ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 17, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
REJECTION TO PRIVILEGED PARTNERSHIP
German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel who was against Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) suggested the formula of ''privileged partnership''. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected this suggestion and said, ''such an issue is not on the agenda of Turkey and cannot be in question.''

FBI IN ANKARA
U.S. Department of Justice sent two officials of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Ankara to provide coordination for the extradition of members of Uzan family. It was interpreted that Bush administration started initiatives to bring Kemal, Yavuz and Hakan Uzan to justice.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
SECOND CLASS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR TURKEY
German Federal Government Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Claudia Roth said that the suggestion of German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel, who proposed Turkey a privileged partnership instead of full membership to the European Union (EU), would make Turkey a second class country.

SYMBOL OF WAR TO BECOME PEACE HOUSE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos will meet in a room prepared for them at Lefkosa Airport which symbolizes the division of Cyprus. The place and style of the talks between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, which will start on February 19, have become clear. According to U.N. sources, the talks will be held at terminal building which was built at former Lefkosa International Airport in 1948 in buffer zone.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
AGENDA OF THREE LEADERS IS TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac will have a summit tomorrow. One of the main agenda items of three leaders is Turkey. Diplomatic sources said that Germany, Britain and France would decide to put pressure on other European Union member countries for Turkey's membership.

SEZER TO GO TO IRAN FOR D-8
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will go to Iran today to attend the meeting of Group of Eight Islamic Developing Countries (D-8). Presidency Press Center stated that Sezer who will go to Iran as the guest of President Mohammad Khatami of Iran would hold various meetings today and tomorrow in Iran.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
PRIVILEGED PARTNERSHIP ANGERS ERDOGAN
German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel said that they did not want to close the European Union (EU) door to Turkey, but they wanted a privileged partnership at the moment. Merkel said that a long process was needed for the transfer of sovereignty, benefiting from structural funds and Turkey's entrance to EU inner market completely. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted Merkel and said that it could not be understandable that an issue, which had not been brought onto agenda for anybody until now, was suggested to Turkey.

MEMORANDUM SIGNED WITH KAZAKHSTAN
Turkish Strategic Studies Center and Kazakhstan Foreign Policy and Analysis Center signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday. The memorandum envisions cooperation of two centers on production of strategical views.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
---------------
SPECIAL TEAM TO TRNC
Telephone traffic continues between Ankara and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). A Foreign Ministry delegation will go to island with a package including alternative suggestions against problems that can emerge during talks. Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said that they thanked TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Turkish delegation.

CYPRUS TALKS AT PARLIAMENT
The process for solution of Cyprus question will be discussed at Parliament today. The government, which wanted to postpone general meeting on Cyprus issue due to talks that will start in the island on February 19, accepted to give information upon objections of Republican People's Party (CHP).

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
WE HAVE THREE CONDITIONS
Turkish Cypriots will bring three basic issues to the table during the talks which will start in Lefkosa on February 19. Turkish side will demand changes on bizonality and population ratio, guarantor rights and new border arrangements. Also, as the United Nations has said, Turkish side will want the expression of 'two separate nations' to be added to the item 'two separate states'.

MERKEL ANGERS ROTH
German Federal Government Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Claudia Roth said that the suggestion of German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel, who proposed Turkey a privileged partnership instead of full membership to the European Union (EU), was unacceptable and added that this meant to make Turkey a second class country.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
EU WHICH WARNED GREEK CYPRIOTS MAY GIVE GOOD NEWS OF EARLY NEGOTIATIONS
Foreign ministers of Germany, Britain and France warned Greek Cypriots that, ''if you continue you intransigent attitude, we will carry out Cyprus question independently from Turkey's EU membership process.''
Hidden side of Cyprus talks in New York gradually comes to surface. It was revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who intervened as facilitator upon the request of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, put the biggest pressure which put Greek Cypriots into a difficult situation.
Foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain, who took actions upon the demand of Powell, warned Greek Cypriot side that Cyprus talks would be carried out independently from Turkey's EU membership process in case they continue their intransigent attitude.
EU sources, who spoke to daily Zaman, said Turkey could be given the signal that ''serious obstacle in front of starting talks will be removed'' in case Cyprus question is solved.

ERDOGAN REACTS AGAINST MERKEL'S ''PRIVILEGED PARTNERSHIP'' PROPOSAL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly reacted against the statement of German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel that ''privileged partnership'' was the most appropriate solution of Turkey's European Union (EU) membership.
Erdogan said the proposal was ''absolutely'' not on the agenda of Turkey, noting that, ''it is not possible to understand that an issue, which has not come onto agenda for any other country so far, is proposed to us.'' Erdogan said Turkey's would continue its full membership bid.
Merkel said they approached to Turkey's EU membership with criticism, yet that this did not mean they considered Turkey a second class country.
In a joint news conference with Erdogan, Merkel said Turkey was not ready for EU full membership. Erdogan in his part said Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen Criteria, and that, ''we are the most appropriate candidate country which fulfilled criteria to access the EU. It is impossible to understand that an issue, which has not been brought onto agenda for other countries, is brought to us.''

(GC-AY-AÖ) 17.02.2004