ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 16, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WELL DONE TURKEY
Turkey hosted the 49th Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, and achieved great success. The event was broadcast live in 41 countries reaching over 100 million viewers across Europe and beyond in territories as far afield as Australia. Ruslana Lyzichko of Ukraine came on the first place with her song ''Wild Dance'' while Athena band representing Turkey in the contest came on the fourth place.

TURKISH-GREEK PATHOLOGY DAYS START IN ANKARA
Turkish-Greek Pathology Days activity organized by the Ankara Pathology Association, has started in capital Ankara. During the two-day organization, Turkish and Greek scientists will share their pathology experiences and create a ground for future joint projects. Prof. Dr. Omer Gurman from the Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) highlighted importance of the organization in regard to efforts to further develop the co-operation between Turkey and Greece. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. George Delides of Greece said that the second Turkish-Greek Pathology Days activity would be held in Greece next year.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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INTERIM REPORT OF EU
In its interim report on Turkey, the European Union (EU) said that although Turkey had adopted a series of reform packages, there had still been some problems in efforts to put those packages into practice. The EU eulogized recent constitutional amendments annulling the State Security Courts (DGMs) and excluding the military member of the Higher Education Board (YOK). Stressing that Turkey had taken significant steps to prevent torture, the EU said, however, officials maltreating prisoners were not punished at all. The EU explained its determination to lift the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The EU will support economic development of the TRNC. Referring to the Turkish economy, the EU stressed that banking sector should be restructured and public banks should be privatized.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BLAIR DUE IN TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will come to Turkey on Monday on a daily working visit. After holding talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Blair will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Issues such as Turkey's European Union (EU) process, Cyprus, Iraq and NATO Summit will be high on Blair's agenda. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Blair is expected to give a message about softening of embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during his visit to Ankara.

THREE ALTERNATIVES FOR RELATIONS WITH IMF
According to State Minister Ali Babacan, there are three alternatives for relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after 2005: signing a ''post-program monitoring agreement'', signing a ''precautionary stand-by deal'' or ''maintaining the current stand-by deal''.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SHARIA ERA IN ECONOMY
Turkey has been getting ready to sign an agreement with the Islamic Corp. for the Development of the Private Sector which was established to develop an economy conforming to Sharia religious law. State Minister Ali Babacan said that a draft law envisaging approval of the draft was submitted to the Prime Ministry Office. Under the agreement, there is a sharia committee inspecting conformity with Sharia law.

IHD PROTESTS TORTURE EVENTS IN IRAQ
A group of members of the Human Rights Association (IHD) held a demonstration in Ankara to protest torture events in Iraq. Members of the group gathered in front of the Human Rights Monument on Yuksel Avenue. Speaking on behalf of the group, IHD Provincial Director in Ankara Yuksel Mutlu claimed that the U.S. soldiers had been torturing Iraqi prisoners systematically, and that the U.S. officials were aware of those events. Defending that the U.S. and British soldiers committed war crimes, Mutlu said, ''occupation, massacres and torture in Iraq and Afghanistan should come to an end immediately.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTATION''
The European Union (EU) released a 19-page interim report on Turkey. The report will be high on agenda of meeting of the Turkey-EU Accession Partnership Council that will convene in Brussels on Tuesday with the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. Meanwhile, the report said that Turkey had not yet overcome its difficulties in implementation of reform packages.

PAMUK'S LATEST NOVEL IN BRITISH MARKETS
The latest novel of famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk has been published in Britain. The novel ''Snow'' was translated into English by Maureen Freely and published by Faber & Faber Publishing House. Meanwhile, leading British daily the Guardian described Pamuk as an ''Occidental Hero''. The article written by Nicholas Wroe said, ''Pamuk was one of the most unusual literary creatures, 'both a best-selling author and an avant-garde writer'. Pamuk's novels exuberantly embrace postmodernist narrative trickery and his work has been compared to Kafka, Borges, Calvino and Garcia Marquez.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BUS COMPANIES ABOUT TO GO BANKRUPT
Cheap domestic airway flights stroke blow on the bus companies. The giant fleet operation sector of seven billion U.S. dollars are about to give in to cheap domestic airway and seaway transportation. Bad days have started with the decrease in Special Consumption Tax on domestic airway and seaway transportation. And it caused deduction in domestic flight fees. After demand in those flights boomed, number of passengers who take bus rides to far destinations dropped by 90 percent. Bus companies are now seeking ways to merge under a single umbrella as they saw the situation is getting worse. ''Such a decrease in special consumption tax should be made also to fleet operation sector. Otherwise, the sector which has ten thousand buses will go bankrupt.''

TURKEY: ACTUAL WINNER
The 49th Eurovision Song Contest became scene of glorious views. As a result of the contest that was broadcast live in 41 countries, Turkey made its promotion which it can't make for billions of U.S. dollars. Ukraine won the contest while Turkey became fourth.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TONY BLAIR COMES WITH SUPPORT TO EU AND CYPRUS
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will pay a historic visit to Turkey tomorrow. The British Premier's visit is important as it will be paid while Ankara's EU membership, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Iraq and NATO are on the agenda. British The Guardian newspaper reported that Blair is going to go to Turkey to set up bridge with Muslim world. Blair's visit is also meaningful in terms of clear support to Turkey on its EU path after German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit in February. The British Premier is expected to also take a step on lifting of isolation of the TRNC. Blair's visit is the first ever formal visit to Turkey by a British Prime Minister in last 14 years. Former British Prime Minister Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher visited Turkey in 1990.

(UK-MS) 16.05.2004