ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 1, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BEHIND CRITICAL NSC MEETING
First National Security Council (NSC) meeting that took place following boycotting of April 23 reception, lasted for 7.5 hours. The military wing in this most critical NSC meeting, expressed its sensitivity stating that, ''there is the impression as if concession is made from secularism.''
This was the longest NSC meeting after February 28. A four-item statement was issued after the meeting. Priority was given to ''preservation of principle of secularism'' in the four-item statement. Developments in Iraq, Cyprus and oil pipelines constitute the other three items.
The statement said, ''internal and external developments affecting security and order of our country were reviewed''.

BABACAN: ''TURKEY IS A COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES''
State Minister Ali Babacan, who participated in OECD Minister Council, held a news conference.
Stating that Turkey was a country of profit and opportunity for foreign investors, Babacan said, ''they may make profits where they can not have in any place of the world. We continue efforts to provide every kind of facility.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SHORTEST STATEMENT
Although, the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) lasted for seven and a half hours, the statement which was issued after the meeting was very short. The part regarding secularism was shorter than expected. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came together with deputy prime ministers and ministers who participated in the meeting of NSC. Erdogan went to Foreign Ministry building after the meeting of NSC which lasted for seven and a half hours. Commanders also came together to talk about the meeting.

BABACAN INVITES ISRAELI INVESTORS TO TURKEY
State Minister for economy Ali Babacan met with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Responsible fore Industry and Trade Ehud Olmert who participated in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council of Ministers meeting as observer. Babacan and Olmert discussed economic relations, and Babacan said they wanted to see more Israeli investors in Turkey. Stating that investments from Israel to Turkey were low, Babacan called on reciprocal investments to be increased.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TRNC TOURISM MINISTER SERDAR DENKTAS SAYS MEASURES WHICH WERE TAKEN BY BOTH SIDES ARE POSITIVE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Tourism and Culture Minister Serdar Denktas said that measures which were taken by TRNC and Greek Cypriot side were very positive and stated that if there was not interruption of other countries in affairs between the two sides, both sides could reach a solution.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SECULARISM WILL BE PROTECTED
Implementations of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) aimed at giving messages to fundamentalist circles, were discussed during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting which took place following the tension escalated in April 23 Sovereignty and Children's Day reception. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) command delegation expressed the uneasiness they felt, and conveyed the government the importance of secularism principle, which is one of basic qualities of the state, and that it should be protected carefully.

BARZANI STEPS BACK
KDP leader Massoud Barzani, who made statements targeting Turkey, sent a letter to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul saying he called for close cooperation with Turkey regarded with future of Iraq. Barzani thanked to Turkey due to its policy during war.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NSC: FIRST SECULARISM
Secularism was the main topic of the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) which was the longest meeting after February 28. There is no tension in the statement which was issued after the meeting. NSC said that the importance of secularism principle which was one of the basic peculiarities of the state and necessity of protecting it fastidiously was underlined at the meeting. Secularism's being mentioned as the first topic in the statement showed that the issue was discussed between civilian wing and soldiers.

TOURISTS VISIT BODRUM
Summer came to coasts of Bodrum in southwestern Mugla province. Many tourists came to the resort to spend their holiday. About 2,000 foreign tourists are spending their holidays in Bodrum.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SPRING IN CYPRUS
About 80,000 Greek Cypriot people have passed to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) since April 23. The free passages that started on April 23 between the two sides in Cyprus by the decision of TRNC cabinet, revived the TRNC economy. About 80,000 Greek Cypriots came to TRNC and made shopping since April 23 by when the border gates between the two sides were opened. Greek Cypriots who were in Easter holiday purchased goods which were cheaper in TRNC, they rented cars, used taxis, had lunch and dinners in restaurants and visited entertainment places. Greek Cypriots who were very interested in casinos, probably spent 2.5 million U.S. dollars in TRNC.

IMF EXPECTED TO COME TO TURKEY ON MAY 21 FOR FIFTH REVIEW
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is expected to come to Turkey on May 21 for the fifth review. The IMF delegation can stay in Turkey till the end of May or the beginning of June. Following the approval of the fifth review, which is expected to take place in June, IMF will also release 500 million dollars of tranche for Turkey. Within the scope of the existing Stand By regulation which will be completed at the end of 2004, IMF will carry out totally seven reviews.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM BEATEN 4-0 BY CZECH REPUBLIC
Turkish national soccer team was beaten by 4-0 the Czech Republic on Wednesday. The Czech Republic netted four goals in the first-half in a friendly match.

(AY-EÖ-AÖ) 01.05.2003