ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 12, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
FACULTY OF THEOLOGY WITHOUT STUDENTS
Eskisehir Faculty of Theology, which was founded in Eskisehir eight years ago with pressure, has a building, lecturers and personnel but does not have any students.
Salaries of the 12-people personnel cost 100 billion Turkish lira annually.
Higher Education Board (YOK) had approved foundation of the faculty but did not confirm registration of students saying there was not any need. The faculty waits for students every year.
In the end, the personnel began to teach Arabic language to the tradesmen.

ARCELIK LEAVES TUNISIAN MARKET
Arcelik is getting ready to leave Tunisian market by selling the shares of its company.
Arcelik Executive Board decided an order to be given to company administration to sell its 167 shares.
Turkish-Tunisian Business Council Chairman Levent Soylu, who addressed a meeting held on June 9 in Istanbul, had stated that Turkish investments in Tunisia were gradually lifted, stressing that Arcelik installations, which was the biggest Turkish investment in this country, came to the stage of closure.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
BLACK VOICE OPERATION
Germany starts war against Metin Kaplan and his supporters. A total of 5500 security forces raided 1150 houses and business places. A large number of weapons were seized. Metin Kaplan and his four supporters were detained. Kaplan and three people were released after their interrogations and one person was transferred to court.

FINANCIAL REVOLUTION LAW ADOPTED
Public Finance Administration and Control Law which envisages change in financial administration and control system in state gradually until the beginning of 2005 was adopted at Parliament.

BRITAIN MAKES VISA PROCEDURES VIA UND, SETUR AND ASIA TOUR
Britain starts to make visa procedures via UND, Asya Tour and Setur. It determined five mediator organizations for visa procedures. Visa applications will be made to these organizations. Citizens will not come face to face with British officials. Approved applications will be given by mediator organizations.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
''KAPLAN'' HUNTING IN GERMANY
German police raided 1200 houses in 13 provinces belonging to supporters of Metin Kaplan.
A total of 5500 German police joined the ''Dawn'' operation against supporters of Kaplan who support Caliphate state.
In the operation houses of nearly 1200 supporters of Kaplan were raided. Weapons, documents, computers and mobile phones in the houses were seized. Many people were taken into custody.
German Interior Minister Otto Schily, who from the beginning favored extradition of Kaplan to Turkey, made a written statement and said they decided for the operation as 1000 militants of the organization tried to continue their activities although the organization was banned.

TURKEY IS A SECURE HARBOR FOR GULF CAPITAL
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we think that we have an advantageous position to attack capital in Gulf region''.
In a message sent to the meeting entitled, ''Financial Resources in Gulf Countries'' held by HABA International Administration, Education and Consultancy company, Gul said, ''Turkey is an ideal country for the investors who look for their capitals in Eurasia. We think that we have an advantageous position to attack capital from Gulf region.''
Stating that Islamic banking turned into a new force in world finance market rapidly, Gul said that worldly known banks of U.S., Britain, France and Sweden were improving their Islamic Banking units to attract the regional capital.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
TURKEY CALLS FOR FAIR ELECTIONS IN TRNC
Ankara, which calls for fair elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and take pains not to be seen as if supporting any side, on the other hand continues preparations for the situation after elections.
Ankara wants the sides to sit at negotiation table for solution in Cyprus whatever government comes to power after elections.
Ankara feels uneasy over the statements coming from the United States and the European Union aiming to effect TRNC elections.
The study carried out by the Turkish side focuses on ''alternative proposals'' for some ''unacceptable'' sections of the Annan plan.

OZKAYA: ''AK PARTY ERODES JURISDICTION''
Supreme Court of Appeals Chairman Eraslan Ozkaya, speaking about the statements of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that they did not remove political immunity as they did not have confidence in jurisdiction, pointed out that, ''this is extremely dangerous. There are around 10,000 judges. There are nearly 10,000 cases. Most of them are concluded in line with laws with extreme efforts of judges. There may be mistakes, but it is wrong to accuse the whole jurisdiction.''
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin claimed that jurisdiction was used for political means, noting that, ''a chief prosecutor, who wrote a book, confessed that they exerted efforts to bloc ways of Erdogan, yet that they were not successful. Now, is it possible for the politicians and parliamentarians not to feel concern after reading those?''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOULD ALSO BE PUT PRESSURE
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted political support to reforms while departing for the European Union (EU) summit. Erdogan said that they were ready for solution in Cyprus, but EU should convince Greek Cypriots as well.

DISTORTION AGAIN IN BROADCAST IN KURDISH LANGUAGE
The time given for broadcast in Kurdish language ended, but there is no regulation yet. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul considered the text which Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) had sent to Prime Ministry ''too restrictive''.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ERDOGAN: SEE THE REALITY IN CYPRUS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they were not supporting status quo in Cyprus and also they were not in favor of the idea ''give and get rid of'', adding that the European Union (EU) had to convince Greek Cypriot administration as well. Departing for Brussels to attend EU heads of state and government summit, Erdogan said that he would convey EU that Cyprus was not related especially with political criteria, but also there was a de facto situation.

GUL DISCUSSES REFORMS WITH VERHEUGEN
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who was in Brussels to attended the European Union (EU) heads of state and government summit met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen. Gul said that they briefly discussed Cyprus issue and the reforms that Turkey fulfilled within EU process.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
BAYKAL: GOVERNMENT NOT TRUST ITSELF
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal reacted against Parliamentary Investigation Commission which decided not to lift political immunities. Baykal did not agree with the Commission Chairman Husrev Kutlu who said that jurisdiction was not independent. Baykal said that the government in fact did not trust itself, not the jurisdiction.

IMF EXECUTIVE BOARD CAN CONVENE THIS MONTH
The meeting of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Directors Board, which will complete sixth review period of Turkey, can be held within December. Economy officials said that Turkey exerted intensive efforts to make sixth review meeting be held within this month. If sixth review is approved, a loan trance worth of nearly 500 million U.S. dollars will be released.

(AY-GC-AÖ) 12.12.2003