ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 1, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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DEBATE ON YASAR NURI'S BOOK
Yasar Nuri Ozturk, a theology professor who joined the Republican People's Party (CHP) asked CHP leader Deniz Baykal to support his book on ''Turkish Azan (Call to Prayer).'' Deniz Baykal said that the content of the book does not reflect the views of CHP. Ozturk decided to resign from the party, but many CHP members persuaded him not to resign from the party.

U.S. DOES NOT SUPPORT POLITICAL BAN ON ERDOGAN
The U.S. administration didn't support the political ban brought on AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan by the Higher Board of Election. The U.S. conveyed its uneasiness on this issue to the Turkish government. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones confirmed to journalists after her contacts in Ankara that she gave a message to her Turkish counterparts about the issue. Jones said that ''we, as the American government support all politicians to participate in the election process in a democratic system.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GERMANY GETTING READY TO RETURN KAPLAN TO TURKEY
German newspaper Welt am Sonntag wrote yesterday that the German government almost completed all the preparations to deport Metin Kaplan, the so-called caliphate. The newspaper said that the Turkish government officially asked Germany to return Kaplan on Aug. 19, 2002 after it abolished death penalty on Aug. 3, 2002.
It was stated that the German Federal Justice Ministry took Turkey's request positively and German Interior Minister Otto Schily said ''the possibility of Kaplan's return to Turkey was very high.''

GOLDEN ORANGE FILM FESTIVAL TO START IN ANTALYA TOMORROW
The 39th Golden Orange Film Festival will start tomorrow in Antalya and last for five days. Seven Turkish films will compete in this year's festival. The festival will also have a part where movies from eight countries will be shown. The participating countries are Israel, Greece, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, France, Georgia, Italy and Palestine.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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IRAQ'S COST FOR TURKEY IS 150 BILLION DOLLARS
Turkey lost 100 billion dollars due to the Gulf Crisis. According to the report of the Turkish-Iraqi Business Council, the additional cost of the Iraqi operation to Turkey will be 150 billion dollars within ten years. Turkey seems the country which will be mostly affected after Iraq by a possible military intervention in Iraq by the U.S.

GREECE EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO TURKEY FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis told the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) delegation that he extended full support to Turkey regarding its membership to the EU. Simitis also stressed that Greece will continue to help Turkey on the way to EU during its EU Term Presidency in the first half of 2003. TUSIAD started its contacts in Greece within the scope of its visit to EU capitals before the Copenhagen summit that will be held in December. Odiseas Kiryakopulos, the Chairman of the Greek Businessmen Association said that Greek businessmen supported Turkey's EU membership. Greek Energy and Development Minister Akis Tsohacopulos told a Greek newspaper that Greece has the take the front in improving EU's relations with Turkey. Meanwhile, Istanbul Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos also met with Simitis and asked Greek support for Turkey's EU membership.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ELECTION CHANGE IN MHP
There are significant changes in some targets of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on foreign policy, economy and education when its new election declaration and 1999 declaration are compared. MHP included the development of the relations with Russia and China to its priorities. The privatization of state-owned economic enterprises (SEEs) is also included in the new targets of the party which had previously defended ''limited'' privatization.

REDUCTION IN PRICE OF NATURAL GAS
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan said that the natural gas prices will reduce by five percent for industrial companies and by six percent for city distribution companies as of Tuesday. Issuing a written statement on the issue, Cakan said that an agreement was reached with Russia to reduce the price of the natural gas that is being transported from that country under two separate agreements.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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COUNTDOWN TO ELECTIONS TO START TOMORROW
While some parties continue their efforts to delay elections, the Higher Election Board (YSK) issued a declaration starting a countdown to Nov. 3. Turkish citizens living abroad will be able to vote at customs gate as of tomorrow morning. Hanging posters or party flags on the streets is banned. Parties will be allowed to hang their flags only on their party buildings.

BAYKAL:''COMMON SENSE SHOULD PREVAIL''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has said that he hoped Parliament would go on a holiday today that would last until the elections. Commenting on the efforts to postpone elections, Baykal said ''A total of 150 trillion TL budget was allocated for the elections and it has started to be spent. Can Turkey afford to throw this money away in an economic crisis? I hope the common sense would prevail.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PARLIAMENT TO RE-OPEN ON TUESDAY
Parliament will re-open on Tuesday. The 21st term fifth legislative year will start the same day. Those who oppose to the elections to be held on November 3 will exert efforts for the parliament to be open and those who want the November 3 elections will work to take a decision about parliament's recess. The parliament will convene at 3.00 p.m. the same day. Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi will make an opening speech for the new legislative year.

CILLER TO MEET WITH LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller will meet on Tuesday with the leaders of Democratic Left Party (DSP), Motherland Party (ANAP) and Felicity Party (SP) to prevent the initiatives for the postponement of the elections. Prior to her departure for a public meeting in Trabzon on Monday, Ciller said that she considered the initiatives to postpone the elections as inappropriate and added that they would take a group decision on the elections to be held on November 3.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANKARA SAYS IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY SHOULD BE PROTECTED
Turkey's concerns related to Iraq's territorial integrity and the economic losses which could be resulted from a possible military operation against Iraq were conveyed to the Elizabeth Jones, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs who visited Foreign Ministry and General Staff to search for the support of Ankara. Jones met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal early on Monday. Later, she had a meeting with Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel. Before the meeting, Jones said that Turkey was very important for the United States.