ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 9th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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VESSEL SANK FOR 2,000 DOLLARS OF BRIBE
Celal Mavi, Third Captain of the vessel, which was waited in Iskenderun for 4.5 years and then sunk with its poisonous wastes, said that former customs director wanted 2,000 U.S. dollars of bribe to permit the departure of the vessel. Mavi added, ''we did not give the bribe. Thus, this incident happened to Turkey.''
FIRE DISASTER IN MINE PIT
A fire broke out as welding works continued in a tunnel of a construction site belonging to Etibank in Kure township of western Black Sea city of Kastamonu. 19 of 36 workers who were trapped in the tunnel choke to death.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CRITICAL MATCH ENDS FRIENDLY: WE SHARE POINTS
Turkish national soccer team won one point from its away match with Greece in World Cup European zone Group Two qualifier. The match ended with a draw 0-0. No unfavorable incident occurred during the match, and two teams played their match friendly.
MILLIYET INVITES 50 TERROR VICTIM FAMILIES TO TURKEY
The world continues to send assistance to the victims of the terrorist act in Beslan city of North Ossetia. Milliyet daily has launched an initiative to host 50 terror victim Russian families in southern city of Antalya. In the invitation she sent to the Russian Embassy in Ankara, Hanzade Dogan, the Head of the Executive Board of Milliyet daily, said, ''as Milliyet, we strongly condemn the terrorist act in North Ossetia. We will be pleased to host 50 terror victim families for a week. We will be pleased if we can help ease their pain a little bit.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EUROPE ISN'T AGAINST US
Despite politicians' thesis that ''Europe never wants Turkey'', European public opinion is not the enemy of Turks. German Marshall Fund, functioning to improve relations between Europe and the United States, carried out an annual survey on ten countries, as well as Turkish people. The survey carried out on thousands of people had a striking result regarding Turkey: There is not any standard point of view towards Turkey's European Union (EU) membership in Europe. Those who are against are not dominant as much as they are thought to be. 40 percent of the Europeans are indecisive or indifferent to Turkey's membership. The rate of those who back and who oppose to Turkey's EU bid are equal: 30 percent.
GOOD NEWS REGARDING NATURAL GAS
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler gave good news to Turkey: Natural gas reserves were found in searches carried out 9 miles off Akcakoca in the last two months. Turkish Oil Corp. (TPAO) and Madison Oil struck natural gas 2,500 meters beneath the Black Sea. Scientific & Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), which are given the samples taken from the region, will prepare a report on quality of the natural gas. If the report is positive, wells will be opened in Akcakoca.
for their accuracy.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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VERHEUGEN: FINAL DECISION WILL BE FAIR
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement who proceeded from western city of Izmir to commercial hub Istanbul, stressed that not only intellectual and elite people but also people living in poor regions of Turkey were supporting Turkey's EU bid. EU's final decision will be honest, fair and objective, Verheugen said.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS CALL ON EXPOSED TO FILE LAWSUIT REGARDING SUNKEN SHIP
Discussions on ''Ulla'' ship which sank in Iskenderun Gulf with 2,200 tons of hazardous materials continue. The report on water analyses said that there was not intense pollution in the region, and living sea creatures were not harmed. On the other hand, the environmentalists called on exposed people to file a lawsuit.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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VERHEUGEN: CONSIDERING ADULTERY AS CRIME IS OUTWORN
Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for enlargement, said, ''we can't consider adultery as a crime. If the (Turkish) government wants to join the EU, it should adopt EU's values.'' Verheugen met representatives of Women Center in southeastern city of Diyarbakir. Verheugen, who agreed with those who warned that honor killings will increase if adultery is considered a crime, promised to extend support regarding the matter. Verheugen said, ''considering adultery as crime is outworn. We closely follow the draft TCK (Turkish Penal Code). It is not possible for us to admit a country which considers adultery as a crime. EU values should be adopted.'' Verheugen noted that he had warned Foreign Minister Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan and added, ''if women are not supported, we can't talk about democracy.''
DISASTER IN TUNNEL
A fire broke out as welding works continued in a tunnel of a construction site belonging to Etibank in Kure township of western Black Sea city of Kastamonu. 19 of 34 workers who were trapped in the tunnel died.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EU ON FORK IN A ROAD
By the time 'decision moment' closes, struggle between those who wanted Turkey to be set a date for EU entry talks and those who did not increased. The number of people who did not want Turkey within the European Union (EU) increased while only few days are left for release of EU Commission's Progress Report about Turkey.
SABOTAGE ATTEMPT ON RAILWAYS
Terrorist, who wanted to plant a bomb on the railway bridge in Dortyol town of Hatay city, died when the bomb went off in his hands. Meanwhile, in Kahramanmaras city, train was stopped when it was revealed that terrorists destroyed railway connections.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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VERHEUGEN: FREEDOM OF RELIGION TO EXIST IN REPORT
The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen continued his meetings in Aegean city of Izmir yesterday. Verheugen, who met representatives of non-governmental organizations following his visit to Governor's Office and Municipality, said that freedom of religion will have a large place in the last report.
FRIENDSHIP NOT BROKEN IN AEGEAN
Turkish national soccer team drew 0-0 in its match with Greece in World Cup European zone Group Two qualifier.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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AIR SPACE CLOSED TO 'KURDISH AIRLINES'
Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK), and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) official Nechirvan Barzani, who continued their meetings in Ankara did not receive a positive response for Kurdish Airlines. Foreign Ministry asked for three conditions to open air corridor. Ankara, which does not want to weaken central administration in Baghdad, wants Turkish air corridor to be used by Baghdad based Iraqi Airlines, not by Kurdish Airlines based on the north of Iraq. Other two reservations of Turkey are security problems and insurance.

(GC-BRC) 09.09.2004