ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 15, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MESSAGE GIVEN TO SOLVE QUESTION TOGETHER
Elections took place in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The voters gave this message: Cyprus question should be solved for European Union (EU) target. However, objections of TRNC President should not be disregarded. Yet, Denktas should consider the willingness of people for solution and should act in a compromising way.
Denktas said, ''they deceived young people. I will give the designation to a party leader who can set up government.''
TRNC Republican Turkish Party-United Powers (CTP-GB) leader Mehmet Ali Talat said, ''we will make arrangements to make government carry out the talks instead of Denktas.''

ERDOGAN: WAR ENDED NOW IN IRAQ
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said process of war that started and actually ended in Iraq also ended symbolically with the capture of Saddam Hussein.
''We are against oppressive regimes, dictatorships wherever they are,'' Erdogan said.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said a new period was opened after capture of Saddam Hussein, noting that there was no obstacle in front of democracy in this country.
Gul said a constitution should be prepared rapidly in Iraq, and elected representatives of Iraqi people should come to ruling soon.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TRNC DIVIDED
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) supporting the plan United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, became the winner of Sunday's parliamentary elections with a small difference. During the most important elections in history of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), 141 thousand 471 voters cast their votes to elect 50 new members of the parliament. Although ruling coalition parties have suffered a serious loss in the elections, they have gained seats at the parliament. Now, President Rauf Denktas will designate one of political parties to form the new government.

GUL: ''TURKEY WILL SAY THE LAST WORD''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has given a message to Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who won the parliamentary elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Speaking at a program on the private Channel-D TV, Gul said warned Talat not to act independently from Turkey. Gul said ''even if Talat becomes the chief negotiator, Turkish parliament will say the last word.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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LAST BOMBER
One of key names of Istanbul bombings in which tens of innocent people lost their lives, was captured. Suspect Fevzi Yitiz was detained in eastern province of Hakkari as entering Turkey with a false passport. It was revealed that Yitiz had prepared the bombs in a workshop he had rented earlier in Ikitelli district of Istanbul. After an reenactment in the workshop, Yitiz was transferred to the State Security Court (DGM). During his interrogation at Anti-Terrorism Department Yitiz confessed that he had prepared the bombs together with Habib A and Gulcan B both still at large. ''Two members of the organization went to Afghanistan and held talks with Bin Ladin himself. It was Ladin who gave the order for bombings. However, we have changed the targets later,'' he claimed.

NAKIYE ELGUN STREET RE-OPENED
Nakiye Elgun Street in Istanbul where Beth Israel Synagogue takes place, has been re-opened following the suicide attack on November 15, 2003. Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul, Provincial Deputy Mufti Ismail Ipek and Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva were in attendance at the ceremony of re-opening of the street. Residents of the street burst into tears during the ceremony. The street was decorated with Turkish flags.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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WILLINGNESS FOR CHANGE
Cyprus had a historical day on Sunday. People went to ballot boxes to cast their votes to determine fate of whole island, and thus they voted for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.
Greek and Greek Cypriot media and foreign media were interested in the elections as well as the Turkish media.
Journalists from Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Iran and Lebanon rushed to TRNC on Sunday to cover the elections although TRNC was not recognized by any country so far apart from Turkey.

GUL DUE TO JAPAN
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will go to Japan on an official visit on Monday.
Gul, who will be the guest of Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, will stay for six days in this country.
Regional and international problems as well as bilateral relations between the two countries would be discussed during the visit.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN: ''WE SHOULD RESPECT RESULTS OF ELECTIONS IN TRNC''
Referring to results of Sunday's parliamentary elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''it is to early to make a comment. However, we should respect results of the elections.''

DENKTAS: ''WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A NEW PLAN''
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''we have been working on a new plan in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new plan will be unveiled after announcement of officials results of Sunday's parliamentary elections.'' President Denktas added that he would continue to serve as the president of TRNC for two more years whatever the results of the elections were.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DENKTAS: WE PREPARED A NEW PLAN
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) made a surprise statement to the To Vima newspaper and said they prepared a new plan together with Turkey, stating that, ''we will announce our alternative plan immediately after the elections.''
Pointing out that Annan Plan was a plan meeting expectations of Greek Cypriot side but that it did not bring a fair solution to Cyprus question, Denktas said it would be impossible for the Turkish side to accept this plan.

CONTINUOS SUPPORT FROM WORLD BANK
World Bank Deputy President Shigeo Katsu, responsible for Europe and Central Asia including Turkey, said Turkey has a very big economic potential.
Katsu said Turkey was important for the bank with its potential. Katsu said they would expend all necessary financial support to Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''THE REAL TARGET OF PICKUP TRUCKS LADEN WITH BOMBS WAS INCIRLIK BASE''
Fevzi Yitiz, who is believed to have loaded the bombs into pickup trucks in the quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul on November 15 and 20, gave detailed information during his interrogation at the Anti-Terrorism Unit. Noting that their real target was the Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana, Yitiz told the police that they had given up their plan due to tight security measures in and around the base. Yitiz also confessed that he had received military training in a camp of al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan and met with its leader Osama bin Ladin. ''Ladin told us to pay careful attention not to kill innocent people during the bomb attacks. I am sorry for innocent Turkish people who died in the attacks,'' he claimed.

ELECTIONS IN TRNC RESULT IN UNCERTAINTY
Parliamentary elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which were of critical importance in regard to domestic political balances and efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question, have resulted in uncertainty. Both the opposition parties and the ruling parties will have equal seats at the parliament. Leaders of political parties have already begun discussing their future strategies. Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said that early elections could be brought onto agenda in order to remove the uncertainty.

(UK-AY) 15.12.2003