ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 31st, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL HOPEFUL ABOUT OPENING OF ENTRY TALKS
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ``according to my point of view, the EU will set a date in 2005 for unconditional start of entry talks with Turkey. I do not have any hesitation.`` Referring to concerns of some European countries about Turkey`s membership to the EU, Gul said, ``these concerns are quite normal since Turkey is a great country.``
LETTERS TO NETHERLANDS AND VERHEUGEN
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent letters to the Netherlands acting as president of the EU, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen saying that the decision to be made on December 17th about opening of entry talks with Turkey should not include uncertain expressions.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ``HOMOSEXUALITY CRISES WEARS EU AWAY``
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Rocco Buttiglione of Italy who abandoned his efforts to become EU Commissioner for Justice after harsh reactions against his statements that homosexuality was sinful. During his meeting with members of liberal and democrat groups at the European Parliament, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the homosexuality crisis wore EU away.
TALAT: ``TURKEY SHOULD NOT INTERVENE IN ELECTIONS``
Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said that Turkey should not intervene in the elections in TRNC. Talat said that they did not expect Turkey`s support in the elections. He added that they could not reach a compromise on date of likely early elections.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EARLY ELECTIONS IN TRNC
National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu who was designated by President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to form the new government, will return his mission to President Denktas on Monday. Eroglu said, ``the UBP submitted a package of proposals to the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Democrat Party (DP) to form the new government. However, both political parties rejected the proposal. Therefore, UBP decided to return its mission of forming the new government to President Denktas on Monday.``
ARINC PRESENTED WITH ``EUROPEAN POLITICS AWARD``
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc was presented with the ``European Politics Award`` by the European Culture Foundation. The award ceremony took place at Istanbul`s Dolmabahce Palace yesterday. Arinc was given his award by Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) Vice President Bernard Schreiner.
``NO INTERVENTION IN KIRKUK``
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied news reports claiming that Turkish Armed Forces was planning to launch a cross-border operation in Iraq if the status of Kirkuk was changed. Diplomatic sources said that Turkey was not planning to intervene in Kirkuk, but operations had been continuing in border region between Turkey and Iraq against the terrorist organization PKK.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRECAUTIONARY POLICY
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Namik Tan said about news reports claiming that Turkey was planning to intervene in Kirkuk if the city`s status was changed, ``Turkey`s policy does not aim to react to the worst scenarios in Iraq. Our policy is based on cooperation with Iraq and the international community to eliminate those scenarios.``
GUL WARNS IRAQ ABOUT KIRKUK
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ``latest developments in Iraq has been jeopardizing the whole region. Also, recent developments in Kirkuk have the potential of destroying the political transition process in Iraq.``
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CYPRUS LETTER TO EU
While the EU Constitutional Treaty was signed by heads of state and government of EU-member countries, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter the EU about the Cyprus issue before signing the Final Act together with Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. The letter said, ``Turkey`s signing a document which was also signed by the Republic of Cyprus does not mean that Turkey will recognize the Republic of Cyprus.`` Meanwhile, Erdogan said, ``the document will bind Turkey politically, not legally.``
ANTALYA PROMOTED IN MONACO
Turkey`s southern resort city of Antalya was the ``Guest City of Honor`` of the 16th Session of the Monaco World Summit. The 16th session of the Monaco World Summit was held in Monte Carlo from October 27th - 29th. Tourism ministers and representatives of private sectors of 86 countries including France, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Portugal, Iraq, Pakistan, Brazil, Sudan, Belgium, Czech Republic and Russia attended the summit held with the theme of ``Globalization and Development``. Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) Chairman Kemal Ozgen promoted Antalya during the summit by distributing CDs and books about the city.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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``WE ARE DETERMINED TO SHRINK THE STATE``
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ``the state allocates 22.5 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) to the Social Security Agency (SSK) every year. I am calling on those who are holding demonstrations to protest handing over of SSK hospitals to the Ministry of Health. We can leave those hospitals to you, but you cannot ask any money. We are determined to shrink the state.``
IMF WARNS GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE
International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned the Greek Cypriot side to provide Turkish Cypriots workers with all kinds of facilities. Meanwhile, the EU and the United States have accelerated their efforts to keep their promises to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SUMMER-TIME ENDS
The day-light saving implementation ended at 2.00 a.m. on October 31st, 2004 as the clocks were set back by one hour. The summer-time which was adopted together with the European countries, started on March 28th, 2004. A total of 6.2 billion kilowatt hours of energy has been saved with summer-time application from 1990 to 2003. The summer-time application will start again on March 27th, 2005.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRICE OF NATURAL GAS TO INCREASE
Price of natural gas will be increased by 5 percent. The decision will come into force after being approved by the Energy Market Regulatory Board.

(UK) 31.10.2004