ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 2, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT REACTS TO EU
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit responded to European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement who said, ''Turkey should not expect the EU to set a date for beginning of accession negotiations at the summit meeting in Copenhagen in December.'' Prime Minister Ecevit noted, ''this is nothing, but an injustice. Despite its problems and difficulties, Turkey has made important reforms in order to progress on the path of EU membership.''

TURKEY PRESENTED WITH REGIONAL AWARD
Turkey and Bulgaria were chosen as the countries implementing the United Nations development programme in the best way during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in South African capital Johannesburg. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer arrived in Johannesburg late on Sunday to attend the WSSD. President Sezer will give information about Turkey's efforts since the United Nations Conference on Environment an Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro 1992 in which Rio action plan ''Agenda 21'' was approved. Together with President Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria, President Sezer will attend the award ceremony on Tuesday.

TURKEY RANKED FIRST IN WORLD JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS
Turkey came on the first place in the World Judo Championships held in Armenian capital Yerevan. Turkey won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals in the two-day championships. Selim Tataroglu of Turkey competing in men's heavyweight, and Belkis Zehra Kaya of Turkey competing in women's heavyweight, won the gold medals. Turkish national team will return to Turkey on Monday.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DEBATE CLOSURE CASE AGAINST HADEP
Constitutional Court will debate the closure case against the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) after September 5. The Constitutional Court will come to a conclusion in the case as soon as possible.

ECEVIT ADDRESSES PEOPLE IN TEKIRDAG
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said, ''I had to rest for three months due to an unimportant illness. Some of our deputies took a sudden decision to resign from our political party during this period. They attempted to establish a separate political party. However, I am pleased to say that the DSP has still been sound without them.'' Addressing people in northwestern province of Tekirdag, Prime Minister Ecevit stressed, ''during our term in office, we have made many significant reforms. We have solved long-standing problems of Turkey. During the power of DSP, torture, one of Turkey's most serious problems, was eradicated considerably. Governments led by DSP took the most influential measures against fundamentalist and separatist terrorism. Unsolved murders came to an end. We have launched a great campaign against corruption. These reforms needed urgently by Turkey have been neglected for the last 50 years. When DSP came to power, 380 laws have been adopted to meet Turkey's need for reforms.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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YILMAZ: ''NOW, THE EU SHOULD FULFILL ITS COMMITMENTS''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), reacted harshly to European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement who said, ''Turkey should not expect the EU to set a date for beginning of accession negotiations at the summit meeting in Copenhagen in December.'' Yilmaz said, ''Republic of Turkey has enacted the most important reform package of its history. Now, the EU should fulfill its commitments.''

TORRENTIAL RAINS CAUSE FLOOD IN ISTANBUL
Flood waters triggered by torrential rains inundated a number of houses and business places in several districts of Istanbul. Torrential rains paralyzed daily life and traffic in the city. Avenues remained under flood waters. Many traffic accidents causing financial damage, occurred. Some roads in Besiktas and Sariyer districts collapsed.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CRITICAL WEEK FOR CYPRUS
A summit meeting will be held among United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in French capital Paris on September 6. Prior to the summit meeting, Britain and the United States have begun putting diplomatic pressure on the Turkish Cypriot side. President Denktas who is scheduled to come together with representatives of Britain and the United States, said, ''if they want an agreement in Cyprus, they should recognize our sovereignty first.''

''WE WILL NOT BE THE SOLDIER OF THE UNITED STATES''
Nearly two thousand people gathered in Ankara on September 1 World Peace Day and protested the United States' plans to launch a military operation against Iraq. A rally was held in Ankara to protest imperialism and war. Participants chanted slogans saying that Turkey would not become a soldier of the United States.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAYKAL HOPES THAT SINGLE PARTY WILL COME TO POWER
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey could overcome its problems with ''a powerful government'' model and added, ''I hope that a single powerful party will come to the power after the elections.'' Baykal said that it was difficult to realize the reforms which CHP foresaw with a coalition government. Baykal said that Turkey was experiencing the biggest crisis of its history and added that a 'moral crisis' was laying under it.

CONSENSUS WITH IRAN
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel who paid a one-day visit to Iran upon the invitation of Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi held a serial of contacts in Tehran. Gurel held meetings with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref-Yazdi, Kharrazi and the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Mehdi Karubi. Gurel who reached an agreement on the protection of Iraq's territorial integrity will convey Tehran's messages to Ankara.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ECEVIT SAYS EU SHOULD NOT ACT UNJUSTLY TO TURKEY
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey took very important steps for the European Union (EU) and added that EU should not act unjustly to Turkey. Ecevit who came to Ankara's Esenboga Airport to go to the meeting of DSP in Tekirdag responded to the reporters' questions. When a reporter reminded him about the statement of European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen that Turkey should not wait for a negotiation date from Copenhagen Summit, Ecevit said, ''despite its problems and difficulties, Turkey has recorded significant process on the road to EU and continue to do so. It is very difficult for the EU to find a reason to return Turkey now. I think that the statement claimed to be made by Verheugen is not right.''

SEZER SAYS PARLIAMENT SHOULD MAINTAIN ITS RESPECT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer made some statements prior to his departure to Southern Africa Republic to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Sezer who touched on the efforts to postpone the elections said, ''I expect from the parliament members to maintain the respect of Parliament.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TALABANI SAYS TURKEY CAN ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ IF IT WANTS
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani who is a leading name in the center of Turkey's Northern Iraq policy said that Turkish Army could enter Northern Iraq, if it wanted. Talabani said that he did not believe that Turkey would settle in Northern Iraq in a possible Iraq operation and added that they were in favor of the federation after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He also said that they could not understand Ankara's reservations on that issue.