS/HER BELIEF''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that secularism was considered as separation of state affairs from religious affairs and added that it was a true, but a deficient explanation. Erdogan noted that secularism had different dimensions including freedom of religion and freedom of conscience and stressed that the state should have equal distance to all beliefs and identities in the society. Addressing the meeting held in Turkish Language Institution upon the 65th death anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Turkish Republic, Erdogan talked about national sovereignty and secularism.

(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 11.11.2003