ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey`s press on August 2, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LAW ON SEIZURE OF ASSETS IN 24 HOURS
With a ``last minute`` motion brought onto agenda of parliament, not only sanctions were imposed on ``double registration`` in Imarbank but also the jurisdiction was given the message ``to be quick`` in their decisions to put precautionary measure on assets. The new arrangement pays the way for putting precautionary measure with the decision of court on shares and money, and all receivables of Uzan family in Imarbank and their other companies like Telsim. A large list of people from the director of branches to the children of partners of the bank will be kept responsible for the corruption. Also, the demand for precautionary measure should be put into practice within 24 hours. If there is a delay in this measure, a prosecutor can take a decision.

HIERARCHIC IGNORANCE
An incautiousness of the police from its chief to bomb expert caused injury of 17 policemen, including two seriously injured, in Ankara. When the guard who found a package in the garden of the Justice Ministry`s Center of Education for Trainee Judges and Prosecutors in Ankara at 7.50 a.m. threw the package to the garden beside, a big explosion occurred. Experts, bomb disposal teams and Ankara Police Chief Ercument Yilmaz came to the scene of the explosion. Police who did not think that there could be a second bomb in the package took action incautiously. Bomb expert Erol Gultekin put his hand in the package without wearing special clothes. A terrifying explosion occurred. Gultekin`s fingers were ruptured. If the bomb had been TNT or C-4, all the policemen could have died.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THREE CAMPS ARE READY FOR REASSOCIATION LAW
The government will form three camps in Kirklareli, Van and Silopi town of Sirnak province to speed up the procedures and to provide shelter for the members of terrorist organizations who would like to benefit from Reassociation Law. Directorate General of Security stated that nearly 80 people applied to the offices of governors in Eastern and Southeast Anatolia to benefit from the law.

BABACAN: TAKING LOAN FROM IMF IS A SIGN OF ILLNESS
State Minister Ali Babacan said that there was no need for a suspicion regarding the targets of government program for the next review and added, ``it is obvious what we will do from now on.`` Noting that they determined the sixth review to be held in the end of October and the seventh review in the end of December or the beginning of January, Babacan said, ``it is not a normal situation to take loan; it is a sign of illness.``

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PEPE IS AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TO PREVENT VETO
When President Ahmet Necdet Sezer revealed his intent to veto the constitutional amendment regarding forest lands, Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe visited Sezer at Presidential Palace for two times yesterday. However, Sezer was not convinced and he clearly expressed that he would not approve the package.

RELIEVING DECISION FROM IMF
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board completed the Fifth Review period. While they released the loan worth of 500 million U.S. dollars, Turkey`s calendar for paying back its debts was extended from 2.5 years to 3.5 years.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TELSIM LETTER
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government promised the International Monetary Fund (IMF) not to make new investments in 2004. The letter of intent announced that 36 thousand 750 workers were dismissed in the end of the implemented policies. The letter noted that efforts were exerted not to increase the tax burden in 2004. Confessing that the privatization revenues were below the target in the first half of this year, the letter of intent promised that the Council of Ministers would ratify privatization plan of Turk Telekom till the end of October.

YAS CONVENES: 20 DISMISSAL FILES PRESENTED
Supreme Military Council (YAS) started its August term meeting under chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The situation of personnel whose connection with the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will be cut due to undisciplined behaviors was taken up on the first day of the meeting. It was learned that files of almost 20 officers and non-commissioned officers were presented to the Council. It is noted that Erdogan, who cancelled the dinner hosted by prime minister for YAS members due to his wife wearing headscarf, may also attend the dinner hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Sunday alone.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SILENT DEMOCRACY REFORM
The new Turkey which is created by compromises is very good: There are no death sentence or emergency rule. The period of detention is shortened. Laws considering thought a crime are decreased. Right to broadcast and education in mother tongue has been recognized. Political influence of military is being equalized with that in the EU countries. After Turkey`s European Union (EU) candidacy was announced in 1999 Helsinki Summit, three governments of Turkey led by Ecevit, Gul and Erdogan passed constitutional and seven law packages and made the biggest democratization reform of Turkey.

HAYDAR ALIYEV IS TOTALLY A PUZZLE
Azerbaijani opposition is sure that their president Haydar Aliyev died in Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in Ankara. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Turkey Mehmed Nevruzoglu is very angry saying that those claims were intentional. Turkey and Azerbaijan have been shaken by news that Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, who is receiving medical treatment in GATA, died. Azerbaijani opponents claimed that Turkish and Azerbaijani officials and television channels were making preparations since Aliyev died. No statement was released by GATA. Nevruzoglu said, ``this morning (yesterday), I met with Aliyev. Their aim is to gain interests in the elections by showing an alive person as dead.`` No photo of Aliyev has been taken by the press since he came to Ankara on July 7.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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IMF LOAN RELEASED
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board completed the fifth review of Turkey`s economic program and released 500 million U.S. dollars of loan.

DGM TRIAL POSSIBLE FOR SNATCHERS
If it is determined that snatchers who terrorize the big cities commit ``organized crime``, they will be tried in State Security Courts (DGMs). Imprisonment term for the snatchers will range between two and six years.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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IN SPITE OF LOW EXCHANGE RATES, EXPORTS BREAK RECORD
Exporters, who are complaining about the low exchange rates, are continuing to break records. The amount of exports in July increased 34,3 percent. Turkey obtained foreign exchanges worth of four billion 243 million 176 thousand U.S. dollars by this way. The export figure of the last one year increased 31,2 percent and reached 42 billion 831 million 338 thousand dollars.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SPEED UP IN PROMOTION OF TURKEY IN JAPAN
The exhibition titled ``Three Great Civilizations in Turkey: The Hittite, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires``, which was held within the scope of ``2003 Turkey Year`` in Japan, was opened in Tokyo with a ceremony. Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, Japan Prince Mikasa and his wife Princes Yuriko Mikasa and many guests attended the ceremony in Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Releasing a speech during the ceremony, Mumcu said that two countries had close relations in spite of the distance between each other.

(BRC-GC) 02.08.2003