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

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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DENKTAS: ''I CAN WITHDRAW''
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has received leaders of political parties, which won seats at last week's parliamentary elections. During their meeting, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat proposed President Denktas to hand over the role of negotiator to the government. In response, President Denktas told him, ''I do not insist on this role. I will have consultations with jurists.''

HERE IS TRANSPARENT NSC
The 32-article regulations of the National Security Council (NSC) has been waiting for approval of the Council of Ministers. Under the new regulations, authorities of the NSC Secretariat General has been restricted. Meanwhile, departments of 'National Security Policy', 'Public Relations', 'Information', and ''Total Civil Defense Services' have been annulled.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WHERE IS THE WARNING?
It was revealed that the U.S. forces, who launched operations against the camps of the al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan following September 11th events, sent information to Turkey about Turkish supporters of al-Qaida. In its report, the United States informed Turkey two years ago that Habib Aktas, Feridun Ugurlu and Ilyas Kuncak, who were involved in Istanbul bombings in November could have connections with al-Qaida. However, this information was not sent to the Security Department. The police identified Turkish supporters of al-Qaida from testimonies of detainees.

CTP WANTS TO FORM NEW TRNC GOVERNMENT
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has met with leaders of political parties having seats at the new parliament following Sunday's parliamentary elections. During the meetings, President Denktas stressed that he was in favor of a broad-base national government. Meanwhile, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that they wanted to form the new government. Talat said that they would hold talks with representatives of the other political parties over government models.

TURKEY CONVEYS ITS UNEASINESS TO SWITZERLAND
Turkey has conveyed its uneasiness about decision of the lower house of the Swiss parliament to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide. Swiss Ambassador to Turkey Kurt Wyss was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy told Wyss that the decision of the lower house was unfair and wrongful. He also stressed that the decision contradicted with historical facts.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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FRANCE TO BAN ISLAMIC-STYLE HEADSCARF
France has ruled that students and public workers could not wear Islamic style headscarf since secularism is the basis of republic. France having the greatest Muslim population in Europe, has considered Islamic-style headscarf a religious symbol and decided to ban it. In a nation-address, President Jacques Chirac of France said that any anti-secular action would result in discrimination and division.

HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES DAILY LIFE THROUGHOUT TURKEY
Heavy snowfall have paralyzed daily life and traffic throughout Turkey. Primary and secondary schools have been recessed. Meanwhile, two people were frozen to death in Bafra town of northern province of Samsun and in Istanbul.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''INVESTIGATION HAS NOT SATISFIED ME''
A year has elapsed since killing of Associate Prof. Necip Hablemitoglu of the Ankara University. However, any progress could not be recorded in the investigation into his killing. In an interview, Hablemitoglu's wife Associate Prof. Sengul Hablemitoglu said, ''the Security Department has not taken necessary measures before the event. Now, I am not satisfied with the investigation.''

''EU CANNOT SET A CONDITIONAL DATE''
European Union (EU) Commission Representative Hansjoerg Kretschmer has said that a proposal of setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey in return for finding a solution to the Cyprus question would be totally meaningless. Kretschmer said that EU leaders would take the decision about Turkey in December of 2004, adding that accession talks could not start before fulfillment Copenhagen political criteria.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANKARA: ''ANNAN PLAN IS A REFERENCE''
Ankara has been waiting for formation of the new government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to take an action. Ankara will carry out its solution plan with the new government. Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given the message that Turkey expected formation of a national government in TRNC. Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said that there was not any other reference except for the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

A CALL FOR PEACE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has called on everybody to well-understand teachings of Jalal ud-din Rumi, known as Mevlana, about peace, brotherhood, affection and tolerance. Releasing a message to mark the 730th anniversary of Mevlana's reunion, President Sezer said, ''Mevlana is an eminent personality who expressed today's values centuries ago. He has won admiration of the whole world with his boundless tolerance. If the humanity well-understands his teachings, the universal peace can be settled in the world.''

''JAPAN MAY BEGIN IMPLEMENTING VISA''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently paying an official visit to Japan, has said, ''Japan may start implementing visa because of unregistered Turkish citizens living in Japan.'' Speaking at a meeting at the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo, Gul said, ''Japan is the only country among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members which does not implement visa for Turkish citizens. However, unregistered Turkish citizens in Japan have been damaging the esteem of Turkey recently.'' Referring to his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, Gul said that the issue of co-operation in Iraq was high on agenda of their meeting.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL INVITES JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN TURKEY
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in Japan on an official visit, was received by Prince Mikasa and his wife. During the meeting, Gul invited Japanese businessmen to invest in Turkey. He noted that new laws had provided foreign investors with many facilities.

FIRST STEP FOR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
As a result of calls of both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat has shed green light to possibility of formation of a national government in TRNC. President Denktas received leaders of four political parties, which won seats at the parliament following Sunday's elections. Following the meeting, Talat said that they were positive about a national government. Meanwhile, Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas said that they were ready to join a broad-base government.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SECURITY FORCES SEIZE 363 PIECES OF HISTORICAL WORKS
Security forces have seized 363 pieces of historical works including axes and arrows from the ancient times, belts and crowns stolen from graves of ancient kings, and vases from Urartian era. Acting an a tip-off, security forces raided a waterside mansion in Istanbul belonging to Didem Capa. During the search, security forces confiscated 363 pieces of priceless historical works. Capa was detained, but released later.

(UK-AÖ) 18.12.2003