ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
FIRST GREEN LIGHT TO HISTORIC DECISION
Hurriyet seized the ''progress report'' which is expected to be unveiled by the European Union (EU) Commission on November 5. The report stresses that reforms made by Turkey are ''historic reforms.'' The report said that reforms that had not been made since 40 years were made in the last one year. The report noted that Turkish government showed its determination to progress on the road to EU. The report stated that structure of the National Security Council (NSC), except appointment of secretary general among soldiers, was changed and said that obstacles before freedom of thought and expression were lifted. The report pointed out that the decisions of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) were integrated with the Turkish judicial system. The report said those steps brought Turkey closer to EU and added that Turkey had gradually become a democratic country which respected to human rights.

BABACAN DENIES TAYLOR WHO SAYS LOAN AGREEMENT WILL BE SIGNED TODAY
State Minister Ali Babacan denied U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs John Taylor, who said that agreement on 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan, could be signed in Dubai on Sunday. Babacan said that they had not received such an information.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
WE SHOULD GO, BECAUSE...
In National Security Council (NSC) meeting, the commanders disclosed why we should send soldiers to Iraq with the following topics:
1-Preservation of territorial integrity of Iraq is important.
2-Neutralization of PKK will be easier.
3-Providing security of Turkmens will be more easier.
4-Prevention of possible chaos in Iraq is a condition for Turkey.

IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR KOEHLER DID NOT WAIT
As Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not abide by his program in United Arab Emirates, his meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Koehler was cancelled. Erdogan was late to the appointment. Koehler did not wait for Erdogan saying he has a busy program.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
IMF'S TURKISH TRUMP
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Koehler praised economic developments and defended himself against criticisms of Argentina by showing Turkey as example. Turkey was on the agenda of IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Dubai. IMF Managing Director, who praised Turkey when speaking to Argentine reporters, said that inflation and interest rates were falling, rate of exchange had a stability and growth continued in Turkey. Koehler expressed belief that positive developments would continue with efforts of the Turkish government.

CRISIS OF APPOINTMENT WITH KOEHLER OVERCOME
Meeting to take place between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler in Dubai was postponed to Sunday. Erdogan's plane could only depart from Abu Dhabi at 6.00 p.m. on Saturday, the time when the meeting between him and Koehler was expected to be held. Therefore the meeting was postponed to Sunday. Cancellation of meeting between Erdogan and Koehler, who would meet for the first time, made IMF uneasy.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
THERE ARE FOUR BIG OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF AK PARTY
The government is to make a difficult decision on Iraq issue.
There are four obstacles in front of Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
1-Many NGOs, including Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and several section of public do not want dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
2-AK Party has reservations that the motion crisis, which had been experienced on March 1, could happen again.
3-U.N. Security Council is expected to pass a resolution on Stability Force, however the decision can be delayed.
4-That United States did not take step on KADEK cause reactions both in military and public.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
COMMITMENT TO CAS LOAN
World Bank Executive Director Kurt Bayer said that State Minister Ali Babacan made commitment that Turkey would solve problems before Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) loan till November, the deadline to present the loan to the World Bank Executive Board. Bayer said that he had a very fruitful meeting with Babacan and Babacan informed him about Turkish economy. Bayer emphasized that the CAS loans of almost 5 billion U.S. dollars which would cover three years should be submitted to the World Bank Executive Board. Some problems should be solved before CAS loans were presented to the board, Bayer said. Bayer stressed that those problems should be solved till November and said that otherwise, the bank could not release the loan to Turkey. He was hopeful after his meeting with Babacan that problems could be solved, Bayer said.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
WOLFOWITZ SAYS THEY EXPECT TO SEE TURKS IN IRAQ
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz sent messages to Turkey through Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said that Turkey and the United States had common interests in Iraq. Noting that some people were against dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Bosnia, Wolfowitz said that everybody including Serbian then saw that presence of Turkish soldiers in Bosnia contributed to peace and tranquility. Wolfowitz stated that U.S. President George Bush promised to fight against terrorism, adding that it was impossible for the United States to make concessions of their determination to fight against terrorism.

GUL TO WORK HARD IN UNITED STATES
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will stay in New York for seven days and hold bilateral meetings with 45 ministers. Gul will deliver seven speeches during his visit to the United States, meet with United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan and interview with five newspapers.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
ERDOGAN INVITES ENTREPRENEURS TO TURKEY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that economic progress which Turkey would record in economy would be a positive development for its neighbors and for the region.
Erdogan, who delivered a speech in Institute of International Finance (IIF) 20th term meetings, stated that Turkey rapidly integrated with global economy with its transition process to free market.

UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES ON U.S. LOAN WORTH OF 8.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS
Uncertainty continues about signing of the U.S. loan, worth of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars.
State Minister Ali Babacan, replying questions of reporters, said he had not received any information that agreement on loan of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars would be signed with U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs John Taylor on Sunday.

(AY-BRC) 21.09.2003