ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 18, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BOOSTED MORALE FROM SINCERE AND WARM BLAIR
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who came to Ankara for a six-hour working visit, boosted Turkey's morale for its European Union (EU) membership and Cyprus issue. Blair said that Europe was aware of new Turkey and noted that they would only have to deal with anti-Turkey opposition in Europe. Blair stressed that they had also contradictions among themselves regarding Zana case.

ARMY STARTS USING BULLETS INJURING PEOPLE NOT KILLING
Turkish Institution of Machine and Chemistry Industry (MKEK) Director General Mehmet Baspinar said that the institution started to produce bullets injuring people instead of killing them due to change in NATO's concept and to give those bullets to Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Baspinar said, ''there used to be 7.62 mm rifles which were killing a person when they hit him. In 1990s, the public opinion discussed whether a weapon should wound or injure people. Then, some NATO member countries started to use 5.56 mm rifles which don't kill, but wound a person.'' Baspinar said, ''we have been producing 5.56 mm rifles for the last four years and giving them to the Gendarme Command and Land Forces Command.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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OVERLOOKED COLLECTION
There are 191 historical artifacts belonging to Turkish businessman Dinc Bilgin, whose bank was transferred to the state. However, the Savings and Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) could not sequester them since it was not informed about those belongings of Dinc Bilgin. Precautionary measure and distrainment were imposed on Bilgin's assets under the law no 5020. But, 191 historical artifacts belonging to Bilgin were not sequestered. SDIF Chairman Ahmet Erturk said that the Fund was not informed about those historical artifacts. Bilgin's collection was registered in Istanbul Archeological Museum. Bilgin's registered collection which is kept in his villa in Sariyer, Istanbul, is comprised of artifacts dating to Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman eras.

YOU WILL GET A DATE
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is the first British prime minister visiting Turkey after 14 years, said that Turkey would most probably get a date from the European Union (EU) in December to start full membership negotiations. Blair promised that the EU would do its best in that process. Blair said that he wanted isolation of Turkish Cypriots to end and restrictions of flights to Turkish Cypriot side to be lifted. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed Blair to spend a holiday in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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THEY REACH THREE AGREEMENTS IN SHORT TOUR
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who paid only six-hour visit to Turkey, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will cooperate against terrorism and illegal immigration. British Prime Minister extended support to Cyprus issue and EU membership of Turkey during his visit and asked for Turkey's support to Afghanistan and Iraq. But, Blair did not lay down a concrete plan for lifting the embargoes imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Erdogan and Blair signed a memorandum of understanding on fight against terrorism. Two prime ministers also agreed on an action plan on Iraq, Afghanistan and global threat. Another agreement reached by the two prime ministers was related with migration.
TURKEY AND GREECE TO REDUCE ARMAMENT
Turkish and Greek defense ministers agreed to reduce their defense expenditures. Accordingly, Turkey gives up three and Greece gives up two armament programs.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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UNITED STATES WANTS NEW BASES
The U.S. administration which wants to use Turkey as ''a center of military force'' to control the Middle East, Caucasus and Caspian basin, laid down new proposals before Ankara. Sources said that officials of two countries continued to evaluate the proposals. The United States, which plans to increase military and geographical capacity of Incirlik Base in southern Adana province, aims to deploy 10 tanker aircraft and a thousand soldiers. Washington administration, which has new plans for the geography around Turkey, wants to establish three sea bases in the Black Sea, including two in northern provinces of Trabzon and Samsun. The United States plans to use Karapinar region in central Konya province as a military exercise area. Sources said that problems could emerge in transition from the Straits in case the United States established bases in the Black Sea.

ERDOGAN'S INSISTENCE ON YOK LAW
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) continues its searches to put into practice Higher Education Board (YOK) law before the university entrance exam due in June. AK Party thinks of either overcoming ''the constitutional handicap'' in the law with ''adjustment draft'' or not enabling the president to return the law for a second time. AK Party deputy chairman Gatsa said, ''we will try to put the law into practice before the university entrance exam. But, if we can't achieve our goal, it is not the end of the world.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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RECTORS ANGRY
Rectors of 25 universities in Marmara Region walked from Laleli to Beyazit districts of Istanbul to protest the Higher Education Board (YOK) law. Police asked the rectors to walk on the pavement. Rectors said that they had a permission to stage protest march and noted that the street should be closed to traffic.

VORKINK: NO ALARM
According to World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink, economic balances in Turkey are good. Vorkink said that recent developments in Turkish economy did not raise alarm. Vorkink stated that negative conditions were foreign-oriented. Vorkink noted that problems that might emerge in the floating exchange rate regime were being overcome.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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OUR DOOR IS OPEN
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who paid a short visit to Ankara, gave important messages to Europe after his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Blair said that Britain was extending full support to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership. Blair noted that Turkey had a place in Europe and stated that reforms and brave steps of Turkey would contribute to its EU membership.

WARNING OF TORTURE TO BLAIR
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the first British prime minister visiting Ankara after 14 years, about Iraq. Erdogan told Blair that ''photographs of torture in Iraq were very disturbing.'' Blair said that their duty in Iraq was difficult, but they would continue until the job was done.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BLAIR GIVES DOUBLE SUPPORT TO ERDOGAN
Turkey received full support of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the first British prime minister visiting Turkey since 14 years, to its European Union (EU) membership and end of isolation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Blair said that Britain would be pleased to see Turkey in the EU and his country was ready to extend every support to Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defined Britain as Turkey's ''strategic partner'' and ''ally.' The action plan signed after meetings between Turkish and British delegations foresaw that regular meeting process should be started between foreign ministers and technical teams of two countries in order to support Turkey.

MINE EXPLODES IN HANDS OF PKK TERRORISTS, KILLING THREE
Three terrorists died as the landmine they wanted to place on a road in Guclukonak town in southeastern Sirnak province exploded in their hands. Three members of the terrorist organization PKK/KONGA-GEL dug the road in order to place a landmine in Kocyurdu village in Guclukonak town and died as the landmine exploded in their hands.

(BRC-AÖ) 18.05.2004