ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 29, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
BAYKAL: WE WILL BE AN OCCUPIER IF WE GO
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal explained why he opposed to sending Turkish soldiers to Iraq. Baykal said, ''it is nonsense to expect Turkey to participate in an operation which contradicts with Turkey's national interests and which will lead to an ethnical separation in Iraq.''

GENERAL STAFF INVITES PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN TO RECEPTION WITH HIS WIFE
General Staff invited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to August 30 Victory Day together with his wife. However, Erdogan decided not to attend the reception with his wife Emine Erdogan not to create tension.
Hayrunisa Gul, wife of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, will not participate in the reception as she is currently in the United States with his son.
Prime Minister Erdogan called on the ministers not to bring their wives wearing headscarves to the reception.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
INTERESTING MESSAGES FROM U.S. AMBASSADOR
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman emphasized that the path to prevent undesired formations in the north of Iraq was to form a united, strong and stable Iraq. Noting that the more rapidly Turkey took a decision for sending soldiers to Iraq, the better the conditions would be, Edelman also touched on the importance of cooperation.

INVITATION WITH HEADSCARF ''ADJUSTMENT''
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok did not invite wives of deputies to the reception he would host for Victory Day celebrations. Different invitations were prepared for the receptions which would be held tomorrow night. While it was written ''Mr. and Mrs.'' in some invitations, no names were mentioned in some invitations. Attire for reception was also noted in the invitations.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
PRIME MINISTER WILL GO TO SUREYYA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan changed his program for Sureyya Ayhan. He will watch 1500 meters final by going to Paris on August 31 prior to his Germany visit on September 1. Erdogan had earlier congratulated Ayhan on the phone and said that he was proud of her success when she ranked the first in her first run in Paris.

EXAM FOR SEZER
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government is searching for the ways of adopting constitutional amendment on selling deforested lands without referendum. The government is preparing to limit some authorities of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and hopes that the amendments will not be returned from Presidential Palace. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Parliamentary Constitutional Commission Chairman Burhan Kuzu to Ankara for the constitutional amendment package including 25 articles and also restriction of veto and referendum authorities of President.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
SEARCH FOR SUPPORT FROM TRIBES
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, which could not take a decision about sending of soldiers, expect support from Iraqi tribe leaders. Ankara, who met with al-Obeid tribe representatives, will host Iraq Tribes Council in September.

TEMPERATURES TO BE ABOVE 35 DEGREES
Temperatures, which are currently above seasonal averages, are expected to further increase at the weekend with the heat wave that will come from North Africa.
State Directorate of Meteorology said temperatures will start to increase from the southern regions and continue to increase in central and eastern sections.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
VICE ADMIRAL ALPKAYA ALSO WARNS AND LEAVES
Vice Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, the Naval Forces Commander, who handed over his mission to Vice Admiral Ozden Ornek, said that, ''unfortunately, fundamentalist and separatist activities still continue''.

MESSAGE TO IRAQ: WE ARE RELATIVES
Turkish delegation, comprised of Foreign Ministry, National Intelligence Organization, and General Staff, who paid a visit to Iraq prepared a report about their contacts and said: ''We are obliged to show that we are not U.S. soldiers. Iraq people should believe that we are relatives. We should further increase aid package.''

AEGEAN TO SWIM TO PEACE ON SEPTEMBER 1
Turkish and Greek swimmers will give message of friendship and peace to the world by swimming from Datca to Simi island of Greece and from Simi to Datca on September 1 World Peace Day.
In a joint initiative launched by the Datca and Simi municipalities, three Turkish swimmers will swim from Datca port to Simi while three Greek swimmers will swim from Simi port to Datca on September 1 World Peace Day for global peace and friendship between Turkish and Greek peoples.
In the organization which is supported also by the Turkish-Greek Friendship Association, celebrations will take place both in Datca and on Simi island with participation of Turkish and Greek swimmers.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
FOURTH APPOINTMENT IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
The government and representatives of civil servant unions will meet for the fourth time in Prime Ministry. While Turkish Public Workers Trade Union (Kamu-Sen) is attending the meeting which will be held under the leadership of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Sahin, Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK) stated that it could attend the meeting if the government invited them.

ATTACK ON POLICE IN SILOPI AND CIZRE
Six police officers were injured after the two separate attacks against security points in Cizre and Silopi towns of southeastern Sirnak province. Terrorists launched armed attack on the security point in Cizre around 21.30 local time yesterday. Three police officers were injured in the attack. Also, three police officers were injured in the attack launched in Silopi after 15 minutes.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
BARTHOLOMEOS DISCUSSES RE-OPENING OF HEYBELIADA SEMINARY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Istanbul Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos.
Bartholomeos wanted re-opening of Heybeliada seminary, and did not accept offer of Prime Minister Erdogan to open Heybeliada seminary by being connected with higher education board and theology school.

U.S. EMBASSY: LOAN HAS NO CONNECTION WITH SENDING SOLDIERS
U.S. Embassy in Ankara said the policies covered by Turkey were appropriate for the conditions of economic aid package approved in U.S. Congress.
U.S. Embassy official made a statement to clarify the misunderstandings which appeared after statements of U.S. Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor. The embassy official said the aid package had two conditions and that those were cooperation on Iraq and continuation of economic reforms.

(GC-AY-AÖ) 29.08.2003