ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 9, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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600 PKK TERRORISTS GATHERED IN RURAL AREA OF SIRNAK
A group of PKK terrorists, nearly 600 people, gathered in rural area of southeastern Sirnak province to benefit from Reassociation Law. Terrorists are thought to wait for a direction.
Meanwhile, number of those, who came from the mountains to surrender increased. A man and a woman, together with their two year old child, proceeded from northern part of Iraq to Turkey the previous day and surrendered to security forces.

PATRIARCH: WE WANT HEYBELIADA SEMINARY TO BE OPENED
Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos visited Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Friday and wanted Heybeliada Seminary to be opened. Gul in his part gave the message that the issue was on the government agenda.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GREEK CYPRIOTS ANGER WITH HISTORICAL DAY IN TRNC
Turkey signed Customs Union framework agreement with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday. TRNC can market its products via Turkey to world markets with the agreement. Greek Cypriot administration complained Turkey to the EU. TRNC Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said that the agreement would go into effect toward the end of the year at the latest. The agreement will be submitted to the parliaments of Turkey and TRNC soon.

GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS PLEASED WITH HIS MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER GUL
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul received Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos. Bartholomeos came to Foreign Ministry with his lawyers to meet with Gul. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Bartholomeos stated that he gave information to Gul about his problems and demands including the reopening of Heybeliada Seminary. Bartholomeos said he was told that his request would be examined by good will and from a positive approach. Bartholomeos added that he was very pleased with his meeting with Gul.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GROWTH IN EXPORTS AND DOMESTIC MARKET BRINGS ACTIVITY
Positive atmosphere in economy started to affect positively consumption and production figures. Industrial production increased by 11.7 percent in June, 2003 when compared to June, 2002. State Institute of Statistics (SIS) said in a statement that manufacturing industry production increased by 12.8 percent, mining industry production decreased by 5.6 percent, electricity, gas and water production increased by 8.2 percent, in June of 2003, over to the same period of the previous year. The statement noted that total industrial production increased by 7.6 percent, and mining industry decreased by 14.8 percent, manufacturing industry increased by 8.7 percent, and electricity, gas and water industry increased by 7.7 percent in six months of 2003, over to the same period of the previous year.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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THERE IS MOTION DIFFICULTY IN AK PARTY
As preparations are underway to send soldiers to northern part of Iraq, motion difficulty again started in Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who addressed Central Executive Board meeting of his party, pointed out that, ''a joint decision will be taken before such a step. We can not bear this decision if it takes place unilaterally.'' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''only one decision will be taken in the summit and this will be explained to nation.''

CUSTOMS UNION WITH TRNC
Customs Union Framework Agreement between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was signed by Partnership Council co-chairmen Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and TRNC Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas.
Sener said with the agreement European Union (EU) norms will be taken as basis and thus integration of TRNC economy with international economic system would be provided.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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QUAKE SUMMIT
Governors and mayors of 14 provinces, scientists, bureaucrats and two ministers came together and discussed earthquake measures. Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin attended the meeting on quake measures in the Marmara region. Aksu who touched on importance of work including, 'disaster management center', 'city information system' and 'geographical information system' said that local administrations should have a more functional structure in disaster management.

KOC MODEL IN PRIVATIZATION
Koc Holding which aims to enter the biggest companies of the world and reach annual 14 percent growth is getting prepared to attend privatization tenders with its franchisers. Koc Holding executive board chairman Mustafa Koc sent letters to all franchisers under the structure of Koc Holding on July 21, 2003 and said in his letter that Koc Holding and its franchisers should attend privatization tenders together.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SPRING CLIMATE IN ECONOMY
In case positive developments continue, national income per capita is expected to rise to 3,374 U.S. dollars and exports to 45.7 billion U.S. dollars.

CUSTOMS UNION WITH TRNC
Customs Union Framework Agreement was signed between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, who signed the agreement on behalf of Turkey, said the arrangements which would take place with the agreement would contribute to the improvement of trade relations on the island and in the region, and that they believed that this would contribute to a lasting compromise on the island.

ZEYDAN TO JOIN AK PARTY
Motherland Party (ANAP) Hakkari Parliamentarian Mustafa Zeydan resigned from his party. Zeydan said he would join Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Number of chairs of AK Party will rise to 367 in case Zeydan joins AK Party. Thus, under Article 175 of the Constitution, AK Party will reach the figure 367, which is two third of the parliament's majority, to change Constitution.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANAP PARLIAMENTARIAN ZEYDAN RESIGNS
''Voting balance'' in the parliament changed when Motherland Party (ANAP) Hakkari parliamentarian Mustafa Zeydan said he would resign from ANAP and join Justice and Development Party (AK Party). AK Party will have 367 parliamentarians with this transfer and there would not be a need for Republican People's Party (CHP) from now on in constitutional change voting.

ERDOGAN THANKS PARLIAMENTARIANS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed nation from the televisions on Friday evening. Erdogan praised Parliament in his speech. He said Parliament recessed after busy working.
Stressing that adjustment laws and democratization packages which had been issued were steps which could not even be imagined in the previous terms, Erdogan thanked to Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Republican People's Party (CHP) and other parliamentarians who supported them.
Erdogan said, ''now that everybody understands that attributing importance to parliament means attributing importance to nation.''

(EÖ-AY) 09.08.2003