ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on November 3rd, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE WON'T TAKE A BACKWARD STEP FROM LAUSANNE
Gen. Ilker Basbug, Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff, in a press briefing he held in Ankara yesterday (Tuesday), explained the perspective of Turkish military on the European Commission's progress report on Turkey, and criticized the report. Basbug said, ''as the Turkish Armed Forces, we don't approve opening unitary state into discussion. The progress report openly states that there are new minorities in Turkey. It is obvious that this (statement) isn't in line with Lausanne (Treaty). We won't take a backward step from Lausanne.''
FENERBAHCE TO TAKE ON LYON
Fenerbahce soccer club of Turkey will take on Olympique Lyon of France in its fourth match in Champions League Group D. Fenerbahce's coach Daum told a press conference yesterday (Tuesday), ''Alex is a world-class player. I believe he will play very well in this match.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MY ELDER BROTHER HIKMET
Hikmet Cetin, the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan whom Afghan President Hamid Karzai address by saying ''my elder brother Hikmet'', has become one of the most loved personalities in Afghanistan in nine months. Cetin has great influence in Afghanistan. Hikmet Cetin explains his relation with Karzai as follows: ''He sees me as a friend. We are so close that we can talk everything. I tell him all my political views and views on other matters. I am trying to help (him).''
22 ACCUSATIONS MAY BE DROPPED
Zeki Cakan and Cumhur Ersumer, two former Energy & Natural Resources ministers, started to be tried in the High Tribunal yesterday (Tuesday). Lawyers of two former ministers asked the High Tribunal to exclude 22 accusations, listed in the report sent to the Turkish parliament, from the trial, claiming that they were against the merits of the case. The court will decide on this matter on November 25th.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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NO KIRKUK PLAN
Deputy Chairman of the Turkish General Staff Ilker Basbug has told reporters that there has not been any agreement made with the United States on Kirkuk. ''We do not have an agreement with the U.S. and have no plans of interfering in Kirkuk militarily,'' said General Basbug.
HIGH TRIBUNAL ACTIVE AGAIN AFTER 11 YEARS
Former Energy and Natural Resources Ministers Cumhur Ersumer and Zeki Cakan will be tried by the high tribunal on charges of corruption. It has been 11 years since the last trial at the high tribunal.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PROPOSAL FROM ROTH TO AK PARTY: LET'S ESTABLISH UNIVERSITY
Claudia Roth, the co-chairperson of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance in Germany, met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. In these meetings, Roth proposed Turkish government to establish a foundation university in Turkey which will give education in German. Roth also asked the government to charge an official of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to be in continuous contact with their group.
LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST KOZINOGLU AND ENGIN
Lawsuit has been filed against 14 people on charges of helping Alaattin Cakici, the mafia boss, to escape abroad. Kasif Kozanoglu, Deputy Director of Foreign Operations Department of National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and Sinan Engin, former manager of Besiktas, are among these 14 people.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NEITHER THOUGHT LEFT, NOR ITS FREEDOM
Human Rights Advisory Board (IHDK) Chairman Ibrahim Kaboglu wrote in today's edition of Radikal daily, ''the official slogan of 2004 was zero tolerance towards torture. However, October was the month of zero tolerance to freedom of expression.'' He continued, ''the 'minority report' of IHDK was more realistic and detailed than the progress report made public by the European Commission. However, those who tried to find the positive aspects of the progress report reacted to IHDK's report without reading it. Because, members of the EU are meeting our thought need anyway.''
REACTIONS INCREASING
Non-governmental organizations have reacted to Fahrettin Yokus, the Chairman of Public Workers Union (Kamu-Sen) who tore the IHDK report and said he would do it again if he faced the same thing once more. Human Rights Association (IHD), Mazlum-Der, Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) and Amnesty International condemned Yokus.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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UNITARY STRUCTURE CAN'T BE DISCUSSED
Gen. Ilker Basbug, Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff, said, ''minority rights are individual rights, and they are related with culture. Opening unitary state structure into discussion can't be approved by the Turkish Armed Forces.''
KIRKUK WARNING TO PESHMERGA
Referring to developments in north of Iraq, Gen. Ilker Basbug, Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff, said, ''we are monitoring the developments aiming to change the demographic structure of Kirkuk.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FOUR DEFENSE GIANTS TO UNITE
The four defense giants of Turkey, ASELSAN, TAI, HAVELSAN and ROKETSAN have decided to unite under the roof of a new holding. The groups will act together in investments and tenders.
AUTO SALES TO DROP BY 20 PERCENT
According to automobile sources, the newly adopted rise in Special Consumption Taxes (OTV) of nine percent will result in a drop of auto sales. ''The sales will drop by at least 20 percent,'' commented an expert.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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EU CRITERIA IS ACTUALLY THE SAME OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated yesterday that the criteria of the European Union is the same of the Turkish republic. ''The EU values of democracy, freedom, plurality, and human rights are criterion shared by the values of the Turkish republic,'' remarked Erdogan.
TURKISH CHICKEN IN THE EU
With the opening of accredited laboratories in 2005, Turkey will be able to export chicken meat to the EU. Turkey expects an annual revenue of 300 million U.S. dollars from the sale of chicken meat.

(BRC-ES-AÖ) 03.11.2004