ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 26, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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QUAKE MEASURING 5.1 ON THE RICHTER SCALE DEVASTATES VILLAGES
An earthquake, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale continued for 10 seconds. The epicenter of the quake which occurred at 21.30 local time, was Cat township in eastern Erzurum province. The quake, which was felt in Bingol, Erzincan, Bayburt, Gumushane, Trabzon, Rize and Mus, caused panic.
According to the preliminary reports, nine people, five of them children, died and 12 others injured in Kucukgecit and Karabuk villages in Askale township.
Erzurum governor Mustafa Malay said there was serious damage in villages.

''GOOD WILL DOCUMENT'' FROM U.N. TO SIDES
There was a surprise development on derogations-exceptions which locked Cyprus. Firstly, the European Union (EU) told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who were currently in Brussels, that, ''you be determined, we will be flexible''.
Later U.N. Representative Alvaro de Soto presented the four sides the ''Good Will Document'' proposing more flexible solutions on security, economy and international agreements.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL SAYS HIS FINAL WORD, ''QUARTET'' MEETING STARTS
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in Buergenstock, Switzerland where Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Greece and Greek Cypriot side were expected to hold a quartet meeting, ''if we don't hold the quartet meeting, I will leave Buergenstock and will never return.'' Then, United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto invited parties to a ''social dinner''. Thus, Turkish Cypriots sat at the same table with a Greek minister after 30 years. But, since Greece did not want to take place in the same photograph with the Turkish Cypriots, it did not permit such a photograph.

THEY GIVE THE SAME RIGHT TO OTHERS BUT NOT US
Turkey wants privileges (derogations) in Cyprus but the European Union (EU) rejects Turkey's demand. The same EU recognized this privilege to Finland. Turkey wants restrictions on ''property acquisition and settlement'' in the Cyprus agreement to be permanent. But, EU opposes to this demand of Turkey. However, there are models similar to this demand of Turkey in the EU law. Derogations in Aaland island of Finland are permanent.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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IT CAN'T BE WITHOUT TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said everybody should know that they fight against terrorism not Islam. He said they could not achieve this before taking Turkey to European Union (EU) to show that we are not Christian union.
According to Blair Turkey's inclusion in European Union was one of the basic conditions of fight against terrorism.

MERGING OF HALKBANK WITH PAMUKBANK TAKES START
Halk Bankasi reached an agreement with Savings and Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) on transfer of Pamukbank.
A statement of SDIF noted that the Fund and Halkbank management agreed in principle on merging of Pamukbank, which had been transferred to the SDIF.
The statement added that the Fund and Halkbank management also decided to start technical and strategic efforts on the road to merger.
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) announced on June 19, 2002 that SDIF undertook Pamukbank's management and control.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''CHAIN OF MISTAKES IN CYPRUS ISSUE''
Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said that Turkey could not protect its rights in Cyprus issue, Demirel noted that United Nation (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan could deteriorate the peace in the island. Defining Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government's policy towards Cyprus as ''a chain of mistakes'', Demirel said, ''the situation faced in Switzerland can't be accepted. If I was the head of the government, I would call Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul back to Turkey.''

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP GRANTED TO TERRORIST
Azad Ekinci, the terrorist who planned the terrorist attacks in Istanbul which caused bloodshed in the city, received ''scholarship'' for education from Istanbul Municipality. Current Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the Istanbul mayor between 1998 and 1999 when Ekinci was granted scholarship by the Istanbul Municipality for eight months. It was earlier revealed that Engin Vural, one of the terrorists who staged the bomb attack on a Masonic lodge in Istanbul earlier in March, had worked in Istanbul Gas Distribution Industry and Trade Corp (IGDAS).

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AK PARTY 49 PERCENT, CHP 19 PERCENT
A survey carried out by A&G shows that Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) still have the same rate of votes today when compared with the votes they gained in the parliamentary elections held on November 3, 2002. Votes in favor of Felicity Party (SP) lose in the same period. The Motherland Party (ANAP) continued to lose votes while votes in favor of Young Party (GP) dropped from 7.2 to 1.7 percent.

CHALLENGING BARGAINING IN SWITZERLAND
Turkish side was late. It is now difficult to make a possible agreement on Cyprus a part of European Union (EU) basic law. Parliaments of EU member countries should ratify a possible agreement on Cyprus to make this agreement the basic law of the EU. As Turkey was late in its efforts, it is difficult to complete this procedure till May 1. Ankara is now trying to convince the EU to overcome this deadlock.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EU PRAISES TURKEY
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who were invited to the meeting of European liberals in Brussels, were praised by EU members. EU representatives Solana and Verheugen said that Turkey was a strategically important country for Europe's security. The two representatives also noted that they appreciated Erdogan's confidence in himself in respect with EU membership and reforms. Erdogan added that they had a positive point of view towards Turkey.

ERZURUM SHAKEN BY EARTHQUAKE
Eight aftershocks were recorded after an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook eastern Erzurum province. Many houses were damaged while people rushed into streets in panic. Hospitals were full of injured and shocked people.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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DENKTAS GRADUALLY TOUGHENS
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) continues to insist on not joining talks in Switzerland. Denktas said peace could not be made by force.
Denktas said he was afraid that such a compromise that would be reached on the island in such a case would bring argument and confusion rather than peace. He said Greek Cypriots were looking for a pretext to avoid talks.
Stating that EU officially informed them that permanent derogations would not be given, Denktas said people would determine their own fate in the referendum.

QUAKE SHAKES ERZURUM: 8 DIE
According to preliminary assessments, eight people died in moderate earthquake in Cat township in eastern Erzurum province.
The quake measuring 5.1 on the Richer scale occurred at 21.30 local time. It lasted for 10 seconds. Seven people died in Kucukgecit township in Askale when a house collapsed.
One person died in Cat township, which is the epicenter of the quake.
Nearly eight aftershocks were recorded in the region after the quake.

(BRC-AY) 26.03.2004