ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 11, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THIS NATION DESERVES
Yes, Turkey deserves European Union (EU) membership because Turkey turned its face to Europe 163 years ago with Tanzimat Fermani and adopted Europeanism by becoming modern with reforms during and after foundation of the Republic. Turkey fulfilled an important part of European criteria in the last one year. It lifted death sentence and seized a civilization standard beyond many other candidates.

EU SUPPORT FROM BUSH
U.S. President George W. Bush welcomed Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House by saying welcome to the house of the best friend and ally of Turkey and by noting that they were impressed by Erdogan's leadership and party.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THIS IS WHAT RULING IS
U.S. President George W. Bush praised Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who could not even find a person to speak 11 months ago: ''We are shoulder-to-shoulder.'' Erdogan got a significant support from Bush for both his leadership and Turkey's European Union (EU) membership on the eve of the Copenhagen summit. Bush told Erdogan that they were impressed by his leadership and party and thanked him for their loyalty to democracy and independence. Bush said that they were shoulder-to-shoulder with Turkey in its wish to join the EU. Erdogan thank Bush administration for their support to Turkey on the road to the EU and asked for the continuation of this support.

''PLAN B IF THEY SAY 2005''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul had a meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok. Responding to questions following the meeting, Gul said, ''we will reject a date to open entry negotiations with the European Union (EU) in 2005. We insist on the end of 2003. 2004 is a late date. We have a plan B if they decide to open full membership negotiations in 2005.''

JET FADIL IN PRISON
Fadil Akgunduz, whose deputyship from southeastern Siirt province ended after the cancellation of elections in this province, was sent to Kartal prison by the court on charges of swindling.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EITHER 2003 OR NOT AT ALL
Turkey started to give harsh messages to the EU: ''if the decision which is wanted by Turkey in Copenhagen is not taken, Cyprus problem will not be solved too.'' ''If a negotiation date is not given to Turkey in the year 2003, we won't accept another alternative. In these circumstances, Cyprus problem won't be solved,'' Turkey gave the message to the EU. Turkey also thinks that the new plan of the U.N. Secretary General Annan for Cyprus should not be signed before the Copenhagen summit.

ERDOGAN WELCOMED IN U.S.
U.S. President George W. Bush who reiterated the support of the U.S. to Turkey's European Union process, promised Turkey to call each EU capital for EU's giving date to Turkey to start accession talks as soon as possible. Bush welcomed Erdogan in the White House saying that ''welcome to the house of best friend of Turkey.'' Bush asked Turkey's support for Iraq. ''We support your membership to the EU, and we expect your support about Iraq,'' Bush said.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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COOPERATION FOR IRAQ
U.S. President George W. Bush and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan came together in White House. Bush asked Erdogan for support regarding a possible operation against Iraq, while Erdogan asked the U.S.'s support for Turkey's EU membership process. White House Spokesman Fleischer said that Erdogan and Bush reached an agreement about Iraq, but he refrained from giving details about the cooperation. Erdogan was briefed in Pentagon about Iraq before meeting with Bush.

GAME ON CYPRUS
The problem in Cyprus is correlated with Turkey's getting a negotiation date from EU before the Copenhagen summit. A total of 13 of the 15 EU members reached a consensus of opinion about giving an appointment to Turkey in the year 2004, and giving a negotiation date to Turkey in the year 2005. Britain and Greece on the other hand, still believe that an earlier date has to be given to Turkey if Turkey accepts a solution in Cyprus before Copenhagen summit.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANNAN SUBMITS HIS PLAN
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's special representative to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto submitted the renewed Cyprus plan to the sides in line with the objections of both sides to the earlier plan. De Soto called the leaders to meet in Copenhagen. However, TRNC President Rauf Denktas said in his part that ''this is the old document, and our concerns continue.''

PARLIAMENT WORKS VERY FAST
The parliament adopted yesterday the constitutional amendment package which lifts the ban on AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be elected as a deputy, with 456 votes. Meanwhile, AK Party and CHP reached an agreement concerning the laws package aiming to fight with torture.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EU STUBBORNESS
Despite all initiatives of Turkey, the European Union (EU) does not change its view to start full membership negotiations with Turkey in 2005. When there is only 24 hours left to Copenhagen summit, countries headed by Britain, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Belgium want Turkey to be given a date to open accession talks in 2003 while eight countries headed by Germany and France insist on 2005.

TRIPARTITE SUMMIT IN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok. It was stated that Ankara insisted on opening of accession negotiations with the European Union (EU) in 2003. However, it is positive towards extension of this date till May 2004 on condition that a definite date is given.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NEW CYPRUS PLAN OF U.N. DOES NOT SATISFY EITHER
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas defined the new document presented to parties in the island by the United Nations (U.N.) as ''the old document.'' Denktas said, ''the document is the old one. We still have concerns and doubts about our status, sovereignty and equality.''

BOTH ERDOGAN AND CHP GET WHAT THEY WANT FROM CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan approached to the prime ministry with one more step. The constitutional amendment bill comprised of four articles which paves the way for deputyship and prime ministry of Erdogan was adopted with a majority which will not require referendum in the first voting held on Tuesday. Republican People's Party (CHP) supported the amendments at a great extent. If a similar result is gained from the second round voting on Friday, there will not be any obstacle before Erdogan.