ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 25, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MEDIATOR SURPRISE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Davos city of Switzerland. During the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan asked United Nations Secretary General Annan to appoint a mediator trusted by both sides to resolve the Cyprus issue. Prime Minister Erdogan said that Annan welcomed the proposal. He noted that Turkish side did not propose any name to act as mediator. Pointing out that they accepted the plan of Annan as a reference, Prime Minister Erdogan said that referendum could not be resorted as long as the sides could not reach a compromise over the solution. Meanwhile, Annan said that Prime Minister Erdogan's messages had encouraged him. He also noted that he would assess the proposal.

BABACAN MEETS WITH KRUEGER
State Minister Ali Babacan met with IMF First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting was held upon Anne Krueger's request. Babacan said after the meeting that high-level IMF officials generally met with them during international meetings, recalling that he had previously met with Anne Krueger during the G-20 summit in Mexico. Noting that during the meeting, he had given information on latest economic developments in Turkey and ongoing economic program, Babacan said that Krueger had not yet seen the report prepared by IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam. Babacan stated that a quartet meeting would be held with Krueger, IMF President Horst Koehler and Moghadam during their visit to the United States next week and they would evaluate Turkey's economy.

PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN DUE TO UNITED STATES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to the United States between January 25 and 30, 2004. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, State Minister Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, 165 businessmen and 53 journalists will accompany Prime Minister Erdogan during his visit to the United States. Prime Minister Erdogan is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush on January 28. Following the meeting, President Bush will host a luncheon in honor of Erdogan and accompanying delegation. Prime Minister Erdogan is expected to return to Turkey on February 1.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GROWTH RATE TO BE ANNOUNCED 5.3 PERCENT IN 2003
Speaking at the closing session of the 33rd World Economic Forum meetings in Davos city of Switzerland, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given information about developments in Turkish economy. ''Earlier, we targeted a growth rate of 5 percent in 2003. However, the growth rate became 5.3 percent,'' he said.

CHENEY EULOGIZES TURKEY
Speaking at the closing session of the 33rd World Economic Forum meetings in Davos city of Switzerland, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney described Turkey as an exemplary state. Cheney noted that Turkey had proved that democracy could be achieved in the Middle East. He also backed Turkey's attempts to become the first Muslim country to join the European Union.

TRNC COALITION GOVERNMENT WINS PARLIAMENT'S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
The coalition government of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Democrat Party (DP) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus won the parliament's vote of confidence. Speaking at the parliament, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said, ''we will contribute to Turkey's efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. We will act together with Turkey in our efforts to find a solution. We, as a country which has been isolated from the world for long years, can achieve an international success only with solidarity of our people.'' During the parliamentary vote, a total of 26 deputies cast their votes in favor of the government while 18 of them cast their votes against it. Meanwhile, 6 deputies abstained. While deputies of the opposing National Unity Party (UBP) cast their votes against the coalition government, deputies of the Peace and Democracy Movement abstained.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ROY: ''UNITED STATES NEEDS TURKEY''
French expert Dr. Oliver Roy, who is known with his works on the Islam world and development of Islamic movements, has said that the United States needed to recover its relations with Turkey. Dr. Roy, who is currently in Davos city of Switzerland to attend the 33rd World Economic Forum meetings, said, ''the United States needs to recover its relations with Turkey. There are two reasons of it. The first reason includes Turkey's well-known strategic position, its role in the NATO, its stance towards Iran, and its relations with Israel and Caucasus. The second reason is that the United States needs Turkey since it wants rise of moderate Muslim countries against radical Muslim countries.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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WE COMMEMORATE MUMCU
Journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu was commemorated in front his house in Ankara on the 11th anniversary of his assassination in a car-bomb attack. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Cankaya Mayor Haydar Yilmaz, representatives of several political parties and civil organizations, artists and citizens attended the ceremony. Upon a request of Mumcu's wife Guldal Mumcu, a silent protest was performed, and no one delivered speeches. Participants laid carnations to the point where Mumcu lost his life 11 years ago.

TRNC GOVERNMENT WINS PARLIAMENT'S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
The coalition government of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Democrat Party (DP) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus won the parliament's vote of confidence. Speaking at the parliament after winning the vote of confidence, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat thanked deputies. He noted, ''we will contribute to Turkey's efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. We will act together with Turkey in our efforts to find a solution.''

YSK REJECTS REQUEST OF GP FOR POSTPONEMENT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS
The Higher Electoral Board (YSK) has rejected the request of the Young Party (GP) for postponement of local elections. GP Secretary General Mehmet Ali Akgul submitted a petition to the YSK on Friday requesting postponement of local elections to be held on March 28, 2004. Akgul said in the petition that the local elections could not be held under equal conditions since the GP could not receive the financial assistance of the Treasury yet. The YSK conveyed, and rejected the request of the GP.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY TAKES A HISTORIC STEP
During a meeting in Davos city of Switzerland, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to resume Cyprus negotiations and to appoint a mediator trusted by the two sides. Meanwhile, Annan said that he had been encouraged by Prime Minister Erdogan's messages. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and former NATO Secretary General George Robertson are among possible mediators.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE REQUEST MEDIATOR
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in Davos and presented him a plan for peace in Cyprus. He requested Annan to appoint a mediator trusted by both sides. Erdogan who did not name anybody said, ''Annan's plan is our reference for a solution. We bring this plan to referendum if both sides reach an agreement. As Turkey, we will be at the negotiation table till the end.'' Meanwhile, Annan who welcomed Erdogan's mediator proposal said that Erdogan's words encouraged him for a solution but also the Greek Cypriots should display the same will. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has started to be mentioned by some circles in Davos that he may be appointed as the impartial mediator.

EVERY METHOD PERMISSIBLE FOR PEACE
TRNC President Rauf Denktas said they can discuss issue of mediator as every method to reach peace is permissible.

CELL PHONE DIFFERENCE
Turkey which is four years behind European Union member countries in terms of use of new computer models is now two years ahead of Europe in terms of purchase of new models of cell phones.

POPE: ''HEADSCARF CAN'T BE BANNED''
Pope Jean Paul II reacted to ban on headscarf in France, Belgium and Germany. He said, ''don't ever try to drive religion away from society. Ban on headscarf threatens faith.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY WINS 'HEART' OF IRAQ
Turkey undertook medical treatment of forty Iraqi children most of whom are of Kurdish origin. Most of these children either have cardiac insufficiency or suffer cerebral tumor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish aid organization Kizilay (Red Crescent) will meet the cost of operations. These children will undergo surgery at three private hospitals in Istanbul. First 17 children will enter Turkey from the Habur Border Gate on January 27.

ERDOGAN REQUESTS MEDIATOR FROM ANNAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan requested U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that as Turkey, they wanted him to appoint a new mediator trusted by both sides to resolve the Cyprus issue. Erdogan met with Annan in Davos. Noting that they considered Annan's plan as a reference to solution in Cyprus, Erdogan said they were ready to bring a compromise to be reached by both sides in the island to referendum before May 1. Erdogan especially demanded Annan to replace his special envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto. Annan said he would certainly evaluate Erdogan proposal for a mediator.

(UK-MS) 25.01.2004