ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 2, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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VERHEUGEN SAYS DISCUSSING TURKEY'S EU FULL MEMBERSHIP IS MEANINGLESS
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement, who always talked negatively about Turkey, this time said it was meaningless to discuss Turkey's full membership to the EU.
Verheugen said his office in Brussels was full of the paintings of Turkish painters, noting that it would be clearly seen that there was not a serious difference of culture when those paintings were considered.
Verheugen said, ''Turkey was granted EU membership status in Helsinki. This was reiterated in Copenhagen summit. So, it is meaningless to discuss full membership. Turkey will take its place in the EU in case it meets Copenhagen criteria.''

ERDOGAN: ''LET US BE MEDIATOR''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a statement made in Israeli television, said Turkey wanted to undertake the role of mediator between Israel and Syria.
Stating that Turkey had positive relations with all the countries in the Middle East, Erdogan said, ''we hope that it would be possible for us to undertake the role of mediation between Damascus and Jerusalem.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FROM ''SACK SHAME'' TO NEW YEAR PARTY
Turkish liaison officers also participated in the party of American Colonel William Mayville, who had detained Turkish soldiers in Suleymaniyah.
Colonel Mayville, who spoke at the party, said, ''our Turkish brothers are visitors here. We wish happy new year to Turkey. We are far away from our families this year. I wish all the soldiers to return their home and live happily there.''
There was warm conversation between the Turkish liaison officers and Mayville who was kept responsible for the arrest of 11 Turkish soldiers by putting sacks on their head.

NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Thousands of residents of Istanbul gathered in square in Taksim, Nisantasi and Goztepe without feeling the shadow of terrorism.
The entertainment in Taksim Square, which Istanbul Municipality cancelled due to security reasons, were also made even if in a narrow scale.
Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna celebrated new year of citizens together with his daughter Asude in Istiklal Street. Gurtuna said, ''the best response that would be given to terrorism is to show that we are not afraid of it. Otherwise it will reach its goal.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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OZKOK: INTELLIGENCE SHOULD BE SOVEREIGN INSTEAD OF EMOTIONS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok said that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should increase depth of its vision to meet the requirements of new security. He added that the grade of mission and responsibilities which TSK has still undertaken would significantly increase and it was time to use intelligence instead of emotions.

RAPID PUNISHMENT REGARDING 'MARSHAL'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said regarding the harsh reaction of General Staff Headquarters upon the statements of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Husrev Kutlu about the portrait of Ataturk in marshal outfit and the battalion that they sent Kutlu to discipline committee. Erdogan said regarding Cyprus issue that nobody should exert efforts to spoil the relations of the government and its army.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MILITARY REACTS ON THREE MAIN POINTS
Military felt uneasy over Cyprus plan of Foreign Ministry, the attitude of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in remaining as a spectator to the activities of Kurdish groups in Iraq, and statements of Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer and AK Party parliamentarian Husrev Kutlu.
Tension between government and military, which became apparent with a written statement made by General Staff on Wednesday, focuses on three main points.
Attitude of the government on Cyprus and Iraq apart from statements of Dincer and Kutlu cause uneasiness in General Staff.
General Staff conveyed its uneasiness with face to face talks, and with verbal and written statements although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they were in consensus on every issue.

ECEVIT: GOVERNMENT IN SUBMISSION
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said public should warn Justice and Development Party (AK Party) about Cyprus.
Ecevit said, ''Cyprus is a national problem for Turkey beyond being a government or state problem.''
Ecevit criticized the study, carried out by Foreign Ministry by taking Annan plan as basis. Ecevit said, ''even the Greek Foreign Ministry could be more fair.''
Ecevit said number of Turkish soldiers in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be reduced from 30,000 to 6,000 and later reduced to zero with the study.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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COUNTER ATTACK TO FEDERATION
Ankara becomes active about Iraq issue. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will convey Turkey's uneasiness about the initiatives for Kurdish federation in Iraq to U.S. President George Bush, while Turkish Special Envoy to Iraq Osman Koruturk will convey the same thing to Paul Bremer, the top U.S. administrator in Iraq.

HARMONIZATION MESSAGE WITH TSK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced 2004 targets of the government as solution in Cyprus, result in the European Union (EU) and fight against unemployment. Noting that there was no problem between government and army, Erdogan said that nobody should try to spoil the relations between government and army.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BARGAINING CONTINUES IN TRNC
Activities to form the government will be intensive in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today. National Unity Party (UBP) will convene in the afternoon and evaluate the proposals of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to form the government.

TURKEY TO SET UP TENT CITY IN IRAN
Turkey will set up a tent city in Bam city of Iran tomorrow. A total of 400 tents which were sent from Tehran two days ago have reached to Bam city. Prime Ministry Crisis Management Director Selahattin Durmaz signed a protocol with Iranian officials yesterday and the tent city would be set up in Fehriabad region of Bam city. Nearly 1500-2000 people will settle in tent city. Turkey will also set up prefabricated houses in the region which would be settled by 6-7 thousand people.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: ''NOBODY SHOULD INTERFERE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted to the news reports that there was difference of views between the military and the government on Cyprus.
Stressing that General Staff and Foreign Ministry worked in agreement, Erdogan said, ''there is not any problem. Nobody should interfere between the government and the army aiming to distort positive atmosphere.''
Erdogan said they wanted Cyprus question to be solved till May 1, stating that they favored a just and permanent solution which the sides agreed on.
Recalling that CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat was designated to form the government following the elections, Erdogan said, ''we wish the government to be formed soon. We wish Cyprus problem not to be a problem from now on. Foreign Ministry officials carried out studies with officials of General Staff. They made preparations. We will evaluate the issue and reach a result.''

47,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN TURKEY IN 2003
Turkey was criticized in a report prepared by the United States on illegal migration and human smuggling.
Turkey had its most brilliant period in 2003 in fight against illegal immigrants.
Security forces, who had captured 2,799 illegal immigrants in 2000, captured 47,000 in 2003.
Faysal Cibir, who had come from Somalia, and who is one of the 47,000 illegal immigrants, tries to survive in southern Adana province.
Cibir, who had lost his wife, wanted to go to Britain via Turkey. However, his dreams ended in a traffic accident in Reyhanli township in Hatay province.
Faysal, 33, is now in a hospital in Adana with a broken waist.

(AY-GC-AÖ) 02.01.2004