ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on June 21st, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ISTANBUL IS THE 23RD MOST EXPENSIVE CITY
According to the consulting company Mercer of London, world's most expensive cities are in Japan, namely Tokyo and Osaka. Istanbul is more expensive compared to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels and Los Angeles. Istanbul is the 23rd most expensive city in the world.
AKP DECLARES WAR ON CIGARETTES
Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP) has declared war on cigarettes. Uniformed individuals will not be able to smoke. Smoking in tv shows and video clips has been banned. Turkish Parliament Health Commission Chairman Cevdet Erdol has submitted a draft law to the parliament that prohibits smoking in cafes, coffee houses and billiard saloons. Smoking in prohibited areas will be fined to 50 YTL.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MUMCU RETURNED BY AKP
The ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP) did not find serious the proposal of Erkan Mumcu, the leader of the Motherland Party, to solve headscarf problem with a constitutional amendment. Mumcu has asked for appointment from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the first time after he resigned from AKP. Mumcu will tell Erdogan, ''referendum will cause social tension. Let's make a constitutional amendment, and solve headscarf problem and enable people to elect the president.'' It is learned that Erdogan is not so warm towards Mumcu's appointment demand.
HEAVIEST PUNISHMENT TO KAPLAN
Istanbul Criminal Court sentenced ''so-called caliph'' Metin Kaplan to heavy life imprisonment. Kaplan, the head of the Union of Islamic Communities and Societies (ICCB), was tried on charges of trying to change the constitutional order by gun force.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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METIN KAPLAN RECEIVES LIFE IN PRISON SENTENCE
Metin Kaplan, a radical Muslim who was deported from Germany, has been sentenced to life in prison by a Turkish court for trying to over throw the constitutional order in Turkey with an armed revolt. Kaplan said at the court that ''if Prophet Mohammad came to Turkey today, he would be sitting on the chair of the defendant.''
ENKA TO CONSTRUCT THIRD TERMINAL AT MOSCOW AIRPORT
Turkish ENKA Company has won the tender to construct Moscow Airport's third terminal. ENKA was one of 38 companies who submitted bids in the tender. ENKA signed a contract worth 420 million USD with Russian national air carrier Aeroflot.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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ALARM IN SSK
Premium deducted from 7 million workers (who are under the auspices of the Social Security Agency-SSK) cannot even meet the pension of 4 million retired people. The overall cash premium collected by the Agency was 7.9 billion New Turkish Liras (YTL) in the first five months of this year, while the pension paid by the Agency in the same period was 8.7 billion YTL. On the other hand, the premium revenues increased by 15.2 percent in the first five months of this year when compared with the same period of the previous year, while the rise in pension payments was 22.8 percent. Therefore, the premium revenues could meet pension payments between January and May 2004. On the other hand, the premium revenues-pension payments meeting rate decreased to 91 percent in the first five months of 2005, for the first time in SSK's history.
BABY DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 7 IN EDIRNE
One more baby died at the Edirne Trakya University's Faculty of Medicine hospital, raising the death toll to seven. The bodies of three babies were sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Istanbul for autopsy. The Institute sent a report to Edirne yesterday (Monday). According to preliminary reports, the babies died because they were infected at the hospital. But, the final autopsy results will be made public within a month. Families of the dead babies are preparing to file a lawsuit against the hospital after they have seen the forensic medicine report. There are still nine babies at the hospital.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EU MAY CLOSE DOORS TO TURKEY
Turkey strongly needs the support of British Premier Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder for the beginning of entry negotiations in October. However, after Blair received strong criticism regarding the EU budget and Schroder is about to face an early election, EU experts warned Turkey that the EU doors may close on the Turks.
ARINC: ''TURKISH PARLIAMENT WILL ELECT THE NEW PRESIDENT''
Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc has indicated that the parliament will elect the new president of Turkey when the time arrives. ''The next president will be someone from within the Turkish parliament,'' noted Arinc.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GUL: DEMOCRACY LACKS WOMEN
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''there can't be any democracy without participation of women, but there is no progress in us in gender equality. We have to lift all legal, political and psychological obstacles.''
VORKINK: TURKEY CAN BECOME A SPAIN
World Bank Country Director for Turkey said, ''Turkey is the country for which we release the highest loan following India. If reforms continue, it (Turkey) may become an Ireland or Spain in the future'', and raised hopes.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL CALLS FOR REFORM IN MIDDLE EAST
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, speaking in a meeting on the Middle East held in Istanbul, said, ''when examined, it is seen that the Middle Eastern countries were behind global, social and economic development standards despite their potential.'' Noting that the Middle East could accomplish a change if it wanted, Gul said, ''this can be achieved by political and economic reforms. First of all, rule of law, transparency, good management and political pluralism are obligatory. Only the regional people can do all these.''
ERDOGAN DUE TO UNITED STATES AGAIN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to the United States on July 5th to attend the ''Sun Valley Conference''.
GUL EN ROUTE TO BRUSSELS FOR ''IRAQ'S FUTURE''
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will go to Brussels today to attend a conference on ''Iraq's future''. Efforts to reconstruct Iraq will be taken up in the conference.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BLOOD DONORS RECEIVE WORLD CLASSICS FROM THE RED CRESCENT
The Turkish Red Crescent is utilizing interesting means to collect blood from donors. The Red Crescent used to give caps and towels and kebab sandwiches to blood donors in the past. Nowadays, the Red Crescent is distributing world classics to blood donors. About 300 books have been reprinted for the blood donors.
TURKS LOVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Turkish Koc Holding CEO Mustafa Koc has indicated that the Turks love entrepreneurship. ''As our trip from the Asian valleys to the center of Europe shows, we are a nation that loves to take risks. However, this is not enough by itself. We need educated and trained risk takers,'' said Koc.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRIVATE DIPLOMA COSTS 100,000 USD
Turkish students planning to attend universities of foundations need a fortune. One year at a private foundation university costs approximately 25,000 USD. Accordingly, a 4-year diploma costs around 100,000 USD.