ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 18, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS RUMSFELD'S LETTER
The paper found the letter which U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sent to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the letter it was stated that the U.S. side acted on the basis of the fact that the two countries were allies sharing common interests in Iraq. The letter continued saying that the U.S. soldiers took action in Sulaymaniyah as the U.S. was informed that at least some of those who were taken into custody was planning a plot. It was also stated that the U.S.'s doubts increased when the U.S. soldiers detained Turkish personnel who were not wearing uniforms, together with many weapons, explosives and timing equipment.

UZAN FAMILY BARRED FROM GOING ABROAD
Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Agency (BRSA) demanded Interior Ministry to bar 20 persons including Kemal Uzan, Hakan Uzan and Yavuz Uzan from going abroad as these persons were accused of getting involved in corruption in Imar Bank. Interior Ministry accepted the demand.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. WANTS SOLDIERS FROM TURKEY
The U.S. which is attacked everyday in Iraq, sends its two commanders to Turkey. The commanders will ask for soldiers from Turkey for Iraq. The U.S. firstly asked India's help to get additional soldiers for Iraq. When India didn't accept it, the U.S. decided to ask for Turkey's help. U.S. generals Jones and Abizaid are expected to request soldiers from Turkey. The U.S. gave the message to Turkey that it requested Turkey to send as many soldiers it could to Iraq.

GERMANS ATTACK TURKISH OFFICER
While the discussion on the detention of 11 Turkish soldiers in Sulaymaniyah continued, it was found out that a group of German soldiers attacked one Turkish officer in Kosovo last weekend. Turkish and German commanders prevented the incident from reaching a serious dimension. Sources said that a quarrel took place with a group of German soldiers and captain Orkun Ozeller in a cafe in Prizren. German soldiers attacked and beat Ozeller. Ozeller who left the cafe, later came back with a group of people from Prizren and the fight re-started. German soldiers escaped to a church nearby. German Brigade Commander expressed his sorrow to the Turkish commander over the incident.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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RETURN FROM NORTH OF IRAQ
The paper announced the secret agreement reached with the U.S.: The Turkish existence in the region will be withdrawn gradually. According to the paper, Turkish and American officials agreed in principle: The U.S. will fight with PKK threat in the north of Iraq, and those who act against Turkey won't be represented in the Iraqi administration. In return, Turkey will withdraw its combatant soldiers from north of Iraq. Only liaison officers will remain in the region. Turkey will also form a security belt within the region between the border and 15-20 miles from the border.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TERRORIST REPRESENTATIVE IN IRAQ
The U.S. appointed Mahmud Osman, a committee member of the Kurdistan National Congress whose honourary chairman was head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan, to the new Iraqi administration council. While Foreign Ministry said that its inquiry about the members of the council continued, it also pointed out that it would be in close contact and cooperation with the Iraqi administration council.

CANCELLATION OF SALE OF DEPUTIES' FLATS
Constitutional Court stopped the enforcement of certain provisions of the regulation which brought broad power to Finance Minister Kemal Unakýtan in sale of the lodgings which were provided to parliamentarians. The regulation had been adopted together with the budget law.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TWO COMMANDERS FROM U.S.
U.S. Central Command Chief in Iraq Gen. John Abizaid will talk about the pacification of PKK with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, while the Commander of the United States European Command Gen. James Jones aims to shelve the ''Sulaymaniyah file.'' Ankara will host two high ranking U.S. commanders today. If PKK is pacified in the region in a way that satisfies Turkey, then Turkey will withdraw soldiers gradually from Iraq.

IN BLACK SEA WITH A HOPE
One of the biggest seismic ships of the world Ramform Challenger came to Istanbul. The ship will search for oil in the Black Sea upon cooperation between British Petroleum (BP) and Turkish Petroleum Inc. (TPAO) for 50 days. The ship which is expected to leave Istanbul for the Black Sea today.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL: ''U.S. ACCEPTS ITS MISTAKE''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that the letter sent by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn't indicate that the U.S. administration was informed of detention of Turkish soldiers in Sulaymaniyah. Upon questions of journalists, Gul said that the letter expressed the importance attributed to Turkey-U.S. strategic importance and friendship, the respect towards the Turkish Armed Forces. He added that the letter stated the ''sorrow'' of the U.S. administration about the Sulaymaniyah incident. When asked if the U.S. administration accepted its mistake, Gul said that ''there are ways for states to accept their mistakes.''

CALL FOR VISA TO GREECE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Greece to lift visa application to Turkish Cypriots. Erdogan said during his meeting with TRNC Ambassador Ahmet Zeki Bulunc yesterday that Turkey lifted the visa for Greek Cypriots which were practiced for 40 years, adding that ''now, we expect the same step from Greece.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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LOCAL PEOPLE PREVENT SECOND SULAYMANIYAH CRISIS IN KOSOVO
German soldiers working in Kosovo peace keeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) wanted to detain a Turkish officer in Prizren. Turkish captain Orkun Ozeller who was attacked by German soldiers, was rescued by the intervention of Prizren people.

(ÖÞ-AÖ) 18.07.2003