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

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BABACAN: ''WE DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION U.S. LOAN IN PROJECTIONS''
State Minister Ali Babacan said that the U.S. Congress will end assessment process on the U.S. loan on September 20. State Minister Babacan said that this loan was not an essential loan for Turkey and stated that they did not take into consideration this loan in projections. He said that it did not mean that developments were negative and noted that they would not reflect the loan to any plan till the first tranche came to Turkey. He said that assessment process on 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan which was expected from the United States to Turkey continued in the U.S. Congress.

FC JUVENTUS: 2 - GALATASARAY: 1
Galatasaray soccer club of Turkey drew with Juventus of Italy 1-1 in the first half of the Champions League group stage, Group D match played in Turin on Wednesday. But, Galatasaray was defeated by Juventus of Italy 2-1 in the Champions League. Hakan Sukur of Galatasaray, and Del Piero and Ferrara of Juventus scored the goals in the match.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT SAYS THEY CONSIDER U.S. AS A NATURAL PARTNER THANKS TO EU'S APPROACH ON FINDING SOLUTION BY SOLIDARITY
Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio said that they considered the United States as a natural partner thanks to the EU's approach on finding solutions by solidarity and stated that EU countries were allies of the United States under the body of NATO. Delivering a speech at the closing session of Turkish-Portuguese Business Forum at Istanbul's Conrad Hotel, Sampaio said that there was integration between European and American economies. Sampaio stated that some claims that EU considered the United States as its rival were baseless. Sampaio added that on the contrary, alliance between the United States and Europe protected security and prosperity of both sides and it was the sine qua non of the international society.

IRAQ REPORT TO BE DISCUSSED IN NSC
A report will be submitted to the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) which will discuss the issue of dispatch of soldiers to Iraq. The meeting of NSC which will be held on Friday in the Presidential Palace under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will debate the report which was prepared by the delegations in the region. The report covers some issues including, the sector where the Turkish soldiers will possibly be deployed and when the soldiers will have mission.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY TAKES ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
Turkey has taken one of the most important steps in fight against corruption. Turkey ratified the Civil Law Convention on Corruption in Strasbourg on September 17, 2003 and became a member of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO). The Civil Law Convention on Corruption will provide people who suffer from corruption with compensation.

SPRING IN ECONOMY
There is an activity in consumption, despite stagnation in growth. Activity in both financial markets and also real markets gives hope to Turkey. The number of companies which were opened in August increased by 44 percent when compared to the same month of 2002. Turkey's exports reached 25 billion U.S. dollars as of the end of July.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ANTI-TERRORISM TEAMS CAPTURE THREE PERSONS INCLUDING TWO SUICIDE BOMBERS IN ISTANBUL
Anti-terrorism teams captured three persons including two suicide bombers who were preparing to stage bomb attacks on official institutions in Istanbul on behalf of terrorist organization DHKP/C. Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Directorate said that three persons who were preparing to stage attacks on various public institutions were detained. The office said that two of the three persons were suicide bombers and the other one was helping them.

BABACAN SAYS THERE ARE SOME DIFFICULTIES IN 2004 BUDGET
State Minister Ali Babacan said that assessment process on the U.S. loan in the U.S. Congress would end on September 20. He said that assessment process on 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan which was expected from the United States to Turkey continued in the U.S. Congress. He said that situation of additional taxes would be definite on October 17. Stating that there were some difficulties in incomes of 2004, Babacan said that they had some problems on 2004 budget.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAYKAL: ''YOU SHOULD RENDER PKK INEFFECTIVE''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman visited Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. The meeting lasted for about an hour.
Baykal told Edelman in the meeting that the United States should render ineffective terrorist organization PKK/KADEK members and deliver them to Turkey. Following the meeting, Baykal said that they informed Edelman about CHP's views and also Turkey's concerns over Iraq issue.

FOREIGN MINISTER GUL SAYS REPORT ON IRAQ ISSUE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN NSC MEETING ON FRIDAY
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the report of the Turkish delegation who went to Iraq was completed and stated that it would be submitted to the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) on Friday.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DECREASE IN PRICES
After decrease in electricity and gasoline prices, there will also be decrease in natural gas price. Natural gas distribution companies in Eskisehir and Bursa provinces announced they decreased their profit margin by 5 percent. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that natural gas distribution companies in Eskisehir and Bursa reduced their profit margin from 30 percent to 25 percent.

GALATASARAY CAUSES DISAPPOINTMENT
Galatasaray soccer club of Turkey was defeated by Juventus of Italy 2-1 in the Champions League group stage, Group D match played in Turin on Wednesday. Hakan Sukur of Galatasaray, and Del Piero and Ferrara of Juventus scored the goals in the match.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANKARA CANNOT CONVINCE INDIA FOR DISPATCH OF SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Turkey could not convince India for dispatch of soldiers to Iraq. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said that when the U.N. Security Council took action, India would make its decision by taking all aspects in mind including its internal security. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we would, of course, like to see the U.N. take a lead role.'' Erdogan said that in case Turkey sent soldiers to Iraq, this would not be for security of any ethical element, but to restore order for Iraq people.

FOREIGN MINISTER GUL SAYS NORMAL PROCESS FOR AIRSPACE STARTS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that there was no request so far from the United States for usage of Turkish airspace by combatant forces. When Gul was reminded the news reports that permission given to the United States to use Turkish Airspace for Iraq operation would expire within a few days, he said period of war ended, and that normal course started.

(EÖ-AÖ) 18.09.2003