ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 26, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY PROTECT BRIDGES
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan have acted carefully during the election campaign by taking into consideration possibility of a coalition government between the CHP and the AK Party following the general elections on November 3.

THREE SURPRISES AT EU'S SUMMIT
The European Union (EU) summit meeting in Brussels has resulted in three surprising developments in favor of Turkey: Some EU leaders said that Turkey could be given a date for beginning of accession negotiations, important steps have been taken to solve the issue of European Army, and the sides on Cyprus decided not to perform any military exercises in October and November.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY DISCUSS WITHOUT ARGUMENT
Turkey has experienced a discussion without argument after years. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two favorites of the general elections on November 3, had a discussion in a programme on the private TV Channel D, but they did not argue with each other. When Baykal told Erdogan that all political parties should announce their candidate for the prime ministry, Erdogan said that they would take a decision after the elections.

EXPORTS INCREASE BY 6.7 PERCENT
Exports from Turkey amounted to 21 billion 788 million U.S. dollars and imports by Turkey amounted to 30 billion 319.6 million U.S. dollars in the January-August period of 2002. The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced the provisional figures for August 2002 and January-August 2002. According to figures, exports rose by 6.7 percent and imports increased by 9.8 percent in first eight months of 2002 when compared to same period in 2001. Meanwhile, total exports increased 9.1 percent to 2 billion 815.3 million U.S. dollars and total imports rose 19.4 percent to 4 billion 180.3 million U.S. dollars in August 2002.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY FLIRTS WITH EUROPE
Turkey topped the agenda of the summit meeting of heads of state and government of European Union (EU) countries in Brussels. In the final statement released at the end of the summit meeting, it was stressed that Turkey had taken important steps to fulfill Copenhagen political criteria. As a result of pressure of Italy, Greece and Denmark, this expression was strengthened as ''the EU welcomes the steps taken by Turkey.'' Meanwhile, the issue of European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) which caused problems between Turkey and Greece, was solved in a way desired by Ankara.

PAPANDREOU DUE IN TURKEY
Minister of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou of Greece will come to Turkey next week to watch UEFA Cup second round match between Fenerbahce of Turkey and Panathinaikos of Greece. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel said that he would be pleased with hosting his Greek counterpart Papandreou.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EUROPE PUTTING OFF
Any expression or recommendation about setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey did not take place in final statement of the Brussels Summit of the European Union (EU) and this caused harsh reactions of the government before the elections. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stressed that Turkey would not accept a ''conditional date'' by the EU, adding that he thought the EU would continue its tactics to put Turkey off until the results of the polls, and later it would take a decision on Turkey. Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that relations with the EU would be reviewed in all aspects if it would not set a date until the end of the year. Turkey's Secretary for the EU Volkan Vural said that the final decision on Turkey would be taken at the Copenhagen Summit in December.

NATURAL GAS PRICES REDUCED
The Energy Market Regulation Board announced that natural gas prices were reduced by 4.5 percent. The highest price of one cubic meter of natural gas excluding the value added tax was set as 317,420 Turkish liras in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmit, Eskisehir and Bursa.

DEBATE ON INCREASE IN PENSIONS
The government which wants to please also the retired people after the civil servants and hazelnut producers has started to prepare a decree on increase in pensions. Labor and Social Security Minister Nejat Arseven said the decree would be opened to signature at the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday while the Treasury said it had not ''sufficient source'' to meet such an increase.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE WEST TO ERDOGAN
The United States, Europe and Muslim countries have shown great interest in the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. European countries wonder whether or not a possible AK Party government would contradict with the system. European countries have five concerns about the AK Party's government: prime ministry, Islamic-style headscarf, International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, its base and administration.

HALEVE BECOMES NEW CHIEF RABBI
Following the demise of Chief Rabbi David Asseo, who had been religious leader of the Jewish community in Turkey for 41 years, Ishak Haleve was elected as the new Chief Rabbi. Haleve who was the only candidate, became the third Chief Rabbi of Jewish community in Turkey. Haleve will take oath in a ceremony to be held in Neve Shalom Synagogue in coming days. Haleve was born in 1940 in Istanbul and he was the acting chief rabbi for a long time. He is married with four children.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FORMULA SOUGHT
At the EU's Brussels summit, hopeful messages were given about a date for Turkey at the Copenhagen summit in December. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told reporters that he believed a formula of setting a date for Turkey would be found at the Copenhagen summit. Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Papendreou said they had adopted a position in favor of setting a date for Turkey and that they would exert efforts to this end. Upon this statement, Greek reporters said, ''it is unbelievable. Greece defends Turkey.''

EU SHEDS GREEN LIGHT
The final statement of the EU's Brussels summit said that Turkey has taken important steps towards meeting the Copenhagen political criteria and has moved forward on the economic criteria and alignment with the acquis, as registered in the Commission's Regular Report, and this has brought forward the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey at Copenhagen summit.

ECEVIT: ''THEY ARE PUTTING US OFF''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''the EU is waiting for the results of polls on November 3. Until that time, they will continue their tactics to put us off. So we have to be patient.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRICE OF NATURAL GAS DECREASED
Price of natural gas was decreased by 4.5 percent as of November 1 ,2002. As a result, price of one cubic metre of natural gas decreased to 317 thousand 420 Turkish liras.

PKK WANTS TO BE REPRESENTED AT PARLIAMENT IN NORTHERN IRAQ
Terrorist organization PKK which changes its name as KADEK, expects Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq to give a mission to itself within the framework of a possible military operation against Iraq. It was claimed that PKK has been putting pressure on the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) for representation of PKK at the parliament in Northern Iraq.