ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 30, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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DENKTAS: ''IF I'M FORCED TO SIGN THE PLAN, I RESIGN''
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas who returned from Ankara to the island said that the disagreement among the people in Northern Cyprus caused some difficulties for Turkish Cypriot side on the negotiation table and added that if Turkish goverment forced him to sign United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan, he would withdraw from his post. Stating that Annan's plan would make Turkish Cypriot people a minority on the island, Denktas said, ''I don't think to resign. If Turkey forces me to accept the document, I will withdraw from my post.''

ENVIRONMENTAL DEMONSTRATION OF PEOPLE WEARING COSTUMES OF SANTA CLAUS
Nature Fighters Association (NFA) members protested the passage of tankers from straits by wearing costumes of Santa Claus in Istanbul. NFA Chairman Zafer Murat Cetintas who read out a press statement said that Istanbul Strait faced with three big accidents in 2002 and proposed some alternatives for passage of tankers. Cetintas said that real solution was a world without oil, stating that they chose costumes of Santa Claus since it was a symbol of peaceful and just world.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NEW NAME FOR MIT UNDERSECRETARY
There is a discussion in Ankara for a certain period of time about the person who will take the place of Senkal Atasagun, the Undersecretary of National Intelligence Organization (MIT) when he ends his term in office. The names of many persons are mentioned behind the close doors. Mehmet Eydur, the former chairman of MIT's department of anti-terrorism continues to discuss in his internet site the person who will be appointed as the Undersecretary of MIT and whether he will be civilian or not. Meanwhile General Kemal Yýlmaz's name started to be voiced for this position recently.

DEMOCRATIC RIGHT
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid the foundation of Aydýn-Denizli highway yesterday. Responding to questions of journalists in the ceremony, Erdogan said that Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul's having a dissenting opinion about the decision of the Higher Military Board which dismissed seven officers from the army was a democratic right.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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LEFTISTS AND RIGHTISTS COME TOGETHER AGAINST WAR
A total of 3,000 persons attended a demonstration held in Caglayan Square yesterday and they shouted anti-war slogans. Leftist groups extended support to the demonstration organized by rightist groups. Police took tight security measures in the Square. People shouted slogans against war, against the U.S., Britain and Israel during the demonstration.

KOMOTINI MUNICIPALITY APPLIES TO GREEK CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
Municipality of Komotini applied to the Greek Consulate in Istanbul asking for visa for the Turkish belly dancer they invited to Greece. The Greek municipality applied to the Greek Consulate to ease the visa proceedings of the Turkish belly dancer whom it invited for Christmas celebrations. Tasos Vavaciklis, the Greek mayor said that ''our target is to celebrate the new year together in the best way. We invited Turkish musicians and belly dancers to come to Greece for the celebrations we have.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TRNC BUSINESSMEN REACT TO DENKTAS
Ali Erel, the Chairman of Turkish Cypriot Trade Chamber said that TRNC President Rauf Denktas has to prove his claims saying that the Chamber, which wants a solution in Cyprus and which take initiatives to this end, got money from the EU. Noting that Denktas's claim is not right, and that Denktas has to apologize from them, Erel accused Denktas of correlating the demand of the people for a solution in Cyprus with the claim saying that certain institutions took money from foreign countries.

''SANTA CLAUS'' HOLDS PROTEST
The environmental organization of Nature Warriors protested yesterday the transportation of hazardous substances through the Straits and a possible operation in Iraq by wearing the clothes of ''Santa Claus.'' Zafer Murat Cetintas, the leader of the organization said that three dangerous accidents took place in the Straits in 2002.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW TO BE ADOPTED AS IT IS
The AK Party government took a step back regarding the amendment it planned to make in the Public Procurement Law which aims to bring transparency to public tenders. The amendment that was planned to be made before January 1, 2003, is not on the agenda of the government now. The law will go into force on January 1, 2003 in its existing form.

DENKTAS:IF NOT FEBRUARY, MARCH
TRNC President Rauf Denktas who returned to the island from Ankara yesterday said at Esenboga Airport that ''we hope to reach an agreement on the island in March if we can't do it by February 28.'' Denktas said that Feb. 28 is not a final date for reaching a solution on the island, adding that they should not be restricted by time pressure.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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RALLY HELD IN ISTANBUL TO PROTEST UNITED STATES
A rally entitled, ''No to War'' was held to protest a possible U.S. operation against Iraq in Caglayan Square, Istanbul. The flags of the United States, Britain and Israel were burnt during the rally. The demonstrators wanted Turkey not to take part in a possible operation against Iraq by chanting slogans. Istanbul Security Directorate's police teams took tight security measures in Caglayan square and its vicinity. Later, the people who attended the rally dispersed peacefully.

NATURAL GAS BEING PUMPED TO BLUE STREAM
The Directorate of Turkish Pipeline Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) will start to get the natural gas on Monday from the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline which was installed in the bed of Black Sea between Russia and Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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UNITED STATES WARNS TURKEY ON REFUGEE ISSUE
The United States warned Turkey that refugees may come from Iran to Turkey during a possible operation against Iraq. National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Interior Ministry started to work on the issue, after 'top secret' information was conveyed to Turkish officials. Interior Ministry warned governor's offices in provinces on border in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions on Afghan refugees. The ministry gave order to gendarmerie and security teams to take measures on borders.