ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 24, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PRESIDENT SEZER SAYS ECONOMY GOING WELL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that he was pleased with atmosphere of confidence which started with economic program and stated that economic program should be carried out with determination to make this atmosphere lasting. President Sezer said that state had the responsibility to remove obstacles in front of entrepreneurs.

TREASURY HOLDS TWO AUCTIONS
Treasury Undersecretariat held two bond auctions to sell two-year debenture bonds denominated in U.S. dollar and Euro. The composite interest in the two-year debenture bond denominated in U.S. dollar auction became 4.52 percent and the simple interest became 4.47 percent with a 2.5 percent coupon payment every six months.
The net sale was 1 billion 474.5 million U.S. dollars in the U.S. dollar auction. The composite interest in the two-year debenture bond denominated in Euro auction became 5.07 percent and the simple interest became 5.01 percent with a 3 percent coupon payment every six months. The net sale was 322.4 million Euro in the auction.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SOROS INTERESTED IN TURKEY
Famous American billionaire businessmen George Soros said that economy policy covered by Turkish government was very well in general, and stated that he was closely interested in investment in Turkey.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, currently in New York, met with Soros. Soros said he was also watching Turkey's getting closer to the European Union (EU) with great interest. Soros said he met with the officials of countries which were planning to send soldiers to Iraq, stating that Pakistani President Pervaz Musharraf was among those. Soros said those countries envisaged dispatch of soldiers not to strengthen occupation, but to contribute to Iraq's transition period to independence.

BABACAN: ADVANTAGE USD 1 BILLION
State Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey would save about 1 billion U.S. dollars by borrowing with low interest rate with the 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan which was signed between Turkey and the United States on Monday. Babacan said that studies on technical and legal parts of the loan continued and stated that determining interest rate was one of technical issues. Stating that the United States had a loan reform law and this law included a method for estimation of the interest rate, he said that estimations on the rate continued. He stated that interest rate of the loan would be lower than Turkey's borrowing interest rate from the market. Babacan said that they had an advantage when they borrowed by low interest rate instead of market interest rate.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HEAVY ACCUSATION
The issue of sending soldiers to Iraq started a new polemic. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said regarding the change of attitude of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) which had earlier said, ''we should send soldiers to Iraq'' that it was a wrong statement and added that he thought that there were powers out of Turkey behind it. TUSIAD did not give a reaction regarding the accusation. However, some Justice and Development Party (AK Party) members supported the statement of Gul and said that the change of attitude of TUSIAD stemmed from its competition with Individual Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD).

GUL EXPLAINS THE ALTERNATIVE
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to attend General Assembly meetings of the United Nations, replied questions of citizens in Turkish House. Gul said that if Turkey could not become member of the European Union (EU), its alternative would be a Europe which was powerful in democracy and economy. Noting that Turkey reached a critical period in EU membership process, Gul said that Turkey could start negotiations in the end of 2004.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BY-PASS FOR PARLIAMENT
Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy leader Inal Batu said that the government was always trying to keep Parliament inactive in the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq and added, ''this is an unfortunate development. They are considering such a way as they do not trust in their groups.'' Batu called the government to give up this initiative.

WARNING TO GOVERNMENT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer warned the government for not opposing the university world. Sezer said that keeping universities away from their functions and putting obstacles in front of their production of science would interrupt enlightenment efforts.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FOREIGN MINISTER GUL
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to participate in U.N. General Assembly meetings, pointed to uneasiness about the United States' inactivity against PKK/KADEK terrorist organization and said, ''Washington should take seriously Turkey's problem about PKK terrorist organization. We expect concrete actions from the United States.'' Gul spoke to Reuters news agency and said that they were expecting to get more definite answers from the United States this week before Ankara decided to send soldiers to Iraq.

TURKEY GIVES ELECTRICITY TO IRAQ
Turkey started electricity transfer to Iraq from Silopi TS 1 and 2 thermal power plants belonging to Black Sea Wholesale Electricity Corp (KARTET). Speaking at a ceremony held on the occasion, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Guler said Silopi would be a free energy zone. Major General David H. Petraeus responsible for command of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Mosul Governor Ganim al-Basso, Mosul Mayor Ghanim al-Boso, governors of Sirnak and Mardin provinces, Energy Ministry officials and some Iraqi officials participated in the ceremony. Guler said a private Turkish firm transferred electricity to Iraq, and that this was meaningful. He said Turkey would always expend support to Iraq people.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SOROS TO COME TO TURKEY FOR INVESTMENT
American billionaire businessmen George Soros said that economy policy covered by Turkish government was very well in general, and added that he was closely interested in making investment in Turkey. He said that he was also following Turkey's getting closer to the European Union (EU) with great interest.

GUL: WE ARE EXPECTING ANSWERS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul recalled that they asked questions to the United States regarding the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq and he said, ''we will take the answers in recent days and then we will take a decision.'' Gul did not give details about the questions and said that they could take a decision in a few weeks.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TRANSFER OF ELECTRICITY FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ STARTS
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler made the opening of energy production facility which was put into service by private sector and would export energy to Iraq. Guler said that they would help Iraq in energy, water, oil, food and health services.

GUL: MANAVGAT IS ABOUT TO BE SIGNED
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to attend General Assembly meetings of the United Nations, met yesterday with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and said that Turkey condemned terrorism, but on the other hand it did not approve extreme use of force. Gul told reporters that the agreement on selling of Manavgat water to Israel was about to be signed and added that Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler would go to Israel next week and the agreement was expected to be signed during this visit.

(GC-EÖ-AÖ) 24.09.2003