ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 15, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
GUL TO LEAVE HALL WITHOUT APPLAUSE
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will attend the ceremony in which the Greek Cypriot side will become a full member of the European Union (EU) under the name of ''Republic of Cyprus'', instead of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sources said that Gul will display Turkey's reaction by leaving the hall without applause as Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadoupulos is signing the accession agreement.

UNITED NATIONS LEAVES CYPRUS TO EU
The United Nations Security Council approved the report accusing President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus of preventing a solution in the island. The report says that the United Nations will not play a pioneering role in finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus question any longer. It means that the solution will be sought under the roof of the European Union (EU).

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
LOOTERS ATTACK ON TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD
A group of looters attacked on Turkish Embassy building in Iraqi capital Baghdad. The looters fled from the area after nearly 10 guards including two Palestinian brothers opened fire on them. There was not any immediate reports of casualties in the incident.

DISCUSSION OVER SYRIA
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who came to Turkey as the guest of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, held a series of contacts in Ankara yesterday. Following tete-a-tete and interdelegationary meetings, Gul and Shalom held a joint press conference. During the press conference, Shalom accused Syria of supporting terrorism. In return, Gul said that war should not be spread to the region.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
POWELL CALLS GUL ON PHONE
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul on the phone and thanked Turkey for its contributions to humanitarian aid, which was sent to northern Iraq. Powell expressed the United States' satisfaction over Turkey's contributions to humanitarian and food aid to the region. Meanwhile, Gul reiterated Turkey's concerns about northern Iraq and asked the United States to maintain its sensitivity on the issue.

INTEREST RATES DECREASE BY 2.5 PERCENT
After the war in Iraq came to an end, Turkish economy has begun reviving. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National-100 Index increased 5 percent to 11 thousand 103. Interest rates dropped 2.5 percent to 62 percent. Meanwhile, price of 1 U.S. dollar reduced 40 thousand Turkish liras (TL) to 1 million 630 thousand TL.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
LOOTERS ATTACK ON TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD
A group of armed looters attempted to attack on the Turkish Embassy in Iraqi capital Baghdad. Clash erupted when guards of the Embassy opened fire on the looters. Later, the looters fled from the area. There was not any immediate report of casualties in the incident.

GUL: ''WAR SHOULD NOT SPREAD TO REGION''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom could not reach a compromise on the issue of Syria. Gul stressed that the Middle East was tired of war and tensions. Noting that the war should be limited with Iraq, Gul expressed Turkey's concerns about the allegations saying that the United States would attack on Syria. Meanwhile, Shalom defended that Syria had been supporting many terrorist organizations including Hezbollah.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
HISTORICAL STATEMENT FROM GUL
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul disclosed the hidden side of the motion. He said, ''people say 'we can not go to Mosul and Kirkuk as the motion could not be passed'. Even if the motion had passed, there was not such an issue like entering. The issue had been discussed at some stage, but the United States did not want. If it had been accepted, the motion would have passed.''

GOOD SIGNS IN ECONOMY
As the war lasted short, this effected positively economy which was trying to rescue. Foreign exchange rates and rate of interests decreased rapidly. The stock exchange increase. The actual positive news reports is in exports and tourism.
Increase continues in exports which was 10 billion U.S. dollars with 33.2 percent increase in January-March when compared with the figures of last year.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
BABACAN: IMF IS ALSO PLEASED FROM US
State Minister Ali Babacan, who met with the officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, pointed out that, ''our program covers 20-months period. First of all, 700 million U.S. dollars will come, and later 500 million U.S. dollars will come once in two months. Distribution of the credit in time is an indication of our determination. IMF is also pleased about this.''
Babacan said disaster scenerios in economy did not come true thanks to the measures taken by Turkey in time against Iraq crisis.

ISRAELI MINISTER THREATENS DAMASCUS
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who arrived in Ankara, pointed out that Syria sheltered terrorists, noting that it should be stopped. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in his part called on the war not to spread.
Gul said war should be limited with Iraq, and should not spread to the region.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
ATTACK AGAINST OUR EMBASSY IN IRAQ
A group of people attacked against Turkish Embassy in Iraqi capital city Baghdad. The attackers fled when the bodyguards of the embassy opened gunfire against them. There are no reported casualties at the attack.

WORLD NEWS AGENCIES TO CONVENE IN ISTANBUL FOR THE FIRST TIME
World News Agencies summit will take place in The Marmara Hotel today. The meeting, which will be hosted by Anadolu Agency, will be the first of its kind. A dinner was hosted in honor of the participants on Monday evening. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who participated in the summit, stated that journalism was an important profession, noting that it had an important responsibility as well.

(UK-AY) 15.04.2003