ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 16, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY MOSAIC IN AGAR'S LIST
The new government list of True Path Party's (DYP) new leader Mehmet Agar reflects Turkey mosaic. The new list comprises many names from Kurdish people, Alewites, liberals and nationalist idealists. Agar also added Mehmet Ali Bayar and his staff to the list.

80 PEOPLE IN STAFF OF CHIEF ADVISER
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who was talking about savings in ''Kayseri Summit'' said that a total of 80 people are working in the staff of his chief adviser's office, adding ''Only one of them is Chief Adviser''. Gul said that they will do expenditure reform and will transfer sources to private sector by this way. He added that they did the greatest saving by decreasing the interests below 50 percent and this is the confidence to the government.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. SOLDIERS DO NOT COME
The United States would like to send soldiers to Turkey for a possible operation against Iraq. According to some sources, Turkish soldiers are positive for the coordination and cooperation with U.S. soldiers but negative for their taking position in Turkey.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan will now examine U.S. and Iraq issues after Copenhagen Summit. White House which gave a heavy demand list to Turkey is waiting for the decision of Ankara about ten thousands of U.S. soldiers, the airports and ports.

REFERENDUM SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN CONSTITUTION
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that public voting about important subjects and about war should be included in Constitution. However, Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said that a referendum cannot be done about war. Cicek said, ''Referendum exists in Constitution. It is for a few limited subjects which are given to President.'' adding that taking the view of public about some certain important subjects helps politicians in giving their decisions easier.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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UNIVERSITIES WILL BE DIVIDED
National Education Minister Erkan Mumcu said that the studies which they carry on about dividing the universities are for forming science universities. Mumcu said about the division of universities which takes place in Emergency Action Plan that the target is specialization, to keep one billion dollars inside the country which is spent abroad every year and to make universities be managed. Higher Education Board (YOK) former President Mehmet Saglam supported the project and said ''This is a project which we suggested to the government ten years ago. At least 20-30 thousand new capacities can be created by dividing a few universities. The students are educated inside, instead of outside.''

FIRST STEP IN DOUBLE HIGHWAY
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul laid the foundation of the highway between Sereflikochisar and Aksaray which is the first step of double highway project that takes place in emergency action plan. Total length of the highway will be 15 thousand kilometers and the length of the highway between Sereflikochisar and Aksaray is 79 kilometers. Gul said in the ceremony that they will work hard and he warned the bureaucrats to keep in step with them.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON INTERNAL AGENDA
Following the end of Copenhagen summit, Turkey starts to focus on the issues that are on its internal agenda. The government is expected to deal with issues of increasing the salaries of retired workers and civil servants, temporary budget, financial zero year, and bargaining with IMF.

EU DIPLOMATS: ERDOGAN LOSES HIS PRESTIGE IN EU SUMMIT
EU diplomats said that ''AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul started their contacts to get a date from Copenhagen summit very well, but later they lost control of the things. Their insistence went too far and they even tried to threaten the EU by using the U.S. They even said that Turkey could consider joining NAFTA, which was irrational. Unrealistic threats cause politicians to lose their prestige and convincing views.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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COMPROMISE UNTIL FEB. 28 IS POSSIBLE IN CYPRUS Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said that ensuring a compromise in Cyprus has become inevitable, stressing that ''if this is not the case, Turkish Armed Forces will be in the position of having occupied EU territory.'' Yakis said that ''we will take the decision to reach compromise in Cyprus together with the parliament, public opinion, non-governmental organizations, and the TRNC administration.'' ''If there is no agreement on the island, the Greek Cypriot side will become the EU member on February 28 on its own. In this case, our Turkish Armed Forces will be in the position of occupying European territory. In Copenhagen summit's declaration, it was pointed out that Cyprus would be admitted to EU, but it didn't specify which Cyprus this would be,'' Yakis said.

GUL: WHAT KIND OF STATE IS THIS?
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that a total of 80 persons are seen to be working in prime ministry secretariat office, adding that ''we can't find such a private company.'' Gul stressed that he has only one secretary working for him, adding that the state has to become smaller. Explaining the economic targets of the government, Gul said that the inflation will reduce to one-digit number and the public debts will be drawn to the level mentioned in Maastricht criteria. ''The mines that stand in front of the businessmen will be cleaned off and the reforms will be speeded up,'' he said.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EYES ON IRAQ
U.S. started its military concentration in Northern Iraq for a possible operation against Iraq. A total of 50 TIRs carrying military equipment brought to Incirlik base, entered Northern Iraq from Habur border gate. The government in Turkey this week is on the brink of giving an important decision regarding a possible U.S. operation against Iraq. The government has to give an official decision regarding the visit of the American technical delegation which will visit Incirlik, Diyarbakir, Batman, Mus and Malatya Erhac airports which the U.S. wants to use during such an operation.

MEETINGS WITH DENKTAS
Turkey starts a heavy diplomacy traffic about Cyprus this week. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will discuss Cyprus with TRNC President Rauf Denktas in Ankara. The Cyprus issue seems to determine the agenda of Turkey until February 28. The leaders in Turkey will propose Denktas to find a middle way regarding the plan of Annan and they will explain Denktas that if a solution is not found, Turkey and the island will lose EU opportunity for a very long period of time.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRIME MINISTER GUL STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF 15,000 KM DOUBLE WAY
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul started the construction of the 15,000 km-double way in Aksaray yesterday on which AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan mainly focused during the election campaign. Prime Minister Gul who went to central Kayseri province after returning from Copenhagen, laid the foundation of the highway between Sereflikochisar-Aksaray.