These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 9, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CLINTON TALKS ABOUT TURKEY
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton told two Turkish women who participated in Davos meeting that he fought with Germany for Turkey to join the Customs Union with the EU. Clinton noted that he worked a lot for Turkey to join the EU, stressing that Turkey had to unite with Greece and become a leader in the Balkans. Noting that he liked Turkey very much, Clinton said that the world understood the importance of secular Turkey following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11.

OKTAY EKSI ELECTED AS WAPC CHAIRMAN
Press Council Chairman Oktay Eksi and editor in chief of Hurriyet was elected as the Chairman of the World Association of Press Conferences (WAPC). Press Council said that WAPC which aims to create a freer and more respectable press, launches initiatives to form a mechanism to protect the principles of the press in cases of violations. Noting that WAPC has 19 members which are press councils, the statement added that Austrian, Turkish, Sri Lankan, Nigerian and New Zealander press councils formed WAPC in 1992.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY TO PAY BACK ITS DEBT TO TURKEY
The first tranche of the credit worth of 16 billion dollars which has been provided by the IMF has been transferred to Turkey. However 6,3 billion dollars of this first tranche which is 9,3 billion dollars will be used in paying back the debt to IMF. The debt of IMF will be paid back in four years.

TURKEY DOES ITS MISSION
Turkey is concerned about a possible U.S. operation in Iraq as Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein responded negatively to the letter of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Ecevit didn't state what Saddam Hussein wrote in his letter in order not to disturb the economic balances in Turkey, but he only said that ''there is no change in Saddam Hussein's attitude.'' Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said in his part that ''we don't see any positive developments on Iraq.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''BLACK VOICE'' DARES TO SET UP FUNDAMENTALIST SCHOOLS IN ISTANBUL
The followers of ''Black Voice'' a fundamentalist leader who lives in Germany, set up three fundamentalist schools in Bagcýlar district of Istanbul. The schools of the fundamentalist group which had earlier threatened to overthrow the Turkish Republic and which planned to organize a suicide bomb attack on Ataturk's Mausoleum by plane, were closed by the state officials when they were found out yesterday.

WINTER 2002 OPERATION BRINGS TOGETHER SEZER AND OZKAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Husamettin Ozkan came together for the first time alone during the Winter 2002 manoeuvre of the Turkish Armed Forces in Sarýkamýs town. The two had a fight in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting last February over the constitution which had badly affected the markets. The two officials didn't talk to each other, and they preferred talking to Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kývrýkoglu instead.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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IMF AID TO TURKEY IS NOT ENOUGH
Turkey will look for 2.5 billion USD loan this year. After paying half of the 14 billion USD of IMF back to the IMF, the remaining money will be enough to pay only 7.5 percent of the 80 billion USD debt payment.

SADDAM'S RESPONSE TO ECEVIT ESCALATES TENSION
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein rejected Ecevit's request to allow UN weapons inspectors to enter Iraq. Ecevit said there was no change in Saddam's approach and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said there was no positive developments. After receiving Saddam's letter, state authorities said there could be futher clashes in Iraq. Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Chairman Bulent Akarcali said ''Ecevit fulfilled his responsibility as the prime minister of a neighboring country by sending Saddam a letter.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FOUR STUDENTS ATTEMPT SUICIDE AFTER GETTING THEIR REPORT CARDS,
ONE DIES
Four of the children who got their report cards yesterday attempted suicide because of failing notes in their report cards. One of them died and two others are in a coma. Fifteen year old S.A. in Izmir shot himself with the gun of his step father. He had seven failing notes in his report card. Another 17-year old student in Kocaeli D.E had an argument with his family because of his failing marks. After the argument D.E. jumped from the patio at the fifth floor. He was hospitalized but he remains in critical condition. Two female students in Kirikkale attempted suicide by swallowing pills because they were afraid of their families' reaction to the failing notes on their report cards.

SADDAM REJECTS ECEVIT'S ALL PROPOSES
Iraqi leader sent a response to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit saying ''Turkey cannot ask us to allow UN weapons inspectors enter Iraq. ''UN demands are illegal. You are being a partner in the violation of Iraq's territorial integrity,'' Saddam said. Saddam's attitude is called ''brinkmanship'', walking on the edge of the cliffs, in diplomacy language. It was stated that even Ecevit cannot save Bush from Saddam.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EU PLOT AGAINST TURKISH HAZELNUTS
Turkey which produces 75 percent of the world's hazelnuts is now facing the EU allegations that Turkish hazelnuts is a cancer agent. EU Food and Health Agency claimed that Turkish hazelnuts, pistachio and dried figs have ten times more alfa-toxin than other nuts produced in other parts of the world. This way it's trying to limit hazelnut purchase from Turkey.

WORLD BANK REPRESENTATIVE LINN TO VISIT TURKEY
World Bank Chairman responsible for Europe and Central Asia Johannes Linn will visit Turkey on Feb. 14-18. Linn's visit will take place right before the World Bank holds debates about the 3 billion USD that it's planning to give to Turkey. Linn will have a series contacts with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and economy ministers.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY'S MOST PRODUCTIVE NATURAL GAS FOUND IN CORLU
Turkish Petroleum Inc. (TPAO) discovered the most productive natural gas pit of Turkey in Karacalý region of Corlu town of Tekirdag. TPAO found natural gas at 1,700 meters beneath the surface. The paper also witnessed the discovery of the natural gas in the pit from which 200,000 cubic meters of natural gas is expected to be taken. The discovery of natural gas in the region pleased citizens.