ANKARA (A.A) - 17.05.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 17, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
INTERESTING SIGNAL FOR HEIR APPARENT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made a surprise description for leadership of Democratic Left Party (DSP). Ecevit said, ''we will give opportunity to a person who has not introduced himself yet.''
Ecevit said, ''unfortunately, most of our friends could not introduce themselves adequately. We should give opportunities to them. Our parties and voters will make a healthy election in the end.''
''Naturally, there will be a new vitrine in DSP. However, it will not be right to focus on those detailes as there are two years for elections.''

SEPARATE FLAG AND SEPARATE NATIONAL ANTHEM TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS
During the contacts of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas obtained important acquisitions.
June became the target month for solution of problems on administration, territory, security and property. December became the target month for agreement. Annan expended support to the thesis of founding a new partnership state in which the Turkish side will have a separate national anthem and flag.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
''I INVITED OZKAN, BUT HE DID NOT VISIT US''
Rahsan Ecevit reacted harshly to allegations saying that she did not allow State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan to visit Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Rahsan Ecevit said that she invited Ozkan, but he did not come to visit them.

ECEVIT DUE TO PAKISTAN
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who has been resting at his residence for nearly two weeks due to his illness, received Foreign Affairs Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ali Tuygan and Bilateral Political Relations Department Director General Turkekul Kurttekin. Following the meeting, Prime Ministry Press Consultant Cem Avci said that Prime Minister Ecevit would not cancel his scheduled visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

KARAKOYUNLU INFORM FOGG ON RTUK
State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu met with European Union (EU) Commission Representative Karen Fogg. During the meeting, Karakoyunlu informed Fogg on the Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTUK) Law. Speaking at the meeting, Karakoyunlu said that the RTUK Law was amended in accordance with the National Program.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
NO POSTPONEMENT, ECEVIT WILL GO TO PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit ended the discussions that he would go and would not go to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ecevit said he would pay visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan on May 23.
This statement of Ecevit releived the markets which were shaken for some time with the statement that, ''the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara said Ecevit disclose his resignation on Saturday.''

FOUR SCENERIOS IN LOBBIES
Ankara is looking for a response to the question ''what will happen from now on, when will the elections take place.'' Here are the scenerios:
-Ecevit withdraws, Kemal Dervis enters Democratic Left Party (DSP), and embraces with Ismail Cem. Elections take place in autumn.
-Ecevit resists. Dervis enters CHP. Baykal insists on holding elections in autumn. Coalition acts together and resists against elections.
-Dervis enters ANAP. Mesut Yilmaz calls for elections in autumn.
-A name which is close to society is found. If Ecevit withdraws, the govenment continues.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
ARINC RAISES HIS VOISE
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Group Chairman Bulent Arinc said about cassettes including AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements against democratic and secular system, ''these are not evidences of crime. On the contrary, they are medals of honor. We stand behind our statements. We explained our views honestly, and will continue to do so in the future. The AKP will come to power through democratic ways.''

ANNAN WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO CYPRUS
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan supported the approach of September 12. During his contacts in Cyprus, Annan understood that Turkish Cypriot side had been maintaining its determination about equal sovereignty and a new partnership. Also, Turkish Cypriot side had the opportunity of explaining the April 29 Document to United Nations Secretary General Annan.

TURKEY SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRIA
Turkey and Austria have signed a memorandum of understanding about fight against illegal migration, human smuggling, extreme trends, terrorism, organized crimes and illicit drug trafficking. Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen and Interior Minister Ernst Strasser of Austria signed the memorandum of understanding.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
NO HURRY ON CYPRUS
The U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan deparated from Cyprus by giving hope. Annan said a progress could be recorded till the end of June, and an agreement could be recorded by the end of the year.
TRNC President Denktas said, ''Annan understood us,'' meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side said new talks will show whether or not Annan's visit created a new situation.

TURKEY BECOMES MAN'S PRODUCTION CENTER
Turkey will be German MAN AG's bus production center.
Within this scope, a ceremony will be held on May 21 to mark opening of MAN Turkey's Ankara factory's facilities where daily production will rise from 4.5 to 8.5 buses.
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is expected to open the facilities. Sources said that MAN Turkey had made 45 million euro investment so far for these supplementary facilities.
MAN Turkey is planning to increase daily production to 12.5 buses in near future, becoming the biggest bus production center in Europe.
MAN Turkey which had produced 719 buses in 2000 produced 685 buses in 2001 despite the economic crisis.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
DERVIS INSISTS
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy insisted on saying that general elections would not affect Turkish economy. Dervis who had attended the meeting of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council of Ministers, said, ''we have set up sound economic institutions that cannot be affected by elections. Of course, parliament will take the decision of holding elections. However, elections cannot be connected with economic developments in democratic countries.''

ALI FEVZI BIR TO BE EXTRADITED TO TURKEY
Ali Fevzi Bir, one of suspects of Susurluk case who has been under arrest in Germany, will be extradited to Turkey. German authorities have decided to extradite Bir who was arrested in his absentia in Turkey within the framework of allegations of rigging in soccer matches. Turkish and German officials will set a date for extradition of Bir to Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
DGM TO EXAMINE MEDICINE CORRUPTION
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Public Chief Prosecutor's Office launched an examination on charges of corruption regarding purchase of medical equipment to Social Security Agency (SSK).
A DGM Public prosecutor was assigned to examine the corruption allegations regarding purchase of medical equipment to SSK since 1992. The examination has been launched following denunciation of Labour and Social Security Ministry pertaining to corruption allegations on the issue.

TURK-IS PROTEST ENDS
The sit-in protest of the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is) which continued in Guven park of Ankara for two days ended.
Turk-Is Secretary for General Organizational Affairs Cetin Altun said that they decided to end their protest as of 8.00 p.m as they recorded some progress. Altun said that Turk-Is wants adoption of the Job Security Bill as soon as possible, and solution of unemployment problem in the country.