ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 27, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
KIRKUK WARNING FROM ERDOGAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who started his tour to the United States from New York, told Newsweek magazine that the steps Kurds were taking in the north of Iraq were not healthy. He said, ''efforts of an ethnical group to apply sovereignty over others is not just. Whether this ethnical group is Kurdish, Turkish, Arabian or anything else does not matter.''

TALAT: DEVELOPMENTS ARE PROMISING
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that cooperation with Turkey was continuing very well and there was a big consensus. He added, ''we are exerting efforts for the solution of Cyprus issue together and in determination. Developments are very promising.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
FIRST 'CONSENSUS'
Although solution process speeds up in Cyprus, Papandreou and Denktas have reached a consensus on 'pessimism'. Both said, ''solution until May 1 is very difficult.'' Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou who had been saying until today that sides should exert efforts to reach a solution until May 1, talked differently and blamed Turkey. He said that Turkey had an approach different from Annan Plan, adding that solution was difficult until May 1. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that even if both sides exerted efforts with good will, solution was difficult to be reached until May 1.

THERE IS HEADSCARF PROBLEM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in the United States that the headscarf issue was the common problem of nation and institutions. He said, ''I have to say that there is a headscarf problem in Turkey. We want to solve this with social understanding.'' Erdogan criticized ban on headscarf in France and said that it was not in compliance with the item on freedom of belief in Copenhagen criteria.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
ERDOGAN: WE SHOULD ESTABLISH JOINT ZONE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in American Jewish Committee (AJC) that Turkey, the United States and Israel should establish a joint and qualified industrial zone. He also suggested a regional conference for peace in Middle East. Erdogan was rewarded with bravery award by AJC which had been given to three people until today. Recalling the bomb attacks in Istanbul, Erdogan said that Jewish friends should not be uneasy about security.

GUL: A STRONG NAME SHOULD BE ON SCENE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that it was important for Turkey for a very strong and neutral name's being on the scene for speeding up the solution process in Cyprus. He added, ''a strong name who will have contributions is the preference of Turkey.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
RISE WITH INSTRUCTION
International Monetary Fund (IMF) wanted new measures and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has launched initiatives for new rises and tax package. IMF First Managing Director Anne Krueger, who assumed a stricter attitude, said that IMF would not take onto agenda the seventh review with Turkey without a decision on costs of rises in salaries and a measure to achieve 6.5 percent primary target. A week after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the government would not increase prices of goods and services under instruction of anybody, the economy management started to work on a package of measures worth of 3 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL).

''THERE IS HEADSCARF PROBLEM''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who started his meetings in the United States, received investors. Speaking at the Institute of Foreign Policy in New York, Erdogan said, ''there is headscarf problem in a country, 98 percent of population of which is Muslim. I have to stress it here.'' Defining attacks in Istanbul as ''religious terrorism'', Erdogan opposed to the expression ''Islamic terrorism.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
EXPRESSION OF SINCERITY IN SOLUTION IN CYPRUS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will tell U.S. President George Bush that Turkey wants urgent solution of Cyprus issue. Erdogan will also say, ''if you have any doubts, intervene and see our sincerity.'' Erdogan, who will meet with Bush at the White House tomorrow, will give the message that Turkey has taken action for Cyprus issue. Erdogan will say, ''we want solution till May 1, 2004. If you have any doubts about us, intervene in the issue and see our sincerity.'' Erdogan will stress that the side which should in fact be convinced is the Greek Cypriot side. Erdogan will tell Bush that he mentions the United States with the proposal he made to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan about appointment of an ''impartial and effective mediator.''

FROM OZKOK TO DENKTAS: ''NSC STATEMENT IS OUR COMMON VIEW''
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok told Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas that expressions reflected on the National Security Council (NSC) statement were their common view. Prior to his departure for TRNC, Denktas said, ''there is a consensus of opinion about all issues which have importance for Turkish Cypriots.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
NOW IT'S GREEK CYPRIOTS' TURN
Ankara has showed that it is not the side which runs away from Cyprus negotiation table but the side which wants ''compromise.'' Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's move to present a ''surprise Cyprus plan'' to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan caused problems in Greece and the Greek Cypriot side while it had many repercussions in the world. After the United States, the Council of Europe added the article that ''it was now the turn of the Greek Cypriots'' to its report.

CALL FOR INVESTMENT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who met with U.S. businessmen, said that Turkey had ensured stability. Erdogan said, ''we have lifted obstacles before businessmen. Now, I expect you to come and make more investments in Turkey.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
GUL AND DENKTAS DENY DIFFERENCE OF OPINION CLAIMS
Both Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas denied the claims that there were important difference of opinion on Cyprus issue during Denktas' meetings in Ankara. Gul stressed that they did not have difference of opinion with Denktas and said that Denktas, Talat and Serdar Denktas were all supporting this final attitude. Denktas said that there was a full consensus with Turkey on Cyprus issue.

ERDOGAN: DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT KIRKUK NOT HEALTHY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the steps which Iraqi Kurdish groups were taking in Kirkuk were not healthy. Erdogan replied to questions of U.S. Newsweek magazine and Washington Post newspaper. Erdogan said that a federal structure depending on ethnical or religious bases in Iraq would not be healthy, adding that this situation would disturb Syria, Iran and Turkey.

(BRC-GC) 27.01.2004