ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 17, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BLAIR: MODERN AND SECULAR TURKEY IS IMPORTANT
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will pay a private visit to Ankara today after 14 years of interval. Replying questions of Hurriyet prior to his visit, Blair said that he wanted to see a European Turkey by his own eyes. He added that a stable and secular Turkey would show that Islam, democracy and economic success could exist together.

EU: IT IS TIME TO FULFILL REFORMS
The document of Associate Partnership meeting, which is held once in six months between Turkey and the European Union (EU), stresses the deficiency in fulfilling reforms. The final statement, which will be issued after the 43rd Associate Partnership meeting in which Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and representatives of 25 EU countries will attend, emphasizes that the EU is determined to end isolation of northern Cyprus. Also Turkey is called to lift limitations on the vessels of Greek Cypriot side.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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BREKK: YOU GET INTO DEBT, YOU SHOULD MAKE AGREEMENT WITH IMF
International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Representative in Turkey Odd Per Brekk said that Turkey has three alternatives to reach agreement with IMF and added that it was necessary to continue the path because Turkey has 23 billion dollars of debt to pay. He said that Turkey has to sign a new agreement after 2005.

BABACAN: WE WILL NOT USE THE LOAN IN 2004
State Minister Ali Babacan said that they did not consider to use U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars in 2004. He added that they would use the loan when Turkey needed it.

SAHIN: YOK LAW CAN CHANGE
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that changes could be made on Higher Education Board (YOK) law if President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returns it with reasonable pretext.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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12 POINTS FOR EU
Turkey has become successful in the organization of the 49th Eurovision Song Contest. British BBC said it was an unforgettable night and French Liberation said Turks were very successful while German Morgenpost said that Turkey which was on the threshold of the European Union (EU) promoted itself to the world.

DELICATE ARRANGEMENT TO U.S. LOAN
Bargainings on conditional U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars ended. Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that expressions in agreement text were revised and added that the loan could be used if Turkey wants.

BOMB PROTEST TO VISIT OF BLAIR
Bomb attacks were launched last night in Ankara and Istanbul before the visit of British Prime Minister Tony Blair to Turkey. There were no casualties after the explosions occurred at offices of HSBC Bank.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NATO TURNS TO SOUTH
NATO, which has become a global defense organization with its 26 members with the enlargement wave, will take an important step in its efforts to transform during NATO summit in Istanbul in June. NATO directed towards south as a target which it sees the source of radical terrorism.

BLAIR DUE IN TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will pay a one-day working visit to Ankara today. Important issues such as Cyprus, Iraq and fight against terrorism will be discussed. Turkey will ask Britain to take steps to lift embargoes on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SIGNAL OF SOFTENING
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin gave the signals that they could change Higher Education Board (YOK) law. He said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was the former Constitutional Court Chairman and if he returns the law, he would give the pretext of it. He added that if the pretexts were reasonable, they would do the necessary things.

BLAIR TO COME TO ANKARA TODAY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will pay a one-day working visit to Turkey today. Blair gave the message that they would support Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during his contacts with Turkish Foreign Ministry and Prime Ministry prior to his visit. Diplomatic sources of two countries interpreted this message as Britain was supporting Turkey as much as to start flights to TRNC.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TALAT: ISOLATION SHOULD END
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat who could not attend activities of the traditional ''Turkish Parade'' sent a message as answer to the invitation. He said that their first target was to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots and added that this target was shared by international community as well and this encouraged him.

MOST EXPORTS TO GERMANY
Exports from Turkey to Germany increased 523.3 million U.S. dollars to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in the January-April period of 2004. According to figures of Turkish Exporters' Association, exports to Iraq rose 491.1 million U.S. dollars to 564.1 million U.S. dollars.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TALAT REJECTED BARGAININGS ON ANNAN PLAN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that he would not negotiate Annan Plan again because the plan has been negotiated for two years and there were no more two or three years for negotiating it again.

TELEVOTING BRINGS ADVANTAGE TO TURKEY IN EUROVISION
Televoting system increases Turkey's gaining points in Eurovision Song Contest. Turkey ranked the first with Sertab Erener last year by benefiting from this system. Countries such as Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands where there are many Turkish citizens gave 12 points to Athena in this year's contest.

(GC-AÖ) 17.05.2004