ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 18th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FOR THE SAKE OF A FEW VOTES
Alibeykoy Stream in Istanbul overflowed due to torrential rains which started on Sunday afternoon, inundating more than 100 business places and shops on three main avenues in the neighborhood. Flood waters triggered by torrential rains also inundated an auto center in Bagcilar neighborhood. Nearly 100 vehicles remained under flood waters. Again, Istanbul paid the bill of authorities who ignored illegal constructions for the sake of a few votes in each election. Water flowed in rivers through the streets and swept away cars in some parts of the megacity. Recent flood disaster revealed once again that Istanbul had an outdated infrastructure.

FIRST CIVILIAN SECRETARY GENERAL OF NSC
The first civilian was appointed to oversee the National Security Council (NSC) as a part of efforts to stem the influence of the military. The appointment of Mehmet Yigit Alpogan as secretary general of the NSC was in line with reforms necessary for joining the European Union (EU). The appointment of Alpogan, who has served as Turkey's Ambassador to Greece, went into effect Tuesday after being published in the Official Gazette. Alpogan will attend the scheduled meeting of the NSC on August 25. Last summer, the Turkish parliament passed a series of reforms aimed at curtailing the influence of the military in politics, including allowing the government to nominate the council's secretary general.

CARADAS TO PROMOTE TURKISH FASHION
The theme of the Fifth International Istanbul Ready-made Clothing Fair in Istanbul between August 19 and 21, 2004, was announced as ''Istanbul becomes a fashion center''. More than 20 thousand people are expected to visit the fair in which 423 firms from 57 countries will take part. The fair will start on August 19 with a fashion show of leading Turkish designer Arzu Kaprol. Worldwide famous model Esther Caradas will take stage during the show.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FLOOD HITS ALIBEYKOY
Flood triggered by torrential rains paralyzed Alibeykoy district of Istanbul. 4,500 houses and business places were inundated by flooding waters in Eyup, Esenler, Kucukcekmece and Gungoren districts of Istanbul. Emergency teams said that they received more than 3,000 calls by Tuesday from people seeking assistance. Hundreds of homes were evacuated Monday before the storm hit. Nearly 100 traffic accidents were reported in the city, but there are no casualties in those accidents.

S&P RAISES TURKEY'S RATING
Standard & Poor's, a leading rating organization, raised Turkey's long-term foreign currency rating from ''B+'' to ''BB-'' while it reaffirmed its outlook on Turkey as ''stable''. S&P released a statement noting that ''the sovereign upgrade reflects the progress Turkey is making toward durable macroeconomic stability, and the country's expected adherence to a strict macroeconomic program beyond 2004, which would result in further fiscal improvement, disinflation, a more sustainable public debt burden, and reduced vulnerability to market sentiment.'' The statement said progress in qualifying for accession talks with the European Union (EU), together with a further strengthening of public finances, would be likely to improve the ratings.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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THREE RADIO CHANNELS ALLOWED TO BROADCAST IN KURDISH
Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) allowed three private radio channels to broadcast in different languages and dialects. Under decision of the RTUK, three private radio channels in southeastern province of Diyarbakir will be able to broadcast in Kurdish language. Earlier, RTUK ruled that spectator and listeners of private radio and TV channels should be determined to get permission to broadcast in different languages and dialects. Governates in Diyarbakir and neighboring Batman provinces informed RTUK that there was a majority of population speaking Kurdish language in the region.

TESTIMONY FOR VISIT OF CONDOLENCE
Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir, who paid a visit of condolences to relatives of a terrorist who was killed in an operation in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir province, submitted his written testimony to inspectors of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Earlier in the month, Diyarbakir Governor's Office officially indicted mayors including Baydemir who visited relatives of the terrorist.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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FLOOD WATERS CLAIM A LIVE IN ZONGULDAK
Flash floods caused by torrential rains killed at least one person in northwestern province of Zonguldak. Tacettin Deniz, an 80-year-old villager, died after being carried away by flood waters. His body was found by search and rescue teams. His son Veli Deniz was also reported missing in the flood. Efforts have been continuing to find him.

TOWARDS SHARIA ECONOMY
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government submitted a parliamentary bill envisaging Turkey's becoming a member of Islamic Private Sector Development Agency, which was established with the aim of developing an economy in line with Islamic Sharia law. Turkey will join the agency with a fund of 11.7 million U.S. dollars. This fund will be paid to the agency by the Islamic Development Bank on behalf of Turkey. The establishment agreement of the agency says that those who signed the agreement have to accept rules of the Sharia law.

RUSSIA WANTS THRACIAN ROUTE
President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation will pay a state visit to Turkey in September. President Putin will become the first Russian president paying a state visit to Turkey after 32 years. One of the topics likely to be high on the agenda during President Putin's visit to Turkey will be a proposed Turkish pipeline for Russian oil. The project, known as the Trans-Thracian pipeline, would allow Russian oil to reach the Mediterranean from the Black Sea without passing through the congested Istanbul Strait. It already has the support of Transneft and the Ministry of Industry and Energy, and is awaiting approval from the Turkish Ministry of Energy.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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VICTIMS OF QUAKE DISASTER COMMEMORATED
Victims of 1999's quake disaster were commemorated in many places in northwestern part of Turkey on the fifth anniversary of the disaster. Search-and-Rescue Team opened an exhibition of quake photographs in Golcuk the epicenter of the quake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale. In Izmit, people took streets at 03.02 a.m. when the quake devastated the region five years ago. They marched to the city center by chanting slogans and carrying placards criticizing the way of government's handling the crisis.

PEACE TO RISE ITS VOICE IN ISTANBUL
Anti-militarists and rockers will meet in Istanbul between August 21 and 22 to watch the PeaceRock Festival. 42 Turkish and foreign rock bands and singers will take part in this year's festival. Thousands of people will meet in Istanbul's Mehmet Akif Ersoy Park in Sariyer neighborhood to sing songs to protest wars.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NSC IS COMPLETELY CIVIL
Ambassador Mehmet Yigit Alpogan was appointed as the Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC). Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the decree that foresaw appointment of Alpogan as the NSC Secretary General. Thus, Alpogan became the first civil secretary general of NSC. Alpogan is very experienced in Turkish-Greek relations.

PROMISE TO EASE VISA PROCEDURES
Iraq's Head of State Ghazi al-Yawer who paid a visit to Turkey as the official guest of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that they would ask foreigners who wanted to visit their country to get visa before their trip in order to distinguish them from terrorists. Attending a working breakfast hosted by Turkish-Iraqi Business Council in Ankara, al-Yawer said that his visit to Turkey was not coincidental and Turkey had a particular importance for his country. Al-Yawer noted that they could ease visa procedures for Turkish businessmen.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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RAINFALL TO CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY
Meteorology officials said that the heavy rain, which started on Monday, is likely to continue in eastern part of Marmara region and western part of Black Sea region through Thursday.

PRIME MINISTER SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BUILD HOUSES ON STREAMBED
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that torrential rains paralyzed daily life and traffic in Istanbul, stating that there were no casualties due to measures that they took. Spending his holiday in Guneysu town of northeastern Rize province, Erdogan said that people should not build houses on streambed. He added that floods in summer paralyzed not only Turkey, but also many countries in the world.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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WARNINGS ABOUT KIRKUK IS NOT AN INTERVENTION
Iraq's Head of State Ghazi al-Yawer said that they did not consider Turkey's warnings about Kirkuk an intervention in their own internal affairs. Al-Yawer stressed that this city was a common place of all Iraqi citizens, noting that several ethnic groups lived in peace in this beautiful city, and this city would also be the symbol of co-existence in the future.

GONUL DUE TO SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul will leave for Serbia and Montenegro on Wednesday. Releasing a statement, the Secretary General of National Defense Ministry said that Gonul would pay a visit to Serbia and Montenegro as the official guest of Defense Minister Prvoslav Davinic, between August 18th and 21st. During the visit National Defense Minister Gonul and Davinic will sign a cooperation agreement on defense industry. Gonul will return to Turkey on August 21st.

(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 18.08.2004