ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 5, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BUSH'S LETTER TO ERDOGAN
The paper found the letter written by U.S. President George W. Bush who invited AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House. Bush congratulated Erdogan for the AK Party's victory in parliamentary elections on November 3. Bush also praised the positive statements of Erdogan about IMF, EU membership process and Cyprus plan of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Bush invited Erdogan to the U.S. on December 10. The letter was conveyed to Erdogan during the dinner hosted in the U.S. embassy in Ankara on Tuesday night.

TURKEY SHOULD NOT ENTER IRAQ ALONE
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz told the paper that ''Turkey should not enter Northern Iraq alone. The decision should be given by Kurds, Turks and the U.S. altogether.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ELECTIONS ON FEBRUARY 9
Higher Election Board announced the reason for cancellation of elections in Dogankoy town of Siirt province. The reasoned verdict which paved the way for Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for being elected as deputy said, ''right to vote was obstructed in Dogankoy. 706 votes could not be cast. This is a rate which can affect the result.'' Higher Election Board Chairman said, ''elections will be re-held in the town on February 9, 2003.''

FROM SENER TO IMF: ''ALSO, WE WILL SAVE YOU''
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener told International Monetary Fund (IMF) European Department I Director Michael Deppler that the IMF was not wanted in any country. Sener said, ''if we achieve, your international credit will increase.'' Deppler, smiling, said, ''we will be very pleased.''

INVESTMENT ON TURKISH BASES FROM UNITED STATES
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was pleased when he was departing from Turkey. Wolfowitz said that they were ready to make hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars of investment to make the air bases in Turkey ready for a war.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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THE BEST CELEBRATION
The Feast of Ramadan started with ''European Union (EU) morale.'' There was a significant support from Europe to Turkey. The clearest message came from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. German Chancellor spoke in the parliament yesterday and said, ''supporting secular circles in Turkey, preventing this country from shifting to fundamentalist circle and a firm connection between Turkey and Europe is in line with our national interests. I will do this in Copenhagen.'' Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac, who met after this meeting, agreed to give a strong signal to Turkey. British State Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw said that they would support Turkey's being given a clear date in Copenhagen. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen that Turkey should be given a definite date. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, following his meeting with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, said that it was not impossible to get a result in Cyprus question till Copenhagen summit.

A STRANGE DENIAL
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis took back his words that air bases and space would be opened to use of the United States upon the warning of the Prime Ministry. Yakis said, ''there is not any commitment that I made.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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THEY ARE PUSHING THE COUNTRY INTO A WAR
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey was ''subject to a diplomatic pressure'' and reacted to the government which did not give information to them. Baykal said, ''it is difficult to correctly see the stance of the government'' and criticized change of statements with new statements on sensitive issues.

HEADSCARF AMNESTY IN SECOND PACKAGE
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) which excluded discipline amnesty to students wearing headscarf from the first adjustment package sent the second package to the Prime Ministry before a full day passed after the submission of the first package to the Office of Parliament Speaker. The new package includes an article foreseeing amnesty to students wearing headscarf who were dismissed from universities and arrangements which pave the way to re-trial of Democracy Party (DEP) deputies in prison.

SPECIAL LAWS FOR RULING
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) suspends the provision of the Constitution which foresees that election laws cannot be implemented in elections that will be held within a year. Under the new proposal for article 67, one-year condition will not be valid only in 22nd legislative term when the AK Party is in the power.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY'S MOST CRITICAL WEEK
Turkey announced mobilization to get a date from the EU during the Copenhagen summit that will be held on December 12. Turkey is taking initiatives together with its government, opposition party and president for the biggest leap forward in the Republic's history to become the member of the EU. First of all a compromise was reached with Greece. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis who sees the fact that no agreement can be reached in Cyprus until December 12, decided to start a study that could persuade the U.N. and the EU.

ERDOGAN SAYS TURKEY IS AFTER TWO TARGETS
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained the reasons of his visits to Copenhagen and Washington D.C. Erdogan said he decided to go to the U.S. upon the invitation of U.S. President George W. Bush which was given to him by Wolfowitz and Grossman. Erdogan said that ''there is no final agreement upon the Iraqi issue. Improvement of economic relations is more important than monetary and military aid.'' Assessing his contacts in Europe, Erdogan said that ''there are positive signs from Germany regarding Turkey's EU membership, we want a date and a closer date.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL: ''EUROPE CANNOT FIND PRETEXT FROM NOW ON''
Prime Minister Gul said that they sent two reform packages to the parliament and noted, ''Europe cannot say that criteria have not been fulfilled from now on.'' Drawing the attention that Turkey had fulfilled all its obligations on the road to European Union (EU) membership, Gul said that Turkey deserved a date to start full membership negotiations. Gul stated that they would tell the EU that it was their turn.

GASOLINE OVERTAKES USD
One litre of unleaded gasoline in Istanbul increased to 1 million 605 thousand Turkish liras (TL), one litre of super gasoline to 1 million 611 thousand TL. One litre of kerosene climbed to 1 million 185 thousand TL and one litre diesel oil rose to 1 million 234 thousand TL.

SEZER WARNS: MAINTAIN PEACE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, in his message to mark the Feast of Ramadan, warned that everybody should refrain from attitude and behaviours that could deteriorate peaceful environment which was of utmost importance for the future of the country.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FRANCE-GERMANY AGREE ON DATE FOR DATE
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac decided to act together regarding the EU membership of Turkey. After meeting with Chirac, Schroeder said that a strong signal would be given to Turkey in Copenhagen summit.