ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 31, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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VICTORY OF GIANT GIRL
We became proud of golden girl Surreyya on the 80th anniversary of the August 30 Victory Day. Sureyya Ayhan became the first in the 1,500 metre women's event in Golden League held in Belgium. The giant girl broke this year's best score in the world: 3.57.75.

THREE-POINT GOAL HITTING TURKEY
Twelve giant men was beaten by Brazil in its second match at the World Basketball Championship in the United States. Our basketball players, who could not maintain 14 points of advantage, were upset with the last second three-point goal and lost the match 88-86.

NOVEMBER 3 VOTE OF COMMANDERS
Journalists asked a very interesting question to new commanders at the reception held on the anniversary of the August 30 Victory Day: ''For whom will you vote on November 3?'' Eyes were on the new commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces at yesterday's reception. Hilmi Ozkok, the new Chief of General Staff who took over the mandate from General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, said, ''don't ask me any questions about politics. I won't speak.'' New Land Forces Commander Yalman said that they were aware of the value of their vote and added, ''I am indecisive. I will wait till November 2 and I will see then. Elections is a very serious thing.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HEAVY STONE FROM SOLDIER
Land Forces Commander Aytac Yalman said, ''politicians blocked the white energy operation. Even the laws are being amended.'' Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok said during the August 30 Victory Day reception, ''we have soldiers in Northern Iraq.'' Yalman gave three messages: ''we staged 20 operations. We could not reach a definite result in white energy due to political pressure. Who is Barzani? I want to cast my vote on November 3.''

OUR LUCK TURNS BACK IN UEFA
Fenerbahce soccer club was matched with AIK Solna of Sweden. Besiktas' rival is FS Sarajevo of Bosnia Herzegovina. Kocaelispor was matched with Ferencvaros of Hungary, Ankaragucu with Alaves of Spain while Denizli will take on Lorient of France.

EU: ''WE WILL NOT SET ANY DATE''
European Union (EU) Term President Denmark's Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said that the reforms implemented by Turkey were very important. Moller noted that they had to make Turkey see that its efforts were not in vain. However, he said, it was very difficult for them to set a date at the Copenhagen Summit.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PELIN TO EXPLAIN WORLD YOUTH
Pelin Ayan, a university student at the age of 21, will take the stage on behalf of youth of 60 countries at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Ayan, who is a sophomore at Marmara University Department of International Relations, prepared the declaration to be presented at the leaders' summit in Johannesburg which will be attended by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on November 4. Pelin will read the declaration from the rostrum. Pelin competed against four candidates at the World Youth Forum of 100 delegates and got the highest number of votes. Pelin will explain the education and unemployment problems of young people at the summit.

TASAR SCORES BASKET
Turkish tourism was the star of the World Basketball Championship. All the world watched Turkey's advertisements on the boards. The World Basketball Championship held in Indianapolis was a big opportunity for promotion of Turkey. People of 35 countries watched Turkey's slogan ''Turkey Welcomes You'' from the boards beside the fields where matches are being played. Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar was the architect of this promotion. The cost of the campaign launched by the pioneership of Tasar was nothing when compared with the benefits of the advertisement. Turkey paid only 235 thousand U.S. dollars for these advertisements made on basketball fields and buses.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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AUGUST 30 VICTORY DAY CELEBRATED
Citizens showed great intest in August 30 ceremonies which were held throughout the country.
Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the Chief of General Staff, held a reception in Gazi Officer's Club on the occasion of August 30 Victory Day.
Speaking at the reception, Gen. Ozkok resembled fundamentalism and separatism thread to ''mushroom growing in rain'', and said fundamentalism existed since the Ottomans. He said, ''if there is threat, there is a power to oppose to this threat.''

STATEMENT FROM PRIME MINISTRY
Prime Ministry said it was out of question for the Prime Ministry to preserve the war secret codes, which was claimed to be used by Turkey in case of a probable war.
Prime Ministry Premiership Center issed a written statment and said the news reports saying that, ''Turkey's war secret codes were lost'' did not have anything to do with the facts.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DENKTAS FORMULA
President Rauf Denktas of the Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said, ''if the European Union (EU) gets Greek Cypriots as member, we will unite our foreign ministry with Turkey.''
Denktas said, ''if we stand firm, there will be opportunity to join the EU with equal condition. Thus, Turkey's membership to the EU will be accelerated.''

WHO IS BARZANI?
Iraq was the main topic of discussion in Victory Day reception of General Staff. Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the Chief of General Staff, pointed out that KDP leader Massoud Barzani made some statements, stressing that Turkey has some elements in Northern Iraq.
Meanwhile, Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman said, ''who is Barzani? They are only tribe. We very well know Barzani and Talabani. They can not do anything. You will soon hear something in favour of Turkey.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HE IS AGAIN INSOLENT
Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani continues his criticisms about Turkey. Barzani, who made a statement to American NPR radio station, asked for withdrawal of Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq. Barzani claimed that Turkish army had more than two dozens of tanks and soldiers in the region and that Turkish helicopters were often flying over the region.

NO CONCESSION ON RISE IN SALARIES
The talks between the public employee confederations and the government were interrupted when the government proposed 35 million Turkish liras (TL) of rise in the salaries of the public employees. The unions gave two hours of time to the government to reach a compromise. However, no statement came from the government. The civil servants will start to retard work as of tomorrow.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CIVIL SERVANTS TO RETARD WORK
Collective bargaining talks, carried out between the government and the unions of civil servants for 15 days, resulted in disagreement.
The government and the unions, which met on Friday once again, signed disagreement text. Salaries of the civil servants will be determined by High Compromise Commission (YUK) from now on.
The unions of the civil servants, which found the increase inadequate, will be in an effort to reach a result by holding series of actions.

12 GIANT MEN LOST WITH LAST SECOND BASKET
The National Team lost the match with a basket that was scored at the last second.
Turkey, which was unexpectedly beaten by Puerto Rico the previous day, was also beaten by Brazil in its second match.
The National Team, which started the match rapidly and ambitiously, was 32-21 ahead of Brazil in the first half. However, the Turkish National Team lost the match 88-86 at the last second with a basket recorded by Brazil.