ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 3, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NO RETURN BACK
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw responded to questions of the paper before the commemoration ceremony to be held in front of British Consulate General in Istanbul today. Straw stated that the reforms undertaken by Turkey regarding its EU bid put Turkey on a road that does not have a return. Straw stated that they were impressed by the progress recorded in Turkey by AK Party government, adding that Turkish people's rights and standards of living improved.

ANNAN WAITS AT THE END OF ROAD
When TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos met for the seventh time yesterday, a surprising Cyprus meeting took place in Ankara. TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas came to Ankara as Turkey and TRNC needed a high ranking consultation, and met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Talat stated that the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side caused difficulty in achieving progress in Cyprus talks, adding that they entered one road and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was waiting for them at the end of that road.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ''WE MANIPULATED RELIGION IN THE PAST''
Following the words of Mehmet Metiner, the former consultant of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said that ''we were like Taliban in the past,'' a debate started in the Islamic circles which started to criticize themselves. Erdogan said in his part that ''we also manipulated religion from time to time in the past, it was a mistake. Now, we can't manipulate religion in politics. This is one of our red lines.''

TWO F-4 MILITARY PLANES CRASH:ONE PILOT DIES, TWO OTHERS MISSING
Two F-4 military planes collided during training over central Konya province yesterday. One pilot survived, one pilot died and two others are missing. One pilot had been found dead in his seat, while another pilot who ejected safely, was in shock, but otherwise in good condition. Rescuers are searching for two others aboard the jets.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SIX PEOPLE DIE IN MINOR QUAKE IN ADIYAMAN
An aftershock measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale demolished a house in Celikhan town of southeastern Adiyaman province. An old couple and their four grandchildren died in the collapse. The quake which was minor was not even felt by people living in other buildings. In another quake measuring 5.0 on Richter scale in Adiyaman last week, the same house was damaged slightly.

HOPE OF CHEAP NATURAL GAS
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said that his visit to Iran for a revision in the price of natural gas was positive. Guler stressed that despite the increasing oil prices, they tried not to increase the price of natural gas. Guler noted that ''if Iran decreases the price of natural gas, it will be totally reflected on the consumers.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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OSMAN OCALAN SURRENDERS
More than 100 members of the terrorist organization under the leadership of Osman Ocalan, the brother of head terrorist who argued with the PKK terrorist organization, surrendered to U.S. forces in Mosul and Baghdad. This claim was put forward by ''nasname.com'' which was founded by a group who separated from the terrorist organization PKK.

COX: REFORMS SHOULD CONTINUE
European Parliament (EP) President Pat Cox who addressed the Turkish Parliament said that the relations between Turkey and the EP were improving. Congratulating deputies due to the reforms undertaken by Turkey, Cox warned that implementation of the reforms was also important. Cox stressed that EP expected certain changes regarding the situation of former DEP deputies who were in prison. Cox said that the report of EU about Turkey would be fair and balanced.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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REACTION TO WESTON IN CYPRUS
No compromise has been reached yet in Cyprus negotiations. TRNC President Rauf Denktas criticized U.S. special envoy for Cyprus Thomas Weston who said that ''those who say 'no' in referendum' will pay the price,'' and noted that ''both sides paid the price.'' Greek Cypriot side Tassos Papadopoulos also reacted to Weston. Denktas noted that the words of Weston constituted unacceptable pressure and threat against Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples.

GUL: CYPRUS ISSUE TO BE SORTED OUT
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who listened to the criticisms of TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas about the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side in the talks, said that ''if the sides can't sort out the problem, Turkey and Greece will take action, if not, Annan will resolve the issue.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN DUE TO ATHENS
Addressing people in central Yozgat province, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no official visit was paid to Athens, Greece since Turgut Ozal's prime ministry, adding that ''I will go to Greece. We will talk with our neighbour. Turkey and Greece have cancelled military manoeuvres mutually and now we will give natural gas to Greece. We must install peace, if this is not the case both Turkey and Greece will lose.'' Erdogan had earlier visited Athens as the leader of AK Party.

NOW IT IS TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Addressing the parliament yesterday, European Parliament President Pat Cox said that reforms were impressive, but they should not remain on paper. Noting that he was impressed by the reforms undertaken by Turkey, Cox said that ''you have achieved the things which you considered for 40 years, in only two years.'' Cox said that Cyprus issue was not a precondition of Turkey-EU relations, adding that they favoured a balanced solution on the island.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GROSSMAN SHOWS TURKEY AS MODEL TO ARAB LEADERS
U.S. Undersecretary of State Department Marc Grosssman who pays visits to Middle Eastern countries to explain the Greater Middle East Initiative of the U.S. administration, said that Turkey was an important model for the Arab world. Grossman who will come to Ankara tomorrow, said during his meetings in Egypt that Turkey was a democratic Muslim country.

MILITARY PLANES CRASH: ONE PILOT SURVIVES
Two training F-4 planes collided in the air and crashed into a mountainside in central Konya province. One of the pilots parachuted to safety, while another one was found dead in his seat. Two other pilots are missing.

(Öª-AÖ) 03.03.2004