ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 24, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HISTORIC REFERENDUMS
Referendums will be held both in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side today about United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan. A total of 143 thousand Turkish Cypriot voters and 479 thousand Greek Cypriot voters will cast their votes. If one of the sides votes ''no'', the plan will be considered invalid. Unofficial results are expected to be announced at about 21.00 local time.

SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT 369 KG OF HEROIN
Security forces have intercepted a total of 369 kg of heroin in a lorry and in trailer of a French tourist at Ipsala Border Gate in northwestern province of Edirne. 14 people including a French citizen were detained in the operation.

THREE TURKISH WEIGHT-LIFTERS WON MEDALS IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Taner Sagir of Turkey competing in the men's 77 kg category won three gold medals in the 17th European Men's and Women's Weight-Lifting Championships in Ukrainian capital Kiev. Mehmet Yilmaz of Turkey competing in the same category won two silver and a bronze medal. Meanwhile, Derya Acikgoz of Turkey competing in the women's over 75 kg category, won a gold and a bronze medal.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU TAKES FIRST STEP
European Union (EU) has prepared a document on Cyprus which does not call Turkish troops as ''occupiers'' on the island. EU countries' foreign ministers who will convene in Luxembourg on April 26 will discuss an important document on Cyprus. The document has been prepared by considering that Turkish Cypriots will vote in favor of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan on Cyprus and Greek Cypriots will vote against the Annan plan in referenda on April 24. It is expected that the expression, ''Cyprus' not being a united island will not be an obstacle in front of Turkey's accession to the Union,'' will be included in the document.

APRIL 23 NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND CHILD'S DAY
April 23 National Sovereignty and Child's Day has been celebrated throughout Turkey. The first ceremony took place at the parliament at 09.00 a.m. on Friday. Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc laid a wreath to the Ataturk monument at the parliament to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Child's Day. Arinc also hosted a reception to mark the 84th anniversary of the Turkish Parliament.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PEOPLE TO SAY FINAL WORD IN CYPRUS
Referenda will be held in Turkish Cypriot side and Greek Cypriot side on Saturday for a ''united Cyprus which will be a member of the European Union (EU).'' Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots will determine their future with their own decisions for the first time in their history.

GUL: ''I WILL TALK AFTER REFERENDUM''
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that their policies were ready for any result and added that he would make those things public after referenda. ''We have been carrying out works against all kinds of possibilities. We will make a detailed statement after the referendum,'' he noted.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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HISTORIC DAY IN CYPRUS
Synchronous referendums will be held both in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side about United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan which will pave the way for Cyprus to become a full member of the European Union (EU) as a whole. Tight security measures have been taken in the both sides. Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, who announced earlier that he would vote ''no'' in the referendum, is expected to request to renegotiate the Annan Plan and to submit alternative scenarios.

OZKOK: ''ANY RESTRICTION IS UNACCEPTABLE''
General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok has said that the arrangement in United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan restricting the Turkish war ships in territorial waters of the United Cyprus Republic was against the international practices. General Ozkok stressed that such an arrangement was unacceptable.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY BECOMES 22ND BIGGEST ECONOMY OF WORLD
The recent report of International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that Turkey was the 22nd biggest economy of the world in regard to the gross domestic product figures.

PARLIAMENT CONVENES WITH A SPECIAL AGENDA
The parliament has convened with a special agenda to mark the 84th anniversary of its foundation. Speaking at the special session, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said, ''we have only eight months ahead of us to get a date for opening of accession talks with the European Union (EU). We should concentrate on Turkey's EU membership process instead of dealing with meaningless domestic problems.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HISTORICAL VOTING
Turkish Cypriot side and Greek Cypriot side will determine the future of the island with 'yes' and 'no' votes in referenda in Cyprus today. Historical referenda will be held on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan on Cyprus. Cyprus problem will be solved or it will enter a new process. No matter what result comes out from referenda on the island, nothing will be as it used to be. 143 thousand 638 voters will cast their votes in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) while 476 thousand people in Greek Cypriot side will cast their votes for or against the Annan plan.

WE CELEBRATE APRIL 23 NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND CHILD'S DAY WITH JOY
April 23 National Sovereignty and Child's Day has been celebrated throughout Turkey and TRNC. The first ceremony took place at the parliament at 09.00 a.m. on Friday. Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc laid a wreath to the Ataturk monument at the parliament to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Child's Day. Representatives of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the Republican People's Party (CHP), and True Path Party (DYP) attended the ceremony. Later, a delegation headed by Arinc visited the mausoleum of Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CLASH ERUPTS BETWEEN TERRORISTS AND VILLAGE GUARDS
Clashes have erupted between a group of members of the terrorist organization of PKK/KADEK and village guards in rural area near Celtikli village in eastern province of Bitlis. Six village guards were injured when terrorists threw a hand-grenade on them. They were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Meanwhile, terrorists managed to flee from the area.

(EÖ-UK) 24.04.2004