ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 24th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
OUR PATH IS OPEN
Adultery problem was solved during Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Brussels. When Erdogan gave promise about Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the European Union (EU) shed green light. Turkish Parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Sunday upon developments.
DECISION TO BE TAKEN ON DECEMBER 17TH
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the European Union (EU) will make its decision to start Turkey's entry talks during the summit on December 17th. Gul added that this decision will not have any conditions.
STOCK EXCHANGE BREAKS RECORD
News coming from Brussels made active the markets. The stock exchange closed the session by increasing 785 points and it exceeded 22,000 points for the first time in its history.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
GUL: ''EU WILL SET A DATE''
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said, ''the European Union (EU) will make a decision at its summit on December 17th to start entry negotiations with Turkey unconditionally.''
ERDOGAN: ''ADULTERY WILL NOT BE BROUGHT ONTO AGENDA''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met European Commission President Romano Prodi and European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for Enlargement in Brussels yesterday. Noting that the parliament would convene on September 26th to enact the remaining two articles of the draft penal code, Erdogan said that the draft would not include the proposal criminalizing adultery.
WORKERS KIDNAPPED FOR TENDER
Turkish intelligence units reached very important information about 10 workers of the Ankara-based VINSAN construction company, who were kidnapped in Iraq. According to this information, militants were not involved in abduction. This time, the workers were kidnapped by rival circles, who were uneasy about VINSAN's winning a tender. Earlier in the week, VINSAN announced that it was halting operations in Iraq in a bid to save the lives its employees.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
WE ARE EUROPEAN
The historical Brussels meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen has comforted Turkey. Prime Minister showed with his determined and self-sacrificing manner that Turkey will not give up its path to the EU.
ADULTERY NOT TO BE DISCUSSED DURING AK PARTY RULE
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a joint news conference with President of the European Parliament. Upon a question about adultery, Erdogan said, ''adultery will not be brought onto agenda during Justice and Development Party (AK Party) rule.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
A STEP BACK
Recent tension between Turkey and the European Union (EU) over a proposal criminalizing adultery, was overcome yesterday after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the new penal code would not include the proposal in question. EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for Enlargement said after his meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan that there were no further obstacles on Turkey's path to EU entry talks.
TALKS OVER AEGEAN CONTINUES
The 27th round of exploratory talks was held in Ankara yesterday. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Director Anastase Skopelitis presided the talks aiming to resolve the problems between the two parties over the Aegean.
PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE EXTRAORDINARILY
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) asked the Parliament Speaker's Office to convene the parliament on September 26th. During the extraordinary session, the parliament will debate remaining two articles of the draft penal code.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
RAFFARIN: ''TURKEY HAS MADE PROGRESS TO ADJUST ITS LAWS TO EU NORMS''
Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said, ''Turkey has made progress in adjusting its laws and institutions to the European Union (EU) norms.'' In an interview with the Wall Street Journal newspaper, Prime Minister Raffarin said, ''we are not doubting good faith of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. We don't think we should tell Turkey that the doors of Europe are forever closed to it.''
SCHROEDER EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed his belief that Turkey would maintain its reform process. In an interview with German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, Chancellor Schroeder said that Germany extended full support to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ZEBARI: HELP US
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, met Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in New York. Zebari told Gul that they need Turkey's assistance to restore stability in Iraq. Gul wanted Iraqi government to be more sensitive about Turkmens and PKK terrorist organization.
TURKISH DRIVER: U.S. DID NOT HELP
Tahsin Top, the Turkish driver who was kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq and then released after 50 days of slavery said, ''I took shelter in U.S. soldiers but they drove me away. Then I was taken hostage by insurgents.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
PARLIAMENT TO HOLD EXTRAORDINARY SESSION ON SUNDAY
By the time Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan solved problems with the European Union in Brussels, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) called Parliament for an extraordinary session. The party wanted Parliament to convene on September 26th.
THREE GERMAN COMPANIES CHOOSE SIVAS FOR INVESTMENT
Encouragement Law, which covers cities having national income less than 500 U.S. dollars and brings some advantages to investors, drew foreign investors to Turkey. Three German companies, which wanted to benefit from free land and reduction in insurance and energy, started to make investment in the Industrial Zone in central city of Sivas.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
-------------------------
THREE MONTHS LEFT FOR NEW TURKISH LIRA
Three months left for starting to use new Turkish Lira (YTL). Both Turkish Lira and YTL will be used for one year. Turkish Lira will be invalid as of January 1st, 2006.
ERDOGAN WENT, SOLVED, RETURNED
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) storm in Ankara ended with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Brussels. Turkish Parliament will adopt TCK before October 6th and the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen will publish a positive report for Turkey.

(GC-UK) 24.09.2004