ANKARA (A.A) - 04.08.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 4, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
28TH STAR
Turkey which has approved the European Union (EU) reforms package, bewildered the world. Turkey has paved the way for becoming the 28th star of the EU by taking these historical decisions. Brussels welcomed adoption of the EU reforms package. EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement said, ''I welcome the courageous decision of the Turkish Parliament. This decision would not have been possible without a clear European perspective that the EU has developed for Turkey since the European Council of Helsinki in 1999. As regards the abolition of death penalty, no doubt, Turkey is now on our side.''

YILMAZ: ''TURKEY HAS TAKEN A GIANT STEP ON THE PATH LEADING TO EU''
State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said after approval of the European Union (EU) adjustment bill, ''Turkey has taken a giant step on the path leading to the EU full membership. Approval of the EU adjustment bill with such a majority at the parliament is very meaningful. I believe that we will understand better the real importance of this giant step in the future.''

BAHCELI: ''WE WILL APPLY TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT''
State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that they would apply to the Constitutional Court to annul the European Union (EU) adjustment laws envisaging annulment of death penalty, and broadcasting and education in mother tongue.

INFLATION RATES ANNOUNCED
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that wholesale prices increased by 2.7 percent and consumer prices rose by 1.4 percent in July of 2002 compared to prices in June of 2002. DIE said that the annual inflation rate in July was 45.9 percent in wholesale prices and 41.3 percent in consumer prices. The inflation rate in the January-July period of 2002 was 15.5 percent in wholesale prices and 13.6 percent in consumer prices. Meanwhile, according to 12-month averages as of July 2002, inflation rate was 69.1 percent in wholesale prices and 58.4 percent in consumer prices.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
VERHEUGEN: ''TURKEY IS NOW ON OUR SIDE''
The European Union (EU) Commission welcomed adoption of the third European Union (EU) Reform Package by the Turkish Parliament as an important signal of the determination of the majority of Turkey's political leaders towards further alignment to the values and standards of the EU. EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for Enlargement said, ''I welcome the courageous decision of the Turkish Parliament. Turkey is now on our side.''

DERVIS MEETS WITH INONU
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy met with Erdal Inonu within the framework of his search for an alliance among the leftist political parties. Later in the day, Dervis also held a meeting with Husamettin Ozkan.

CELIKEL TO BE APPOINTED AS JUSTICE MINISTER
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk resigned from his post in accordance with the Constitution following the decision taken by the parliament to hold the early elections on November 3, 2002. Turkish Jurist Women's Association Chairperson Prof. Dr. Aysel Celikel will be appointed as the new justice minister.

ELECTION SCHEDULE DETERMINED
Higher Election Board (YSK) set the beginning of election schedule as August 7, 2002. Public officials who will become candidate in the early elections should resign from their posts till 5.00 p.m. on August 8. 23 of 48 political parties can participate in the early elections.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
COMMAND ECHELON OF TSK DETERMINED
Decisions taken at the regular meetings of the Higher Military Board (YAS) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit between July 31 and August 3, were announced on Saturday after approval of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The decisions will enter into force as of August 30, 2002. According to the decisions of the YAS, General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu retired. Land Forces Commander General Hilmi Ozkok will serve as the new Chief of General Staff between 2002 and 2006. Meanwhile, Gendarmerie Forces Commander General Tahir Aytac Yalman has been appointed as the new Commander of the Land Forces, and Land Forces Command Staff Chairman General Mehmet Sener Eruygur has been appointed as the new Commander of the Gendarmerie Forces.

TURKISH CRIMINAL ABROAD FRIGHTENED
When the death penalty is lifted within the framework of the European Union (EU) reforms package. Extradition of Fehriye Erdal, a member of the terrorist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and one of suspects of killing of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996, has been brought onto agenda.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
EU REFORM PACKAGE ENACTED
The European Union (EU) reform package was enacted following a debate at the Parliamentary General Assembly that lasted about 22 hours. The debate on the EU adjustment bill started at 3.00 p.m. on Thursday. Later, Parliamentary General Assembly decided to debate provisions of the bill. Debate on the provisions of the EU adjustment bill started at 2.00 p.m. on Friday and ended at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday. The bill was enacted with votes of all political parties except for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The package lifted capital punishment for crimes of terrorism and commuted capital punishment to life imprisonment. Criminals of terrorism whose capital punishments are commuted to life imprisonment, cannot benefit from reduction in punishment and conditional release. Their imprisonment will continue till their death.

NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISITING ANTALYA INCREASES BY 5 PERCENT
Number of foreign tourists who preferred southern province of Antalya to spend their holidays, increased 5 percent to 2 million 568 thousand. In the same period last year, 2 million 419 thousand foreign tourists visited Antalya. Hotel keepers in Antalya says that the number of foreign tourists would rise up to 5 million till the end of the year.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
TSK'S NEW COMMAND ECHOLON
Land Forces Commander General Hilmi Ozkok has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff, Gendarmerie Forces Commander General Tahir Aytac Yalman has been appointed as the new Commander of the Land Forces, and Land Forces Command Staff Chairman General Mehmet Sener Eruygur has been appointed as the new Commander of the Gendarmerie Forces. 31 generals and admirals have been raised to a higher rank as a result of decisions taken by the Higher Military Board (YAS). Term in office of 50 generals and admirals has been extended for one year.

POLITICAL UNCERTAINTLY AFFECTS INFLATION RATES
Increase in price of foreign currency stemming from political uncertainty reflected to prices. The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that wholesale prices increased by 2.7 percent and consumer prices rose by 1.4 percent in July of 2002 compared to prices in June of 2002. DIE said that the annual inflation rate in July was 45.9 percent in wholesale prices and 41.3 percent in consumer prices. The inflation rate in the January-July period of 2002 was 15.5 percent in wholesale prices and 13.6 percent in consumer prices. Meanwhile, according to 12-month averages as of July 2002, inflation rate was 69.1 percent in wholesale prices and 58.4 percent in consumer prices.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
46 SOLDIERS DISMISSED FROM TSK
Decisions taken at the regular meetings of the Higher Military Board (YAS) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit between July 31 and August 3, were announced on Saturday after approval of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. According to the decisions, 46 personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces were dismissed due to violation of the disciplinary regulations.

WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TOBB
World Bank delegation will visit the Association of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) on Monday. TOBB said that World Bank delegation including World Bank Sector Director Ira Liebermann would visit the TOBB on Monday, August 5. Ira Liebermann and accompanying World Bank delegation will meet with TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu and Executive Board members. Projects which will be implemented to enable the real sector and especially TOBB to reach long term financing sources, will be taken up at the meeting.

FUEL OIL PRICES INCREASED BY 1.6 PERCENT
Fuel oil prices were increased by 1.6 percent. As a result, price of one liter unleaded oil became 1 million 582 thousand Turkish liras.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
RELATIVES OF MARTYRS ARE ANGRY
Relatives of martyrs who lost their lives in acts and attacks of terrorist organization PKK, reacted to annulment of death penalty within the framework of the European Union (EU) reform package. They will gather in central province of Kayseri on August 10, to hold a demonstration to protest the parliament's decision.