ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 24, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SEVENTH PACKAGE WILL BE ADOPTED BEFORE HOLIDAY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Salih Kapusuz said that the Seventh Adjustment Package would be adopted before the Parliament started its holiday. Kapusuz emphasized that the Eighth Adjustment Package, which would include Constitutional amendments, was regarding with the attitude of Republican People's Party (CHP). Kapusuz told journalists at Parliament yesterday that they were acting transparently regarding the European Union (EU).

SCHMIDT: TURKEY'S PLACE IS EUROPE
German Ambassador in Ankara Rudolf Schmidt whose term in office in Ankara was ending noted that it would be immediately decided to start negotiations with Turkey in the end of 2004 if political criteria was fulfilled. Schmidt said, ''Turkey belongs to Europe.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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500 MILLION EURO FROM EU TO SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA EVERY YEAR
The European Union (EU), which will give a donation worth of 500 million Euros every year to Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) region until 2006, will also transfer nine million Euros for the solution of education problem of Diyarbakir province. EU Commission's Turkey Representative Hans Jorg Kretschmer said that economic development projects would be supported in Eastern and Southeast Anatolia regions. He added that they aimed the donation to be used in education, agriculture, social and cultural fields and to increase the region to the economical level of EU countries.

IT'S MINISTERS TURN
The government approached positively to the proposal of shortening military service. The proposal was opened to signature in Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers, which convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the proposal of General Staff regarding the shortening of military service. Releasing a statement after the meeting, Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said that the government responded affirmatively to the proposal.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GUL: ''I MAY GO TO THE UNITED STATES''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul returned from World Economic Forum meetings which were held in Jordan. Releasing a statement at Esenboga Airport, Gul said that he might go to the United States next month. Gul replied the questions of reporters at the airport. He said that his visit to the United States was a matter of planning and the program was tried to be arranged for the next month. Gul noted that Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou could come to Turkey in coming days. When asked ''how does Turkey consider the continuation of negotiations on Annan Plan for a solution in Cyprus?'' Gul said that the names of the plans were not important, adding that what was important was to reach an agreement on a satisfactory plan. He emphasized that Annan Plan was not satisfactory.

A DIFFERENT RECTOR
Prof. Gulsun Saglamer, who changed Istanbul Technical University (ITU) as if a ''magic wand'' touched, is now opening a fashion school which will educate Turkish Calvin Kleins. Saglamer, who is the first woman rector of ITU, has made an amazing change in the university in seven years. She added fashion to her extraordinary projects. ITU will open a fashion school jointly with Fashion Institute of Technology of New York that also trained famous fashion designer Calvin Klein. The agreement will be signed today.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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JET APPROVAL FROM AK PARTY TO SHORT MILITARY SERVICE
The proposal of General Staff Headquarters to shorten military service was adopted in Council of Ministers. Government Spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the legal procedure would be started for the issue. Acting Group Chairmen of Republican People's Party (CHP) Haluk Koc also supported the decision.

PROGRAM TENSION IN GOVERNMENT
Two Deputy Prime Ministers Abdullatif Sener and Abdullah Gul had a tension with each other regarding the National Program. Sener, who was uneasy about receiving the draft of the program late, listed the deficiencies of the draft to Gul. Gul suggested bureaucrats to meet and said, ''if necessary, we will meet.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HOMEWORK LIST OF GOVERNMENT
Council of Ministers decided to bring the National Program to the Parliament after presenting it to opposition and NGO's. Government wants to complete 140 legal and 464 administrative arrangements till October for adjustment with the European Union (EU).
New National Program, which will be presented to the EU, was discussed in Council of Ministers meeting, and a decision was taken to complete all the legal changes till 2003 Progress Report is announced. According to this, the government will issue 88 new laws, and amend 52 others. The government will also have to make 383 administrative arrangements, and change 81 administrative arrangements.

GAZPROM: WE MAY REDUCE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS
Russian Gazprom company said they were ready to reduce price of natural gas which they give to Turkey through the Blue Stream. However, the company said the rate of price decrease would not be much.

PAPANDREOU DUE IN TURKEY
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou would visit Turkey in July. Gul said, ''Annan plan, which was proposed to be re-negotiated, should be changed.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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COUNTDOWN FOR YOK
National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that Higher Board of Education (YOK) draft law was completed and would be given its current shape to present to Parliament after it was discussed in Council of Ministers in coming days. Noting that they brought arrangements to catch modern and developed countries, Celik said that they would also make important changes in university entrance exams.

FIVE STAR HOTEL FROM TURKISH FIRM TO IRBIL
Turkish construction firm Merbil is building a five star hotel in Irbil city of Iraq. Mehmet Kurk, one of the partners of the firm which is constructing the hotel that will have 350 bed capacity, said, ''we think that we will complete the hotel in September which we started to build nearly one year ago. Hotel will approximately cost 12 million dollars. We stopped our activities only 20 days during the war. A total of 250 workers are working here.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NATIONAL PROGRAM WILL BE DISCUSSED IN NSC THIS MONTH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they would discuss National Program in the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) which would convene with the agenda item of the European Union (EU). He said, ''we will discuss this process there. Necessary statement will be released after NSC.'' Replying questions of reporters after Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, Erdogan said that National Program, which was discussed in Council of Ministers yesterday, would also be brought onto agenda in regular meeting of NSC on June. Noting that they took the idea of General Staff Headquarters as well, while preparing National Program, Erdogan said, ''those will be done within that evaluations. Necessary statement will be released after NSC.''

(GC-AY-AÖ) 24.06.2003