ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 29, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HISTORIC STEP FROM OIC FOR TRNC
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) launched the first initiative to lift isolation on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Secretary-General of OIC Abdul Wahed Belqeziz said TRNC was currently in observer status at the OIC, stating that, ''we will expend every necessary effort after TRNC applies for full membership.''
Belqeziz met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat.
Belqeziz said the referendum on April 24 showed how Moslem Turkish Cypriot people acted together with the international platforms.
Belqeziz said they welcomed ''yes'' vote of the TRNC to Annan Plan and noted that the draft resolution prepared in Jeddah a month ago would be taken up in the OIC foreign ministers meeting scheduled to take place on June 14 in Istanbul.
VETO WITH 22-PAGE REASON
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer partially vetoed the Law on Amendments to Higher Education Board (YOK) Law and the Higher Education Personnel Law, Presidential Press Center said on Friday.
A statement of the Presidential Press Center said that Sezer returned the law to the Turkish parliament for reconsideration of first, fifth, sixth and seventh articles under the Articles 89 and 104 of the Constitution.
Turkish parliament adopted YOK law on May 13, 2004.
In his 22-page reason for returning the law, Sezer said the Law contradicted principles and reforms of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of Modern Turkish Republic.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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OIC BREAKS EMBARGO ON TRNC
Calls for Islamic countries to recognize Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) give first signs. Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Abdul Wahed Belqeziz arrived in Ercan Airport in Lefkosa and broke travel embargo on TRNC.

ERDOGAN: ARE THESE SCHOOLS AGAINST SECULARISM NOW?
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied harshly to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who vetoed Higher Education Board (YOK) Law. Erdogan said, ''These schools (Imam Hatip schools for education of Islamic clerics) have existed since multiparty period. They were not against secularism in the past, why are they against now? This has nothing to do with secularism.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PREPARATIONS IN ECONOMY FOR IMF
Preparations accelerated in economy administration prior to the visit of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation expected to start next week.
Economy Coordination Board, in its second meeting, discussed social security system and the road map that would be followed in relations with the IMF.

ERDOGAN MEETS WITH BUSINESSMEN IN BRITAIN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with businessmen during his visit to Britain. Scotch Whisky Company representative made an interesting complaint to Erdogan.
The businessman said they met several difficulties in Turkish customs and called on support to overcome those difficulties. Erdogan said he would be able to give necessary directives in case he knows the difficulties.
Pointing out that Turkey was a country which accepted free market economy, Erdogan said foreign investors were given equal treatment with Turkish investors.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NO CONCESSION FROM SECULARISM
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer partially vetoed the Law on Amendments to Higher Education Board (YOK) Law and the Higher Education Personnel Law.
Sezer determined that the law contradicted constitution, Education Unity Law, secularism and principles of public benefit.
Sezer said there were more students in Imam Hatip schools than needed, stating that those schools deviated from their goal.
A statement of the Presidential Press Center said that Sezer returned the law to the Turkish parliament for reconsideration of first, fifth, sixth and seventh articles under the Articles 89 and 104 of the Constitution.

IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam will come to Turkey on June 3 for discussion on the eighth review of the IMF-backed economic program.
Sources said on Friday that the delegation would firstly meet with business and finance circles in Istanbul.
Following those meetings, IMF delegation would proceed to Ankara to hold meetings at the Treasury Undersecretariat, Finance Ministry, Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Agency (BRSA), Central Bank and State Planning Organization (DPT) and relevant ministers.
Meanwhile, IMF European One Director and IMF Executive Director Michael Deppler and Willy Kiekens will also come to Turkey.
Deppler and Kiekens are expected to come to Ankara and meet with government officials on June 6.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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YOK LAW AGAINST SECULARISM
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed Higher Education Board (YOK) Law with reasons of 18 pages. Sezer's reasons: Imam Hatips (schools for education of Islamic clerics) are opened to train imams. Making them general high schools does not reconcile with principles and revolutions of Ataturk, secularism and education unity principle.

IMF DELEGATION TO COME
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, headed by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam, will come to Turkey on June 3 for the 8th review. The delegation will start its contacts from Istanbul by meeting with representatives of business and finance world. The delegation will then continue its meetings in Ankara.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: WE WILL BE A BRIDGE
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently holding meetings in Britain, told the European Union (EU) that, ''any negative decision towards Turkey in December will cause disappointment in Turkey. This will at the same time be a loss for the EU. An EU, having Turkey, will make peace with the Islam.''
Erdogan said in case of any negative decision, all the reforms fulfilled by Turkey would be called as ''Ankara criteria''.

ERDOGAN: ''TURKISH-GREEK COOPERATION IS OBLIGATORY''
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while evaluating Turkish Greek relations and Cyprus issue, said, ''national and international interests of three of them require cooperation.''
Addressing students at the Oxford University St. Anthony's College, Prime Minister Erdogan said a ''constructive attitude should be adopted'' for solution of Cyprus question and for overcoming of problems in Turkish-Greek relations.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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EUROPEANS PREFER TURKEY TO LIVE
While Turkey is expecting for a negotiation date from the European Union (EU), the EU citizens who visited Turkey for vacation cannot leave Turkey's coasts. Luxury houses have been sold to 800 German and Dutch citizens in recent months in Alanya town of Antalya province.

ERDOGAN: CHRISTIAN EUROPE BELONGS TO MIDDLE AGES
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the countries which wanted reference to Christianity in the European Union (EU) Constitution that Christian European idea remained in Middle Ages.

(GC-AY) 29.05.2004