ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 8, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MILITARY HAS SOME CONCERNS OVER ANNAN'S LETTER
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok had a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and informed Erdogan about his views on conditions mentioned in the letter sent by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Ozkok explained his concerns over conditions of invitation of Annan during the meeting which lasted for about two hours. Ozkok conveyed once again military's views on solution to Cyprus issue to Erdogan. Ozkok stressed in the meeting that the importance of bi-zonality should be underlined, Turkey's status for being a guarantor state should be made definite and presence of Turkish soldiers on the island should be maintained.

DENKTAS TO FLY TO NEW YORK WITH FOUR PEOPLE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas decided to go to New York with four people. TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas and Presidential Undersecretary Ergun Olgun will accompany Denktas in New York. Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Soysal will participate in the delegation in Istanbul. Denktas received on Saturday the Council of Ministers and assessed the situation. After this meeting, Denktas received Turkish Ambassador in Lefkosa Hayati Guven.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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URGENT HIT AT PKK
After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the United States, the U.S. government has been getting prepared for a military operation against members of terrorist organization PKK in north of Iraq. U.S. administration gives signal that they can stage military operation against terrorist organization PKK earlier than it was planned. U.S. sources said that initiatives for capturing a leader of terrorist organization or other attempts against terrorist organization PKK before May would not be a surprise.

ZIYAL AND BOLUKBASI TO REPRESENT TURKEY IN NEGOTIATIONS IN NEW YORK
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi who are veteran diplomats will represent Turkey during negotiations which will be held on Cyprus issue in New York upon invitation of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Ziyal who will represent Turkey at the negotiation table will have contact with Ankara during negotiations. According to Greek Cypriot side's attitude, Ziyal will determine attitude of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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NOT VERY HAPPY TRIP TO NEW YORK
The Turkish side decided to abide by the call of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan who called the sides in Cyprus to go to New York. But the Turkish side will also bring onto agenda its reservations about the issue. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok who met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that no step back should be taken from the position determined at the end of the National Security Council meeting about Cyprus issue.

DEATH TOLL REACHES 64
Rescue workers found three more bodies buried under the wreckage of a collapsed apartment building Saturday, bringing the death toll to 64, as they slowed operations to look for over 40 people believed still buried in the rubble, officials said. Officials believe the remaining 40 people were trapped in the bottom floors of the 11-story building as they tried to escape when the building began to crumble.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT TAKES BACKWARD STEP ON CYPRUS ISSUE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that they would be one step ahead of Greek Cypriot side on Cyprus issue started to assume different attitude after the letter of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. The government decided that they would assume a similar attitude with what the Greek Cypriot side did.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DENKTAS ON THE WAY TO NEW YORK
The conditional letter of invitation sent by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to the concerned sides in Cyprus didn't please anybody. A heavy diplomatic traffic was witnessed in Ankara yesterday regarding the response that would be given to Annan's letter. A letter of reproach was prepared as a result of contacts of Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ozkok. TRNC President Denktas who will leave for New York today also wrote a letter of objection to Kofi Annan. Denktas wrote in his letter that ''it is not possible to accept Annan's filling the gaps in case of disagreement between the sides, committees have to be formed for issues under discussion.''

STRICT FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE FOR MUNICIPALITIES
The government took initiative to save municipalities from heavy debt problem. Limitations will be brought to municipalities' borrowing money and personnel expenditures and inspection will be further intensified.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE GO TO NEW YORK WITH OUR CONDITIONS
Turkey insists on certain conditions regarding Cyprus issue:''the reality that there are two nations and two states on the island can't be ignored. Turkey will remain as a guarantor country and Turkish soldiers will not withdraw from TRNC until peace is totally installed on the island.''

TALAT IS ALSO IN CYPRUS DELEGATION
TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat will accompany TRNC President Rauf Denktas who is expected to go to New York today. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal who will go to New York on behalf of Turkey, will sit at the negotiation table with the conditions of ''bizonality, existence of Turkish soldiers and guarantor rights of Turkey.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY WANTS ITS RESERVATIONS TO BE ACCEPTED BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS
Turkey which decided to participate in Cyprus negotiations in New York upon the call of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, insists on its conditions. Ankara which will present its reservations in a letter, wants removal of the condition of Turkey's approving an agreement that could be reached in Cyprus before holding a referendum. Turkey also wants maintenance of bi-zonality and guarantor rights system.

(EÖ-Öª) 08.02.2004