ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 1, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW YEAR MESSAGES: SEZER STRESSES ON MODERNIZATION
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stressed that the nation indicated that it had adopted modern living style and showed its determination to preserve and maintain secular and democratic republic till the very end. Sezer pointed to the need that quality of secular education should be raised without making concessions of its principles.

ERDOGAN MEETS WITH EDELMAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman to discuss details of the visit he would pay to the United States on January 26. Edelman defined news that U.S. President George Bush allocated only 25 minutes to his meeting with Erdogan as speculation and said that there was not any problem with the period and program of the visit. Edelman conveyed Bush's new year message to Erdogan.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAYKAL: ''THEY HAVE STARTED TO SHOW THEIR REAL FACE''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal responded to words of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said, ''we don't have any problem with democratic regime. Some circles artificially cause these discussions.'' Baykal said, ''recent developments have showed that discussions on regime are not artificial.'' Baykal said that when he visited Erdogan just after the elections, he warned him not to ''discuss the regime.'' Baykal quoted Erdogan as saying that ''there would not be any discussions on regime.'' Baykal said, ''look at the stage we have reached today. Regime has started to be discussed. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has showed its real face.''

IMKB CLOSES 2003 WITH A RISE
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) which continued its rise in last day of 2003 got closer to its historical summit. The stock exchange closed the day and the year at 18.625 points with 332 points of increase. Transaction volume was 622 trillion Turkish liras (TL). The stock exchange is expected to continue its climb in the new year.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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LAST TOURS IN TRNC
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat visited Democrat Party (DP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas as a part of efforts to form the government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Talat said that he was still hopeful about forming the government and noted that he thought that efforts to form the government would yield favorable results soon. Concerning statements of Talat, Serdar Denktas said that he did not say anything which would raise hope in the meeting. Following his meeting with Denktas, Talat said that he was hopeful about formation of the government on the first day and added that he was still hopeful. Denktas said that they would join a government comprised of four political parties.

INVITATION FROM BUSH TO ERDOGAN
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman presented the letter of U.S. President George W. Bush to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he celebrated his new year. Following his meeting with Erdogan, Edelman told reporters that both U.S. President Bush and other officials were looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Washington D.C. Edelman said that he had a long and good meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, adding that he brought the letter of U.S. President Bush to him.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GENERAL STAFF REACTS TO KUTLU
General Staff reacted to Husrev Kutlu of Justice and Development Party (AK Party), who was uneasy about the photograph of Ataturk, the Founder of Turkish Republic, wearing uniform of a marshal. A statement of General Staff said that Chief of General Staff, as the commander of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), had deep concerns over such statements. AK Party group deputy chairman Salih Kapusuz said that people should refrain from making statements which were not approved by the nation. Sources said that the situation of Kutlu would be discussed in parliamentary group administration committee on January 5.

AKMERKEZ OF MOSCOW TO BE BUILT BY TOBB AND TIM
Construction of a shopping center in Moscow which started two years ago will be completed by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Turkey (TOBB) and Turkey Exporters' Assembly (TIM). In accordance with the agreement which was signed between Turkey and Russia, famous Turkish trademarks will have shops in this huge shopping center in Moscow.

(EÖ-BRC) 01.01.2004