A Turkish court sentenced ten police officers to prison for a total of 1020 months for charges of torturing 16 teenagers. The time for the trial, which has been going on for seven years, will be up in June 2003.

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the European Union Strategy Paper and Progress Report Regarding the Cyprus Issue: Turkey expects the EU Council not to make a historical mistake by relying on the relevant Commission reports.

A complaint by Turkeys former armed forces chief of staff, Gen. Hüseyin Kivrikoglu, that Reporters Without Borders (RSF) harmed his public image will be heard by a Paris court on 16 October.

Scholor Aktar: The negativeness of the progress report is due to the weaknesses of the commission. It has come in very handy for the anti-EU circles. The general elections has already been affected in such a way to benefit the anti-EU parties.

The court refused to retry journalist Kizilyaprak. The judge decided that the EU-reforms did not alter Kizilyapraks conviction. The journalist is facing a prison sentence. The case is taken to the ECHR.

HRW: EU report on Turkeys progress toward membership due out Wednesday EU report on Turkeys progress toward membership due out Wednesday could signal whether the EU considers recent reforms enough for Turkey to start membership negotiations.

The head of the Chamber of Architects, Gursel, believes that the findings excavated at the antique City of Zeugma should be preserved and exhibited. This would contribute to Gazianteps and the regions economy according to Gursel.

Afrika newspaper editor-in-chief Sener Levent and editor Memduh Ener released from prison; progress in case of journalist Lutlu Adali murdered in 1996.

In the first 9 months of 2002, 51 books were banned in Turkey. As a promising development, 11 of these were acquitted. But 4 books were sentenced. 42 books were banned in 2001.

Independent Kurdish intelectual Umit Firat believes that Turkeys concerns are not about security, but about freedom: Ankara cannot stand the fact that the Kurds outside Turkey are granted more rights than Turkeys Kurds.

Scholar Gerger said: This treatment is part of the 11 September syndrome, but cannot prevent me from defending human rights and fighting against the USAs belligerent policies.

Ulgen, the owner of the English Fast language institute, may not establish a Kurdish Fast class. The Education Ministry did not approve teaching Kurdish at the language institutes where every other language is taught.

Prof. Dr. Narli: The nationalist and religious attitude of Young Party (GP) excites the ignored, isolated and frustrated youth. It channels peoples anger into politics. The GP can reach out to people with a narrow-minded nationalism an conservatism.

On September 20-24 in the vicinity of Turkish Kusadasi town the final third meeting of the Armenian, Azerbaijan and Turkish journalists under Azerbaijan-Armenia-Turkey: Journalist Initiative-2002 project was held.

Ambassador Hansjörg Kretschmer, Head of the European Commission Representation to Turkey, officially assumed his duties today after he handed over the letter of credence to Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the President of Republic of Turkey.

The IMF will be dismissed, books will be free, lands for homeless..Through intensive propaganda through its own media and pop concerts, the Young Party has become the 6th most supported party. Yildirim, Simsek and Ozakinci tell about the Young Party...

Turkeys High Electoral Board ruled that Erdogan, Erbakan, Bozlak and Birdal may not run in November 3 elections. The board decided against Erdogan and Erbakan by a majority of votes, while it voted unanimously against Bozlak and Birdal.

The centers set up by the Foundation of Appraising Womens Handwork have turned into a cooperative. The women owners of the cooperative produce ornaments and contribute to their families income. Coordinator Okcu says, women should organize.

Amnesty Internationals recent report on Turkey reads: Freedom of expression,freedom of association, human rights defenders, torture and pre-trial detention, impunity, judiciary / fair trials, death penalty, prisons, minority rights.

Pro-Islamist Vakit newspaper columnist Erarslan: Women are not fully represented in the Parliament. The deputy candidate lists include elite women instead of those who are active within the party. In Turkey, politics means money here, women dont have.