These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 6, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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DEPPLER DESCRIBES INFLATION RATE IN JANUARY AS ''DISAPPOINTMENT''
International Monetary Fund (IMF) European One Department Director Michael Deppler described the inflation rate in January as ''disappointment'' and noted that the inflation was very obstinate in Turkey.
Deppler said although the inflation rate was above the expected figure, he still believed that 35 percent inflation target could be reached.
Deppler said IMF Executive Board was very positive about Turkey's program.
Michael Deppler said, ''the IMF Executive Directors Board is very positive about Turkey's program. However, there is also a strong warning about the importance attributed to continuation of program with determination.''
When asked whether or not the 35 percent annual inflation rate target was realistic as the rate in January was higher than the expected, Deppler said, ''today's inflation rate was a disappointment. Also the bad atmosphere has an effect on this. Inflation was higher than our expectation. However, we believe that this year's inflation target will be achieved.''
MEZARCI IN IPSALA PRISON
Hasan Mezarci, a former parliamentarian of the banned Welfare Party (RP), was sent to Ipsala Prison to serve his one-year imprisonment terms which was given to him on charges of insulting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Hasan Mezarci, who came to the province with his son Fatih, applied to the prosecutor's office and said he wanted to serve his imprisonment terms in Ipsala Prison.
Mezarci was put to the prison after going through health check.
Under the Execution Law, Mezarci will be kept in prison for four months and 24 days.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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LADIN WAS INSPIRED BY KAPLAN
The New York Times said Osama Bin Laden was inspired by Kaplancilar terrorist organization when he was planning September 11 attacks. In October 29, 1998, Kaplancilar had attempted to attack Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkish Republic, with a plane. They were planning to kill almost all high raking administrators of Turkey, who gathered there for October 29 celebrations. The terrifying plan had been prevented at the last moment.
The news report, written by Douglas Frantz, the representative of The New York times in Istanbul, said Turkish and German intelligence officials got the information that a group of Kaplancilar supporters went from Germany to Afghanistan to talk to bin Laden one year before the attempt to attack Anitkabir. The newspaper said many terrorists of the Kaplancilar terrorist organization went to Afghanistan to be trained after this meeting.

DERVIS: I CAN NOT CONTINUE MY ASSIGNMENT IF POLITICAL DETERMINATION SWAYS
State Minister Kemal Dervis said, ''I can not undertake the responsibility if political determination sways in implementation of the economic program.'' Dervis said he could only think of resignation if this happens.
Dervis said continuation of the program depended on keeping away from cheap and populist policies.
Dervis said the important thing was the political determination in implementation of economic reform.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CNN SILENCES MERVE
Merve Kavakci attended the CNN program Q&A discussing the ban on headscarf in Singapore.
Kavakci said Singapore was not the only country banning headscarf, noting that there were tens of thousands of headscarf victims in Turkey.
When asked, ''Turkey is a secular country, isn't Turkey more modern when compared with its neighbours?'' Kavakci began to make propaganda instead of responding to the question.
Upon this the announcer intervened and did not allow Merve to speak more saying that they were out of time.

600 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS CREDIT TO ISTANBUL
Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna said a reinforcement project was underway to strengthen the buildings in Istanbul which could be collapsed or damaged in case of an earthquake.
Pointing out that contacts continued for the 500-600 million U.S. dollars, Gurtuna said the credit would be given to the citizens with 20-30 year maturity. Gurtuna also said the Bogazici Strait was also in danger in case of a quake.
However, Dincer Yigit, the Director General of Highways, said the Istanbul Strait was the last construction tha will collapse in case of an earthquake.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKISH DOCTORS TO AFGHANS
Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Mecial Rescue and Support Group left for Afghanistan. The group, comprised of five doctors, will give health service and train the Afghan doctors for three weeks in Takhar region.
Dr. Ahmet Usta, who left for Afghanistan on Saturday, said civilian people in Afghanistan always needed medical help, stressing that, ''we had this project long before. I had visited the region in August, but we had to postpone the project when war broke out.''
Usta said they set up a health center in Hocabahauddin township, and that necessary medicine and equipment were sent there.
Usta said they would give health service and train the Afghan doctors for three weeks.

PEARSON: THERE WILL NOT BE AN INDPENDENT STATE IN NORTHERN IRAQ
The U.S. Ambassdor to Turkey Robert Pearson said Washington administration would not allow the formation of an independent political formation in Northern Iraq.
Pointing out that they were pleased over the contributions of Turkey in fight against terrorism, Pearson said nearly 4,000 sorties were made from Incirlik Base in southern Adana province to Afghanistan.
Responding to a question, Pearson said terrorist organizations such as PKK and DHKP-C should be included in the list of ''universal terrorist organizations''.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAHCELI REFUSES ECEVIT'S CALL FOR A SUMMIT
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who also acts as the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), refused the call of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for a summit.
Bahceli's response to the request of Ecevit to discuss draft law limiting freedom of thought was that: ''Those who have different ideas and targets should agree in the parliament.'' Bahceli gave the message to the two other coalition partners to search for a solution apart from the MHP.

PREPARATIONS CONTINUE FOR TURKEY-U.S. ECONOMY COMMISSION MEETING
Turkish side of the Turkey-U.S. Joint Commission was set up. The commission was decided to be set up during the visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the U.S. in February 15-18.
The co-chairmenship was given to the foreign ministry. The commission will expend support to the improvement of trade relations by enlarging the economic dialogue. The commission will also exert efforts for the increase of investments and implementation of economic program.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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UNEMPLOYMENT WILL INCREASE
Two thirds of the personnel in State Economic Enterprises will be dismissed, and 800 branches of public banks will be closed.
The intent letter, bearing the signature of State Minister Kemal Dervis, said, ''savings will continue in public. The inflation rate was determined as 35 percent. Privatization procedures will be finished, and some public directorates will be closed down till March.

COALITION LEADERS REITERATE THEIR FULL SUPPORT TO ECONOMIC PROGRAM
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and Mesut Yilmaz said the coalition parties had full support in the economic program which aimed to better the economy.
The coalition leaders sent a letter to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Koehler together with the letter of intent.
The three leaders, in the letter, said that after a very difficult year, the Turkish economy was beginning to show concrete and promising signs of recovery. The letter said, ''the letter of intent presents a medium-term strategy which has the full support of the coalition parties and which is designed to take Turkey forward on a path of rapid, sustainable and equitable growth.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ECEVIT'S INTERIM FORMULA SOLVES ''HARMONIZATION'' CRISIS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit found an interim formula for the articles 312 and 159 which brought the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) against each other.
According to the compromise, the draft will be discussed at the Parliamentary General Assembly today, and an improvement will be provided in articles 312 and 159 with the motions that will be submitted by the Democratic Left Party (DSP).

FITCH UPGRADES TURKEY'S LOCAL CURRENCY RATING TO 'B' FROM 'B-'
Fitch upgraded Turkey's local currency rating to 'B' from 'B-'. The long term foreign currency rating is affirmed at 'B', while the Outlook is revised to Stable from Negative.
The decision to upgrade Turkey's international local currency rating and assign a Stable Ourtlook reflects the government's adherence to tough fiscal targets and continued structural reform, notably of the banking sector.
Other important factors include the stabilisation of the lira and lower real interest rates, as well as the commitment by the IMF to provide and additional 12 billion U.S. dollars of financial support.