ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 28, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. WANTS SOLDIERS FROM TURKEY
The United States which deployed most of its troops to Iraq is getting prepared to demand soldiers from Turkey and Spain for Afghan front. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicolas Burns said that since they could not reach success in Iraq, then they shall solve the problem in Afghanistan.

SCHROEDER: WE APPRECIATED YOU
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey fulfilled the European Union (EU) criteria successfully and added that Turkey was on the right path. Schroeder, who praised the steps Turkey has taken on Cyprus issue, said that they owed appreciation to Turkish politicians on that issue.

EU TO OPEN REPRESENTATION IN TRNC
The European Union (EU) which released financial assistance worth of 259 million Euros is officially starting legitimate relations with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and it will open EU Representation in TRNC soon.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ''WE WILL ANNOUNCE A DIFFERENT PACKAGE IN 2005''
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said at a meeting with members of Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ''we target to reach a level in which our program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will become unnecessary by the end of 2005. We will announce a different package then.'' The Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry established jointly by the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Union of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Cologne was inaugurated by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

''ISLAM COUNTRIES SHOULD TAKE STEPS''
Turkey has called on the member countries to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to take first steps about lifting of embargoes imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for a long time. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin invited ambassadors of OIC-member countries to the ministry. During the meeting, Ilkin told ambassadors, ''we expect our friendly countries to take the first steps about setting up commercial, sports and cultural relations with TRNC.'' Previously, Turkey conveyed its requests to 15 member countries to the European Union and 15 member countries to the United Nations Security Council for lifting of international isolation against TRNC.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EUROPE RECOGNIZES TRNC DISCREETLY
The European Union (EU) decided to open a representation in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It will transfer the financial assistance worth of 259 million Euros to TRNC by this way. Speaking at European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen stated that they decided to open representation in TRNC. Turkey rapporteur Oostlander said that the decision and transferring the donation directly meant recognition of TRNC.

800 THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT ANTALYA IN FOUR MONTHS
The number of tourists who visited southern Antalya province in the first four months of this year increased 80 percent. Nearly one million tourists have visited Antalya since the beginning of the year. This number was 501 thousand in the same period of last year.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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VERHEUGEN: TURKISH SOLDIERS NOT PROBLEM
The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that an EU member country's reason for being afraid of a candidate country's military force was not an issue to be taken serious. He recalled that Annan Plan envisioned the withdrawal of those forces, but Greek Cypriot side voted against this. He said that deployment of Turkish soldiers in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) did not have any danger.

PAPADOPOULOS: MONEY CAN'T BE GIVEN TO TURKISH CYPRIOT
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos claimed that the European Union (EU) could not transfer economic assistance directly to Turkish Cypriots. Papadopoulos said that if Europeans acted oppositely, he would apply to EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EUROPE GETS READY TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH TRNC
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen has reacted to statements of Greek Cypriot officials who claimed that the EU could not send direct aid to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). He said that EU's opening an office in TRNC was inevitable. Verheugen noted that they were planning to establish economic, cultural and social relations with TRNC.

''TURKEY DESERVES EU MEMBERSHIP''
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has expressed Germany's sound support to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Schroeder attended inauguration of Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cologne. Recalling that the target of the United Cyprus could not be reached because of Greek Cypriot side which rejected United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in the referendum, Schroeder said that the world should appreciate efforts of the Turkish side. He added that Turkey deserved the EU membership.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''TURKEY CAN RELY ON GERMANY''
The Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry established jointly by the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Union of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Cologne has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Speaking at the inauguration, Schroeder expressed their regret over the decision of the Greek Cypriot side to reject United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in the referendum. He stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side should not be punished because of the Greek Cypriot side's decision. Schroeder expressed his support to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, stressing that Turkey could rely on Germany.

NO OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR DISPATCH OF TURKISH REINFORCEMENT TROOPS
Turkey has not received any official request yet about dispatch of the reinforcement troops to Afghanistan to be charged under NATO. Diplomatic sources said about statement of U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns, who said, ''Spain and Turkey, along with Germany and seven other allies which do not have forces in Iraq, have 'excess troop capacity' and can help solve resource problems that have hampered the Alliance's plans to expand its Afghan mission beyond the Afghan capital, Kabul,'' that Turkey had already been making necessary contributions to Afghanistan under the structure of NATO. Noting that Turkey, which had nearly 240 soldiers in the region, sent a nine-member delegation to Kabul for construction of Kabul Airport, sources said that three helicopters, which were requested earlier, would leave for Afghanistan in the possible shortest period.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SCHROEDER: WE WILL PROVIDE COMMERCIAL SUPPORT TO TRNC
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that they would launch initiatives for commercial assistance to Turkish Cypriots. Praising the efforts of Turkish government for solution of Cyprus issue, Schroeder said that the only responsible of insolubility was Greek Cypriot side. Noting that Turkish Cypriot side should not be punished, Schroeder said that they carried on activities for openings in commercial and touristic aspects. Schroeder said that they supported the European Union's financial assistance to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and added that the experts of two countries would convene to prepare proposals for political and financial assistance to TRNC.

(GC-UK-AY) 28.04.2004