These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 8, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS AT ARMY SUMMIT
Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, said that Turkey's European Union (EU) membership was ''a geopolitical obligation.'' However, Kivrikoglu criticized EU by saying, ''many European countries still support and shelter the members of the terrorist organization that stages terrorist activities and attacks in Turkey.'' National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc said, ''these are my personal views. Turkey is not supported by the EU in issues related with its national interests. Russia is also alone. To this end, I think that we have to have a new understanding that covers Iran without ignoring the United States.''

FIRST BUSINESS CONTACT IN AFGHANISTAN
Turkey, which sent soldiers to international peace force set up in Afghanistan to ensure security last month, is now sending contractors to this country for restructuring of the region. Turkish contactors will fly to the region under the pioonership of State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel. The delegation will make the necessary pre-examinations for restructuring of the region from clearing the mines and rehabilitation of the airport to dwelling investments.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FAUX PAS OF TWO LEADERS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit sid during the group meeting of Democratic Left Party (DSP), ''we want war in our region, not peace.'' Upon the warning of State Minister Husamettin Ozkan, Ecevit requested that the earlier-prepared text be distributed to the press. On the other hand, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan used the expression ''Kurdistan'' during his meeting with Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK). Deputy AK Party leader Yasar Yakis said, ''Iraq's Kurd region.''

TAXES EN ROUTE FOR NEW MUNICIPALITIES
The draft law on local administrations was passed from the commission. The communication tax will be increased by one point to find financial source to the municipalities. Electricity and natural gas consumption taxes are on the way.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''THIS IS A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO''
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz defined the words of National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc as ''nightmare scenario.'' Yilmaz said, ''the proposal that Turkey should look for its future together with Russia and Iran as an alternative to the European Union (EU) is not a vision. Because, these two countries are those which are pushed to loneliness the most in the world.''

TEKEL TO BE PRIVATIZED THIS WINTER
State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu for privatization said that they were conducting a comprehensive work on the privatization strategy of state-run Turkish Tobacco and Liqour Administration TEKEL. Karakoyunlu said that they fixed the privatization schedule of TEKEL as October, November and December.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PROSECUTOR TO APPEAL ERBAKAN'S CASE
Kadri Sogutoglu, the proseutor of Ankara 9th Heavy Criminal Court, will appeal the lost trillion case of Necmettin Erbakan, the leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP), in order to convict Erbakan of ''swindling'' not fraud. If Erbakan is convicted of swindling, he will not only be imprisoned but also he will have to pay fine which is equal to two-fold of the money he obtained from swindling.

KARAYALCIN TO SET UP NEW PARTY
Former Socialist People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin and his friends announced that they would found a new party as soon as possible. Karayalcin, who met with former leaders of the central left Oymen and Gurkan, later held a meeting with a group that contributed to Social Democratic Though Workshops on Thursday. Karayalcin said that they would make public the solution proposals and goals of the new party soon.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''LET'S KEEP TO WORK''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who warned his coalition partners Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Motherland Party (ANAP) without giving any names, said, ''let's keep to work.'' Ecevit defined the discussion on European Union (EU) between the two coalition partners as a ''vicious circle'' and warned the two parties once more. Ecevit, who touched on internal and external developments at the group meeting of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), did not take serious the proposal of Yilmaz regarding ''a referendum for the EU.'' Ecevit said, ''neither unproductive discussions nor early elections nor referendum... Let's keep to our work.''

PANIC IN AKSARAY DUE TO QUAKE MEASURING 4.4
The earthquake which occured in central Aksaray province caused panic among citizens. Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute announced the epicenter of the earthquake which was recorded at 8.12 a.m. on Thursday as 30 kilometres of Aksaray and the magnitude as 4.4 on the Richter scale. The citizens rushed to streets following the tremor. The earthquake lasted for ten seconds.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GO TO TURKEY NOW
International investment and consultancy firm Schroder Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB) said that systemic risk decreased in banking sector thanks to the measures taken towards the sector and added that it was the right time to make investment to Turkish banking sector. The report on Turkish banking sector which was prepared by SSSB said that the supervision system in banking sector got stronger and stated that while the small banks had to come out of the system, the structure of the sector started to become stronger. The report also noted that the economic view of banking sector was also positive.

U.S. AGRICULTURE ATTACHE HANSON SAYS CRISIS HAS BEEN OVERCOME
The U.S. Agriculture Attache to Turkey Robert Hanson said that the United States and Turkey nearly overcame the crisis and now the firms of the two countries could make investments on Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP). Hanson who came to Sanliurfa province to see the works related to GAP got information from GAP Region Development Administration Regional Director Mustafa Aydogdu. Aydogdu said that GAP was the biggest developmental project based on the people in Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY SHOULD SEEK STRATEGICAL ALTERNATIVE TO EU
National Security Board (MGK) Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc said, ''Turkey has not been receiving any help from the EU. Turkey should start a new search that also includes the Russian Federation and Iran.'' Kilinc said at a session, entitled ''World and Turkey'', ''Turkey has never received understanding and support from the EU, to which it has been trying to join for the past 40 years.'' He went on saying, ''Turkey hasn't seen the slightest assistance from the EU. The EU has a negative view of the problems that concern Turkey'', stressing that he believed the European bloc would never accept Turkey as a full member.