ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 7th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LIMITED GREEN LIGHT
Turkey's 41-year efforts produced its fruit, and the Progress Report issued on Wednesday recommended starting of negotiations with Turkey.
European Commission, which announced the Progress Report, recommended starting of negotiations with Turkey by a majority of vote. However, the report includes the statement that talks would be suspended in case there is regression in areas of human rights and reforms.
European Commission President Romano Prodi and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen announced the decision yesterday.
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TO BE ELECTED TODAY
Turkish Parliament could not elect its new speaker on Wednesday. Bulent Arinc, who had been elected by 368 votes two years ago, could not be elected in the first round of voting although he does not have a strong rival. 34 Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentarians did not vote for Arinc.
Parliament convened on Wednesday to elect its speaker who will work for three years. None of the two candidates won 367 votes which is required in the first round.
Candidate and former Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc won 334 votes while other candidate Serpil Yildiz got 157 votes.
Election of Parliament Speaker is postponed to Thursday.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WAS ''YES''
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said, ''we had two alternatives. Either we would say 'yes' or we would say 'not yet'. Turkey did not leave us any alternative but saying yes. It worked very rapidly and in a determined way.''
Verheugen held a press conference in the European Parliament and described the process made in Turkey in the recent years as ''extremely impressing.''
Verheugen said the EU could trust Turkey and noted that the progress report reflected the real situation in Turkey very well. He said nobody could expect a country to completely implement the reforms within a few years after they were made.
SCHROEDER: DON'T BE AFRAID OF ANKARA
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Germany would advocate Turkey on the way to the EU, and addressed to those who feel suspicion: ''be relaxed. The transition period is long.''
Schroeder said there was no reason to be afraid of Turkey's EU membership, and appreciated the Progress Report.
''Serious talks should be held from now on for Turkey's accession to the EU,'' Schroeder said pointing out that, ''we support Turkey, and our support will always continue.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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A NEW TURKEY
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged a new Turkey which will change from head to foot during the negotiation process.
Erdogan addressed Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) during when Turkey Report was issued. Erdogan promised the European parliamentarians that ''reforms will continue'':
Stating that there was a mentality revolution in Turkey, Erdogan said, ''zero tolerance to torture will continue, religious freedoms will be improved, and Turkey will continue to do its best during the negotiation process.''
''Negotiations should start in the first half of 2005,'' Erdogan said, stressing that, ''Turkey is an example country which may undertake the role of bridge among civilizations.''
BENDIT: ''EU MEMBER TURKEY TO ENRICH OUR CULTURE''
Daniel Cohn Bendit, who spoke on behalf of Greens Group, said, ''an EU member Turkey, which will join the EU in 2014, will enrich our culture.''
Bendit said his group advocated starting of entry talks with Turkey and noted that Turkey's accession would not change the EU.
Bendit said Turkey's accession would bring peace and contribution, stating that, ''I wish our children will live in an EU in which Turkey will be a member''.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CONDITIONAL PROPOSAL FROM THE COMMISSION
European Commission said ''negotiations may start with Turkey'' but violating its previous decisions recommended a ''process having suspension''. A restriction may be brought to free circulation.
In its recommendation paper, the Commission envisaged starting of negotiations with Turkey, but stated that the negotiations could be suspended in case there is a problem in democratization and human rights.
BAYKAL: CONDITION CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED
The opposition approached ''cautiously'' to Turkey Progress Report of the EU.
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal the EU had to start full membership negotiation with Turkey without condition.
CHP deputy Chairman Onur Oymen reacted to the conditions that restrictions could be brought to free circulation right and suspension of negotiation process.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT IS IN GOOD SPIRITS
Prime Minister Erdogan: The proposal is clear. I expect the negotiations to start in the first few months of 2004.
Erdogan said they considered as ''balanced'' the three documents which the EU prepared. ''The European Council has made a clear proposal. As this report is positive, a step will be made after December 17th. I expect the negotiations to start in the first few months of 2005.''
RIVAL TO ARINC: SERPIL YILDIZ
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentarian Serpil Yildiz became the rival of Bulent Arinc, who is the candidate of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Parliament Speaker elections.
Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs also supported Yildiz. Arinc got 334 votes in the first voting and 350 in the second. Arinc is expected to be elected as Parliament Speaker in the third voting where 276 votes would be enough.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL: A HISTORIC STEP HAS BEEN TAKEN
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that European Union (EU) Commission, with the recommendation it made today, took a historic step both for Turkey and the EU.
Replying to questions of reporters, Gul said the EU Commission took a historical step with its recommendation, yet noted that definite decision about Turkey would be made in December.
Gul stated that they have not yet received the report, and added that the report should seriously be analyzed.
VERHEUGEN: TURKEY DESERVED THIS
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said, ''we have been monitoring Turkey for years, not for a few weeks. The assignment is completed for us. We could not say 'wait some more time' to Turks after this moment.''
STRAW ARRIVES IN ANKARA
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in Ankara late on Wednesday to congratulate Turkey.
Straw will meet Turkish Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul at a working breakfast and later they will hold a news conference.
EU process, latest situation in Iraq and relations between Turkey and Britain will be discussed during Straw's meetings in Ankara.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GREEN LIGHT GIVEN TO TURKEY
European Commission announced its Progress Report about Turkey. The commission praised the reforms made by Turkey since 1999 when Turkey's candidate status was accepted. The Commission gave green light to starting of negotiations with Turkey.
However, the commission put forward some conditions. It was clearly stated in the report that the commission could ''recommend the EU leaders to suspend the negotiations'' in case there is regression from the reforms made on the way to the EU and in case of political instability.
ANKARA PLEASED: EU TOOK A HISTORIC STEP
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he considered the Progress Report ''balanced in general''.
''We find the European Commission's assessment and analysis generally balanced,'' Erdogan told a press conference in Strasbourg.
He said, ''according to the recommendatory document, the Commission examined that Turkey met Copenhagen political criteria sufficiently to start membership talks and it made a recommendation to member countries with this respect.''
Erdogan said, ''as the report is positive, the negotiations should start in the first few months of 2005 without delay.''
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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VISA FOR FINAL
European Commission accepted the Progress Report, meaning 'yes' to starting of full membership negotiations with Turkey, with the votes of countries apart from France and the Netherlands. The report was evaluated as success of Turkey.
Turkey passed October 6th examination, which is considered as the ''turning point'' in political and economic sense.
ERDOGAN: GREEN LIGHT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the European Union (EU) gave green light for negotiations with the Progress Report. Stating that he believed membership process would end positively, Erdogan said, ''Turkey demands what has been implemented for 25 plus 2 countries. We don't want discrimination.''

(AY-AÖ) 07.10.2004