ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 23, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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22 PROVINCES TO HAVE NATURAL GAS
Energy Market Regulatory Board (EPDK) Chairman Yusuf Gunay said they would open natural gas market on October 1. ''Thus,'' he noted, ''distribution tenders may be opened in 22 provinces where natural gas is brought.''
Gunay said they earlier planned to open the natural gas market in November, but that they decided to open the natural gas market on October 1 as they completed their preparations.
He said state run oil pipeline company BOTAS, the municipalities and distribution companies would apply to them to get license, stressing that the Board will be the only authorized institution to determine natural gas prices.
IN FACT TURKEY SHOULD SET A DATE
Arie Oostlander, the new Turkey rapporteur of the European Parliament said, ''in fact Turkey should set a date to the European Union (EU).''
The Dutch Parliamentarian known with his strict views, pointed out that, ''first of all Turkey should set a date for us regarding when it would implement the reforms. We don't want a problematic country, but we should accept the Greek Cypriot side to the EU in case a solution could not be found to Cyprus problem till December.''
It was reported that Oostlander's becoming Turkey rapporteur could give damage to bilateral relations as he is known with his ''strict'' views in the European Parliament toward Turkey.
Responding to the questions of reporters Oostlander said democratic principles could not be fully implemented in Turkey, stressing that to this end expectations for negotiations were not realistic. He said instead of expectations from the EU to set a date, Turkey should set a date to the EU regarding when the reforms would be implemented.
Oostlander said there was no need for them to set a date to Turkey right now, noting that the negotiations would start from the very moment Turkey begins to implement the reforms.
Speaking about Cyprus, Oostlander said this issue put Brussels into a difficult situation, adding that, ''the EU in principle does not accept the countries which have border problems. To this end, we are face to face with a very difficult problem. Nevertheless, we don't have any choice but to accept the Greek Cypriots to the EU if a solution can not be found to the Cyprus problem till December.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SILENT MESSAGE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will not address the opening of the Parliament this year and thus will give the message to those who try to delay the elections, that there would be no return.
President Sezer, with the thought that it would not be right to address a Parliament which had taken a decision for early elections. Sezer thus wants to give the message to those who want to delay the elections that, ''you have taken a decision which you can not return.''
GOLDEN MAN MEHMET OZAL
Turkish wrestler Mehmet Ozal won gold medal in the 47th World Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship held in Moscow, Russia and became World Champion.
TREMORS SHAKE KAHRAMANMARAS AND ERZURUM
Slight earthquakes shook Pazarcik township in Kahramanmaras province and Ispir township in eastern Erzurum province. No casualties were reported after the earthquakes, but the citizens had a short time panic.
Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said the epicenter of the quake which occurred at 21.35 local time was Ispir township, and that it was measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale.
The Institute said the other quake, measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale, occurred at 21.35 again, and that the epicenter of the quake was Pazarcik.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GUREL: ''UNITED STATES SHOULD CONVINCE OTHER COUNTRIES''
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel who held contacts with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condaleeza Rice and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfovitz during his visit to Washington D.C., said, ''the United States' launching an operation against Iraq on its own will not be correct. The United States should explain its reasons for such an operation, and convince the other countries.''
KOTEN: ''EXPORTS WILL INCREASE TO USD 34 BILLION AT THE END OF 2002''
Foreign Trade Deputy Undersecretary Abdullah Koten said that the exports would rise up to 34 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2002. Speaking at the Fourth Economy Summit, Koten said, ''agriculture has never been ignored in the transition process from agriculture to industry. Turkey's total exports were about 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in 1980s. In the first seven months of 2002, Turkey exported goods of 31 billion U.S. dollars. We expect this figure to rise up to 34 billion U.S. dollars till the end of the year.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ASPARUK: ''EVERYONE SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES AS REQUIRED BY THE LAW''
Air Forces Commander General Cumhur Asparuk said about the decision taken by the Higher Election Board to reject candidacies of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP), ''the YSK has made the right ruling. If I commit a crime, then I pay for the crime as required by the law. Everyone does.''
PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE TO TAKE TIGHT MEASURES AGAINST SATANISM
The Prime Ministry Office has completed its five-month secret work about the satanism. During the process, the Prime Ministry Office did not cooperate with any universities or non-governmental organizations. Within the scope of measures to be taken against the satanism, illicit drug controls will be increased, religious education will be improved, families of students will be warned, and web-sites will be checked.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GUREL: ''UNITED STATES UNDERSTANDS US''
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel said, ''I met with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney during my visit to the United States. He told me that they acknowledged that Turkey was right. The United States has been continuing its efforts to convince the European Union (EU) to set a date for the beginning of accession negotiations with Turkey.''
SUREYYA AYHAN COMES ON FIRST PLACE
European champion Turkish athlete Sureyya Ayhan became the first in women's 1,500 meters in the Ninth Athletics World Cup in Madrid, Spain. As a result of Surreyya's success, European team was ranked second in the World Cup. Ayhan won all the races this season.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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5,000 PEOPLE TO BE EMPLOYED IN PIPELINE
Signing ceremony of the Turkey section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline took place, and thus a new field of employment was opened for nearly 5,000 people in Eastern and Southeastern region.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is described as the biggest project of the 21st century and which will provide opening of the Caspian oil to the world, will carry 50 million tonnes of crude oil annually.
Within the scope of the project, a contract, worth of 1 billion 400 million U.S. dollars, was signed with the Turkish side.
Those contracts opened new field of employment for nearly 5,000 people in Eastern and Southeastern Region.
GUREL TALKS ARAFAT ON THE PHONE
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel talked with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on the phone who is under besiege in Ramallah.
Arafat told Gurel that the besiege conditions were very serious and that his life was under danger. Arafat called on Turkey to talk with the U.S. administration and suggest Israel to lift besiege on Ramallah.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERBAKAN: YSK WILL ADJUST ITS MISTAKE
Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the Welfare Party (RP) which was outlawed by the Constitutional Court, said ''the Higher Election Board (YSK) has taken a wrongful decision. It will be corrected and we will not need to apply for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).''
Responding questions of journalists, Erbakan said, ''the YSK has not yet completed its legal work. He have the right to complain about this decision which was taken illegally. We will wait for the result of our application to the YSK. The YSK will re-assess the situation within two days. I hope that this wrongful decision will be corrected and we will not need to apply to the ECHR.''
DERVIS AND TURKER WILL TALK WITH THE IMF SEPARATELY
Former State Minister for Economy Kemal Dervis, and new State Minister for Economy Masum Turker will be the guest of various meetings that will take place in Washington by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Turker will carry out the official talks on behalf of Turkey, whereas Dervis will pay courtesy visits.