ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 17, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH CYPRIOTS FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST TURKEY
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided to take a lawsuit filed by extreme leftist Patriotic Union Movement in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) against Turkey on its agenda. The Patriotic Union Movement accused Turkey of causing population movement by violating Geneva Convention and preventing Turkish Cypriot people from putting forward their free will.

ONE-YEAR STAY OF TURKISH SOLDIERS IN IRAQ TO COST USD 60 MILLION
The General Staff has begun calculating cost of Turkish soldiers to be sent to Iraq to join the U.S. led stability forces. If 10 thousand Turkish soldiers stay in Iraq for a year, it costs nearly 60 million U.S. dollars.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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BABACAN: ''WE DO NOT REFRAIN FROM REFERENDUM''
State Minister Ali Babacan referred to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's decision to return the law enabling sale of areas which lost their characteristics of being forest to the parliament for reconsideration, and said ''we will try put the law to vote at the parliament and adopt it without making any changes. Some de facto situations are in question. These areas were forests in the past. However, they lost characteristics of forest in the course of the time, and buildings were constructed on them. This de facto situation does not have any legal ground. The law aims at preparing this legal ground and provide the state with a considerable amount of income. A referendum will not affect markets positively. We need nothing but political stability for the time being. As the Justice and Development Party, we do not refrain from referendum. All public surveys revealed that confidence of our people in the AK Party and the government has been increasing day by day.''

NANO TO UNDERGO A SURGICAL OPERATION IN TURKEY
Prime Minister Fatos Nano of Albania, who has been suffering from gallstones, will undergo a surgical operation at Istanbul's International Hospital on Sunday. Hospital officials said that Prof. Dr. Dursun Bugra and his team would carry out the operation. Nano is expected to be discharged from hospital within 1-2 days.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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RESIDENTS IN HACIBEKTAS REACT PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Hacibektas Mayor Mustafa Ozcivan criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who decided not to attend the 40th traditional and 14th national ceremonies to commemorate Hadji Bektash Veli in Hacibektas town of central province of Nevsehir. Meanwhile, speaking at the ceremony, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer emphasized that secularism was the milestone of national unity of Republic of Turkey.

A VETO, THREE BALLOT BOXES
The government plans to submit the constitutional amendment package about sale of areas, which lost their characteristics of being forest, back to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer without making any changes. In that case, President Sezer will have two alternatives. He will either approve the package or resort to referendum. There are some speculations that local elections could be held the same day with referendum. Meanwhile, the Higher Electoral Board (YSK) could cancel the general elections of November 3, 2002 because the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) did not have the necessary adequacy to join the elections. If the YSK decides to cancel last year's general elections, there will be three ballot boxes.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKEY UNDER RISK
Scientists and environmental activists said that dangerous impacts of global warming would be felt in Anatolia. A number of people would lost their lives and some species of animals would become extinct as a result of floods and drought to stem from global warming.

AK PARTY ATTACKS ON PRESIDENT SEZER
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) accused President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who vetoed the constitutional amendment enabling sale of areas which lost their characteristics of being forest, of opposing the government. AK Party Deputy Chairman Urun said, ''there is an operation at the parliament named the Republican People's Party (CHP). And there is another opposition at the Cankaya Presidential Palace.'' Meanwhile, environmental activists welcomed President Sezer's decision to veto the amendment.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SEZER: ''THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS IN THE QUAKE-STRICKEN REGION''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''despite all efforts, there are still problems in the quake-stricken region waiting for solution.'' Releasing a message upon the fourth anniversary of the massive quake disaster which devastated Marmara region, killing thousands of people and injuring tens of thousands of others, President Sezer said, ''this quake disaster, which occurred four years ago, created a profound sorrow in our country. The disaster deeply affected economic and social life in our country. Turkish nation gave one of the greatest solidarity samples in its history by launching a mobilization to heal wounds of the disaster.''

CIVILIANS PROTEST INITIATIVES TO DISPATCH SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Members of nearly 30 political parties and non-governmental organizations forming Ankara Anti-Military Platform, held a demonstration in Ankara's Kizilay Square to protest initiatives to dispatch Turkish soldiers to Iraq. Speaking on behalf of the group, Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara Branch Chairman Ender Buyukculha said that they would expend all kinds of efforts to prevent dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq. ''A total of 22 countries sent 14 thousand soldiers to Iraq. However, Turkey was asked to send 12 thousand soldiers. It is thought-provoking. Our young people do not intend to be involved in occupation of Iraq,'' he said.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''PARLIAMENT COULD CONVENE EXTRAORDINARILY AFTER SEPTEMBER 15''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Group Chairman Salih Kapusuz said, ''we are ready against a possible decision to resort to referendum about the constitutional amendment enabling sale of areas, which lost their characteristics of being forest. Our people will take the final decision. The parliament could convene extraordinarily after September 15.''

WORLD'S INTEREST IN GAP INCREASES
International interest in Southeastern Anatolia Project has been increasing day by day. GAP Regional Development Authority signed cooperation agreements with U.S. San Diego State University, Sri-Lanka-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI), U.S. Arizona State University, Syria-based International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and Packard Humanities Institute (PHI).

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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WORLD NEEDS TOLERANCE OF HADJI BEKTASH VELI
The 40th traditional and 14th national ceremonies to commemorate Hadji Bektash Veli were held in Hacibektas town of central province of Nevsehir. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu and Deputy Parliament Speaker Yilmaz Ates attended the ceremonies. During the speeches, it was stressed that the world needed tolerance of Hadji Bektash Veli.

(UK-MS) 17.08.2003