ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 29, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FOREIGN MINISTER GUL: ''ONLY REMEDY IS TO DISCUSS ANNAN PLAN''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul put the last point on Cyprus issue, saying that they would discuss U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan on Cyprus and added that there was no other remedy. Gul explained the government's policy on Cyprus at a meeting of Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Sources quoted Gul as saying that he did not see any option for solution of the issue rather than the groundwork of Annan plan and stated that there was no other solution. He said, ''because we will face a new state as of May 2004. EU will officially recognize views of that state. Those views will be important. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will then be in a position which cannot benefit from anything.''

ZORLU: ''CHANGE OF MIND IS OBLIGATORY IN PRIVATIZATION''
Zorlu Holding Executive Board Chairman Ahmet Zorlu said that settlement of budget stability and privatization were two issues which should be given importance in 2004 and stated that privatization was a long term and effective process in development of the country. Zorlu said that stability which started with a single political party government should support privatization. Zorlu added that Turkey should be aware of its sources and make good use of them.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PROPOSAL FROM ERDOGAN TO IRAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who met with Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Firuz Devletabadi said that Turkey was ready to help Iran in anyway. Proposing the Iranian ambassador to send the prefabricated huts which were not used in Turkey, Erdogan instructed Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen to start studies about the issue. Minister Ergezen told Devletabadi in his part that Turkey could send 700 huts to Iran which could reach Iran within three days.

CONSCIENCE AND IMF PROGRAMME
The government gives the message that the minimum wage, which caused tension in relations with IMF, is very low. The government has to make a choice between its conscience and the economic programme. The government tries to fix the minimum wage between 270-300 million Turkish liras, but this amount seems to bring additional burden on the economic programme carried out with IMF.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH RESCUE TEAM BECOMES HERO IN BAM
The Turkish rescue teams who showed the experience which they gained during the earthquakes in Turkey, became hero in earthquake-devastated city of Iran, Bam. Iranian Chief of General Staff Rahim Safavi congratulated the 133-member Turkish rescue team yesterday.

2004:THREE REPORT CARDS AND SIX HOMEWORKS FOR TURKEY
The year 2004 will be a year of destiny for Turkey in its relations with the EU. Turkey's fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria and its economic development level will be tested in June and October. The deadline for special homework on solution of Cyprus problem, on the other hand is May 1, 2004.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKEY DETERMINES ITS CYPRUS ATTITUDE
Foreign Ministry prepared a document titled ''The Attitude of Turkey'' for solution of Cyprus issue on the basis of Annan plan. The document notes that the issue could be solved within the scope of Annan plan. Totally 15 new maps were prepared for share of territory. The study notes that ''we can share Guzelyurt, let's accept the EU law, let's leave British bases out of the plan. Greek Cypriots who will come to the north should not be deputies, the guarantor rights of Turkey and Greece should continue, let's decrease the number of Turkish soldiers to 6,000 in 40 months and those who come from Turkey and Greece to settle on the island should not be more than 5 percent in both sides.''

PROJECTS FOR SOUTHEAST PUT ON TABLE AGAIN
Following the criticisms made by EU in its Brussels summit held between 12-13 December regarding the macroeconomic imbalance and the cultural problem in southeast of Turkey, two projects which were shelved for years were put on table again.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN: ''REGIME IS GOOD''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that interests should not have any place in the market. Erdogan, who defended Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer whom Republican People's Party (CHP) wants to be dismissed from his post, said that 'regime dispute' was started by some people as the government took successful steps. Stating that Turkey was pleased with its regime, Erdogan said that Turkey was determined to keep alive its constitutional order till the very end.

PUBLIC REFORM DRAFT TO COME TO PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY
Public Administration Draft Law will be submitted to the parliament on Monday. A total 12 articles of the draft law were amended upon criticisms from Presidency, judiciary organs and universities. The expression which defined citizen as 'customer' in articles 18 and 24 was excluded from the draft.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BABACAN:WE WILL SORT OUT CYPRUS PROBLEM
State Minister Ali Babacan said that Cyprus issue was an important problem, adding that ''the problem continues for 30 years, we have gained an important opportunity to solve it today. The continuation of the problem in Cyprus is not useful for anybody. We will show a very strong political will for solution of Cyprus issue.''

DENKTAS TO DESIGNATE SOMEBODY TO FORM GOVERNMENT
TRNC President Rauf Denktas is expected to announce today the person whom he will designate to form the government. While the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) expects Denktas to give the mission to itself as the winner of the elections, Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) and Democrat Party (DP) also defend the view that the task had to be given to CTP according to established practice.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: ''WE ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP ALIVE REGIME''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to regime disputes targeting the government. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader and Prime Minister Erdogan convened his party's provincial chairmen in Ankara. Erdogan said that Turkey was pleased with the regime which was described in its Constitution and stated that they were determined to keep alive regime with its all constitutional institutions, government and the parliament till the very end.

''GOVERNMENT SHOULD CARRY ON ITS DETERMINATION IN PRIVATIZATION''
German Deutsche Bank's Turkey Director General Dilek Yardim said that the government should carry on its determination in privatization and stated that it was natural to expect good developments in 2004.

(EÖ-Öª) 29.12.2003