ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 22, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH LAWYER FILES A LAWSUIT AT ECHR TO USE HER MAIDEN NAME
Ayten Tekeli Unal, a Turkish lawyer living in western province of Izmir, has filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to use only her maiden name after the marriage. The ECHR will start debating the case on January 13, 2004. The decision to be taken at the case will constitute a new conviction in European law.

AL-QAIDA NOT INCLUDED IN LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
Directorate General of Security Anti-Terrorism Department has prepared a list of ten fundamentalist terrorist organizations acting in Turkey. The al-Qaida terrorist network, which is believed to have been responsible for the quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul in November, was not included in the list. Meanwhile, Directorate General of Security has sent a document to all public institutions saying that the terrorist organization of PKK/KADEK had ordered its militant to stage acts of violence in some provinces.

''THERE IS NOT ANY NEW DEFENSE''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that they would not make a new defense in the lawsuit, which was filed by Leyla Sahin at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) by claiming that she was dismissed from the university due to her wearing Islamic-style headscarf. ''The government made a defense in 2002 on behalf of the Republic of Turkey. The stage of defense has been completed in the case. Also, it is well-known that our government was in favor of freedom instead of bans,'' he said.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIRST BULLET, THEN BOMB
Celal Yayla, member of illegal DHKP-C organization, explained assassination plans against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said that they would have attacked on Erdogan during his son's wedding and he could have blown up the bombs on himself after he had approached Erdogan like a guard. According to another plan, the car of Erdogan would have been sprayed with guns and the suicide bomber would have fulfilled the ssassination during the chaos.

GUL: DO NOT MAKE DEPUTY TRANSFER
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul warned political parties in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) not to make deputy transfer to overcome the deadlock at the parliament following elections held on December 14. Gul said, ''this is the only thing that should not be done. It is a dangerous and risky thing. Deputy transfer was made in Turkish politics in the past and it had a heavy cost on the country and stained the politics. We should certainly prevent this.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN INCREASES AMOUNT OF MINIMUM WAGES
A critical week starts in fixing minimum wages. Minimum Wage Fixing Commission will hold its fifth meeting on December 24 to determine the new wages that will be valid as of January 1, 2004. Discussions on the amount of minimum wages are increasing. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the claims that minimum wage would be 475 million Turkish Liras were not true. And he increased the wages only 30 million TL.

WEST HOPEFUL, EAST CAUTIOUS
The estimations for 2004 divided the business world into two. Businessmen in western regions think that economical estimations will be fulfilled, while eastern businessmen think that the market has not settled yet. However, Cyprus issue which has to be solved until May, 2004 has the strength to change all balances. Next year will be critical as the local elections will also be held in the spring.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER TO TAKE ACTION FOR CYPRUS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is planning to host a meeting at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. During the meeting, the participants will try to assume a joint attitude between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) about the Cyprus question.

AK PARTY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL
Bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel have been further developing during the political power of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Strict policies of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon about Palestine, have not affected the co-operation process between Turkey and Israel. Israeli Internal Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi will come to Turkey this week. A security agreement will be signed between the sides during the visit of Hanegbi.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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OPERATION FOR UPCOMING LOCAL ELECTIONS
As a result of initiatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), three new laws have been adopted at the parliament. Under these laws, the government has put an end to the juristic personalities of 360 municipalities. Also, municipalities having a population under two thousand have been considered villages. Meanwhile, the AK Party has released a special decree for western province of Denizli. Under the decree, 22 municipalities in the province have been gathered under the structure of main municipality. It was claimed that the decree was prepared to increase the chance of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's friend Nihat Zeybekci in upcoming local elections.

OIL FOUND IN SILVAN
Turkish Petroleum Corp. (TPAO) has found oil in a well in Silvan town of southeastern province of Diyarbakir. TPAO officials said that their drilling efforts would continue despite the difficulties stemming from the rocky place. About two weeks ago, officials found oil in Southern Raman-1 Well in southeastern province of Batman. Drilling efforts have been completed in the well, and production efforts have begun. Officials added that their daily production was estimated as 300 barrels of oil.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CALAMITY IN SEA
A boat carrying people to Greece illegally has sunken off Kadirgaburnu in Marmaris town of western province of Mugla. Only one person was rescued while officials said that there was very little hope of finding any of the other 59 missing people alive. Meanwhile, Greek coast guard officials have been searching for the missing people.

BARZANI OVERSTEPS
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani, who has decided to form a joint government together with Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, has dared to claim Kirkuk. Barzani, who has topped agenda frequently with his insolent statements, said that they wanted Kirkuk not for its oil reserves, but for their historical rights.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH POLICE WARNS U.S.: BOMBERS TO ATTACK IN IRAQ
Istanbul police determined that Al Qaida members Habib Aktas, Azad Ekinci and Gurcan Bac who had planned four bomb attacks in Turkey proceeded to Iraq and would make bomb attacks in Baghdad. Security Directorate warned U.S. officials and conveyed the photographs of those people to U.S. officials.

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN SUCCESSFUL IN AFGHANISTAN
Foreign Ministry Coordinator for Afghanistan Ahmet Rifat Okcun said that successful activities of Turkish businessmen in Afghanistan provided Turkey to be included in the list of countries which would take part in reconstruction activities for Iraq. He said that the success of businessmen in this country where they made business in big difficulties became a reference for Turkey to take part in reconstruction of Iraq.

(UK-GC-AÖ) 22.12.2003