ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 22, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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DERVIS TO JOIN CHP TOGETHER WITH HIS TEAM
Former State Minister Kemal Dervis has taken a decision at last. He will join the Republican People's Party (CHP) on Friday. Dervis' 20-member team will also join the CHP.

TURKEY TO APPLY VISA FOR SOME ARAB COUNTRIES
Following adoption of the European Union (EU) adjustment laws, Turkey will begin applying visa for some Arab countries as of September 1, 2002.

NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene today under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu will attend the NSC meeting for the last time before his retirement.

YILMAZ REACTS TO BAHCELI
State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz reacted harshly to State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli who said that the ANAP and the True Path Party should become united. Yilmaz said, ''we do not need proposals of Bahceli. The ANAP will determine its own policies.''

FITCH EXAMINES ELECTIONS IN TURKEY
The Fitch Ratings, one of the international rating organizations, prepared an in-depth comment on the possible political outcomes of the November general elections, and said, ''the formation of a competent and reformist government in November is crucial for a lasting improvement in Turkey's creditworthiness.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERBAKAN TO ANNOUNCE HIS CANDIDACY
Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP), will announce later in the day his decision to become an independent candidate from central province of Konya. He will hold a press conference at Ankara's Bilkent Hotel to announce his decision.

BAHCELI: ''POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS WILL CAUSE A CHAOS''
State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that postponement of the general elections to be held on November 3, 2002, would cause a serious chaos in Turkey. He said that some political parties having the same thoughts should unite with each other. Bahceli added that the MHP would not unite with any political party.

TURKER: ''WE CAN CATCH A GROWTH RATE OF 3.9 PERCENT''
State Minister Masum Turker for Economy submitted a seven-page report to the Council of Ministers, and said, ''we can catch a growth rate of 3.9 percent at the end of 2002.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT'S SURPRISE
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said, ''some unofficial alliances can be formed.'' Responding a question about Ismail Cem and his political party New Turkey (YTP), Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''I will not set up any dialogue with the YTP.''

BARZANI TALK NONSENSE
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani prepared a map of Kurdistan and announced Kirkuk as a Kurdish province. Later, he said that if an attack was staged on Northern Iraq, the region would become a cemetery for Turkish army. Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu reacted harshly to Barzani, saying, ''uppity Barzani will receive the necessary response from our parliament. Everyone should know how far they can go. Turkey has been monitoring all initiatives of the political party of Barzani about an independent Kurdistan. Turkey considers formation of an independent Kurdistan a casus belli.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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KDP THREATENS: ''NORTHERN IRAQ WILL BECOME A CEMETERY FOR TURKISH ARMY''
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Massoud Barzani said that Turkey did not have any rights in Northern Iraq, and claimed, ''if Turkey intervenes in Northern Iraq, the region will become a cemetery for Turkish army.''

ANKARA RESPONS TO BARZANI: ''EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW HOW FAR THEY CAN GO''
Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu reacted harshly to Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, and stressed, ''everyone should know how far they can go. Turkey has been monitoring all initiatives of the political party of Barzani about an independent Kurdistan. Turkey considers formation of an independent Kurdistan a reason for war.'' Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying, ''Turkey's policy about Iraq is based on two principles: Protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq, and Iraqi people's taking decisions about their own future. The political parties in Northern Iraq should act with this consciousness, and they should not forget that they had to avoid impositions about the future of the country.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GUZEL: ''UZAN PURCHASED YDP''
Hasan Celal Guzel, the former leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP), resigned from the YDP, saying, ''YDP's new leader Mehmet Ali Akgun sold the political party to Cem Uzan, the leader of the Young Party (GP) who did not have the right to join the general elections on November 3, 2002, in return for 35 billion Turkish liras. They will hold a meeting on Friday, and change the name of the YDP as GP. I will denounce them to the Prosecutor's Office.''

''WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH FASTS''
Justice Ministry Prisons Director General Ali Suat Ertosun said, ''we did not intervene in those whose health deteriorated due to death fast, by force. The Justice Ministry is not responsible for death fasts.''

CEM MEETS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem held talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Interior Minister Otto Schily. During the meetings, Cem explained the YTP's views about the European Union (EU). Schily said that they would be pleased with a Turkish government that was in favor of the EU.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SSSB SAYS HIGH INTEREST RATES CAUSE DOMESTIC BORROWING STOCK TO INCREASE
Schroeder Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB), a leading international investment counseling organization, said in an analysis that interest rates which had risen due to political uncertainty in spring also caused the domestic borrowing stock to increase. In the analysis, SSSB said that interest rates had started to decrease in the beginning of the year as a result of measures taken by the government, but the political uncertainty in spring caused interest rates to increase and later the domestic borrowing stock increased over to 130 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL).

''WE SHOULD OPEN BORDER GATE WITH ARMENIA''
A 41-businessmen delegation who had joined the visit of the Igdir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ITSO) to Armenia, returned to Turkey. ITSO Chairman Tayyar Oral said, ''we held very beneficial contacts during our five-day visit to Armenia.'' ''We observed that many shops in Armenia were selling Turkish-made goods. However, Iranian and Georgian businessmen were benefiting from this instead of Turkish businessmen. We held meetings with Armenian officials on the issue of trade. They told us that the border gate between Turkey and Armenia should be opened. They also noted that they would give any kinds of commercial guarantee. If we open the border gate with Armenia, it will be beneficial for us,'' he added.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FOUNDATION OF BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE TO BE LAID ON SEPTEMBER 18
Foundation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will be laid in Azerbaijani capital Baku on September 18. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia will attend the foundation-laying ceremony. Energy ministers of some countries will also be in attendance. The project is expected to be completed in 2005, and cost 2.9 billion U.S. dollars.

SP TO MAKE ALLIANCE WITH HADEP
It was claimed that the Felicity Party (SP) and the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) have reached an agreement in principle to make alliance for the general elections. Talks will continue between the SP and the HADEP on some details.