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

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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COX: DISPLAY YOUR COURAGE FOR SOLUTION IN CYPRUS
European Parliament (EP) President Pat Cox has called on leaders of Turkish and Greek sides in Cyprus to display their courage and act wisely to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. Cox, who visited Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, said that they needed leaders of the both sides to display their courage and good-will, adding that Turkey and Greece should also display a similar attitude. Cox called on leaders of both sides in Cyprus to display their courage and act wisely to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

OSMAN: TURKEY CHANGED U.S. POLICY ON KURDS
Mahmud Osman, one of the Kurdish members of Iraqi Governing Council, said that U.S. administration has changed its attitude about the demands of Kurds while draft constitution was being prepared and added that Turkey was influential on this change.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HAYRUNNISA GUL WITHDRAWS HER CASE
Hayrunnisa Gul, wife of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, decided to withdraw the case which she filed to European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as she was not registered to the university due to her headscarf. Noting that she believed that she was rightful to file the case, Gul said that she withdrew the case because of her husband's position and possibility of misuse of the case politically.

VOTES TO BE GIVEN TO GREEKS
Turkish people in Greece vote for Greek candidates who promise employment, instead of voting for Turkish candidates who will represent them at Greek Senate. 55 percent of votes were given to Greek candidates in the last elections.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WE ARE ON GIANTS LEAGUE
Turkey takes part among export leaders of the world with its annual export amount worth of 50 billion dollars and became the 28th of the world. The export amount exceeded 50 billion dollars as of the end of February. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) index, exports from Turkey in period of March 2003-February 2004 rose 32.29 percent to 50 billion 14 million 171 thousand U.S. dollars.

DENKTAS: REACHING A SOLUTION IS DIFFICULT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that Greek Cypriot side was acting in a relaxed manner as if it has already been a member of the European Union (EU) and added that Greek Cypriots would not reach a consensus. He said that Greek Cypriots considered every amendment they proposed as ''unacceptable'' by claiming they were not complying with Annan Plan.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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AK PARTY SELLS EVERYTHING
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) made a rapid study program and privatization timetable immediately after they came to power. AK Party went into ''sales'' wholeheartedly as it had failed to reached privatization income of four billion U.S. dollars which it targeted for the first year.
AK Party was criticized as it tried to sell many strategic institutions of the country without considering the most important principle criteria like the foundation cost and market value and that it sold some of the institutions to its supporters with ''appropriate conditions''.

RESPONSE WAITED FROM U.S. FOR OCALAN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched initiatives in Ankara and Iraq due to news stories which claimed that Osman Ocalan and a group of members of terrorist organization PKK/KADEK surrendered to U.S. forces in Iraq.
Diplomatic sources said on Monday that Foreign Ministry asked information from American officials in Ankara and Iraq about the issue.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HAYRUNISA GUL WITHDRAWS HER CASE AT ECHR
A surprise development took place in headscarf problem which was brought to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and which was discussed very much.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said his wife would withdraw the case that was filed to ECHR against Turkey as she was not registered to the university because of her headscarf. Hayrunisa Gul complained that her application was an issue of ''political exploitation'' and stated that she considered as appropriate to withdraw the file.

COX: BE BOLD AND ACT WISELY
Turkey for the first time hosts a European Parliament (EP) President since the 1999 Helsinki Summit when the EU officially granted candidacy status.
European Parliament (EP) President Pat Cox visited Turkey for a three-day visit as the guest of Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc.
Speaking after his tete-a-tete meeting with Arinc, Cox has called on leaders of both sides in Cyprus to fulfill their commitments to U.N. Secretary General about the negotiations and to display their courage and act wisely to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL: ''WE ARE COVERING EVERYTHING''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said they closely covered the developments on the temporary Constitution which is under preparation in Iraq.
Gul said, ''it is not definite yet, but disputes still continue. Our government follows the developments closely.''
Replying to a question about attacks against Turkmens in Iraq, Gul said, ''Turkmens held some demonstrations by getting permission. Several incidents occurred, but it should not be exaggerated.''

DENKTAS: ''GREEK CYPRIOTS DO NOT RECOGNIZE US''
No result could be obtained from the sixth negotiations carried out to find a solution to Cyprus question.
Talks, aiming to find a solution to Cyprus question till May 1 under the basis of Annan plan, continued also on Monday.
TRNC President Rauf Denktas, who made a news conference after the talks, stated that they presented the Greek Cypriot side all the changes they wanted to be made to Annan Plan. Denktas said, ''they rejected all our proposals on sovereignty and bizonality.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME EXCEEDS 50 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN EXPORTS
Exporters, who finished 2003 by breaking record, still continue to record success. Exporters, who reach another country each day although U.S. dollar loses in value, sold products abroad worth of 50 billion U.S. dollars as of the end of February.
Experts said even mentioning this figure was a dream in the past.
Stability in economy positively affects exports. Annual exports increased by 32.29 percent as of the end of February and reached to 50 billion 14 million and 171 thousand U.S. dollars.

EU DONATES 65 MILLION EURO TO TURKEY IN ONE MONTH FOR JOINT PROJECTS
Intensifying relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) are reflected to social life thanks to joint projects. EU donated 65 million Euro to Turkey in one month to be used in health and study fields.
Interreg Program, envisaging economic cooperation between Turkey and Greece in border regions, is among the projects which the EU Commission encouraged.
EU allocated 35 million Euro budget for this project which would be done for the first time between the two countries.

(AY-AÖ) 02.03.2004