ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 24th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''LET'S THROW AWAY THOSE BOOKS''
Aristides Evripidou, the Chairman of the Greek Cypriot Federation of Disabled Sportsmen who attended the special olympic games in southern city of Antalya, confessed, ''ground of our friendship has been laid here. I will tell our media that what was written in books were all a lie, and suggest them to throw away those books.''
HALUK KIRCI ARRESTED AS HE USED CELL PHONE
Haluk Kirci, the murderer of seven students and a member of an organized crime gang, was arrested in a house in a small town in Ukraine yesterday (Saturday) morning. Kirci was arrested upon information given to the Ukrainian police by Turkish Directorate General of Security's Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Organized Crime Department. Kirci was captured with a Turkish passport that belonged to another Turkish citizen. Ukrainian police had earlier been informed about addresses and cell phone numbers used by Kirci. Kirci was sentenced to death penalty for seven times on charges of killing seven young people, who were members of Labor Party, together with Abdullah Catli and his two more friends in capital Ankara in 1978. He was released from prison by mistake in March 2004. Kirci will be extradited to Turkey.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PRINCE DUE IN TURKEY FOR INAUGURATION
Prince Charles will inaugurate the British Consulate General in Istanbul, which was restored after it was a target of Al Qaeda's terrorist attacks last November. Prince Charles, who will arrive in Turkey today (Sunday), will meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
NEIGHBORING GREECE OFFERS ENTRY FOR FOREIGN-LANGUAGE OSCAR
Movies from 49 countries are in competition for the foreign-language prize at February's Academy Awards. Turkey could not offer an entry for this category since it missed the date of application. On the other hand, Turkey's neighbor Greece has offered an entry for 2005 foreign-language Academy Award with the film ''A Touch of Spice.'' Turkish actor Tamer Karadagli and actress Basak Koklukaya are also playing in the Greek-Turkish co-production.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ANOTHER TURKISH DRIVER KILLED IN IRAQ
A Turkish lorry driver was killed in an attack staged on a convoy by insurgents in Iraq. Insurgents staged an attack against a convoy of Turkish lorries when they were returning to Turkey after unloading in a U.S. base in Baghdad. Turkish lorry driver named ''Hasan Mustafa'' was killed in the attack.
ARINC: I WAS AGAINST THE EU IN THE PAST
Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc told Sabah daily that he was against the European Union (EU) in the past, but he was supporting it in the present day since the EU was the guarantee of individual rights.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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FM GUL: EU SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO ITS PROMISE
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stressed that leaders of European Union (EU) member countries would decide (in December) whether and when to open membership negotiations with Turkey, and said, ''we expect them to start negotiations with us. They should not play for time. There will naturally be difficulties in this process, but what is important is to lay the groundwork that will help us eliminate these difficulties.''
CHIRAC'S INDECISIVENESS RAISES CONCERS
The indecisive attitude of French President Jacques Chirac towards Turkey increases Turkish government's concerns. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who went to France, will meet his French counterpart Barnier. Everybody is curious about the stance France will assume during the meeting Chirac and (German Chancellor Gerhard) Schroeder will hold in Berlin on October 26th. Gul will also attend the meeting among (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan, Chirac and Schroeder.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SSK TENSION AMONG CABINET MEMBERS
The draft law prepared for transfer of Social Security Agency (SSK) hospitals to the Health Ministry caused a tension in the cabinet. Turkish Labor & Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu did not sign the draft he is criticizing.
TOBB WANTS TO UNDERTAKE DUTIES ON ROAD TO EU
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said that he wanted to undertake duties on the road to the European Union (EU). Hisarciklioglu said, ''EU will become our internal affair. And therefore, we shoud be among the negotiators.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TARGET IS TO END CORRUPTION
Turkey has launched initiatives to end corruption after the progress report on Turkey made public by the European Commission drew attention to corruption in Turkey. A department coping with corruption will be formed under the Prime Ministry. And, prosecutors will be granted extraordinary authorities.
TWO SECURITY OFFICERS KILLED IN TUNCELI
Terrorists killed two security officers as they attacked on a military unit in Nazimiye town of eastern city of Tunceli.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''MINORITY REPORT'' REVISED, AND PRESENTED TO GUL
The Human Rights Advisory Board changed some parts of the ''minorities and cultural rights report'', and presented to the Prime Ministry the previous night. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul continued to react to the report yesterday (Saturday). Gul said that the report was presented to the Prime Ministry, but he had not read it yet. Gul said, ''I don't approve handling critical issues in such a way these days.''
TURKISH NGOs DUE TO BRUSSELS
Leading Turkish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will lobby for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid. 320 NGOs pioneered by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), will visit Belgian capital of Brussels before the European Council due on December 17th. Turkish NGOs will be in Brussels on December 3rd, and lobby for opening of European Union (EU) membership negotiations of Turkey in the first quarter of 2005.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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WE HAVE TAKEN AN OATH FOR EU
Speaking in dinner hosted by International Banking Institute, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''a strong Turkey is undoubtedly the guarantee of a stable and peaceful region and Europe. And, we have taken an oath to realize this dream of Turkey, and to bring Turkey to the level it deserves.''
SENER: CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL REVIVE IN 2005
Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that construction industry would revive in 2005 as mortage system started to be implemented. Sener noted that there might be a significant flow of foreign capital in Turkey after December 17th (when the European Union would decide whether and when to open membership negotations with Turkey).

(BRC) 24.10.2004