These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 11, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT: ''EU CANNOT GIVE UP TURKEY''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit attended a live program on TRT-1 Television Channel, and said that the European Union (EU) could not give up Turkey. He said, ''There are some circles in the EU having corcerns or negative approaches about Turkey. And some circles in Turkey are extremely sensitive about them. According to my point of view, it is not easy to accept a great and powerful state like Turkey. Turkey is a European, Central Asian, Caucasian, Asian, Balkan and Black Sea littoral country. Turkish nation has multi-dimensional characteristics. Therefore, the EU cannot give up Turkey. And circles in the EU think: when Turkey becomes a full member of the EU, it will have a great majority at the European Parliament. In that case, the European Parliament cannot easily take decisions like the resolution on so-called Armenian genocide. Also, there are some circles fearing of Turkey's integrity and power. We have to well-introduce ourselves.''

SP: ''GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIFT DEATH SENTENCE IF IT CAN DO''
Felicity Party (SP) Deputy Chairman Lutfu Esengul said, ''this government has adopted many unfair laws. Now, the government should lift death sentence if it can do.'' Noting that many changes had occurred in the world in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, Esengul said, ''according to the statements of the United States, a process of fight against terrorism has begun in the world. Terrorism is a crime against humanity. However, the United States aims at dominating the world. In Afghanistan, many innocent people were killed.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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YILMAZ ANNOUNCES THIS WEEK AS EARTHQUAKE WEEK
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), announced the week between March 11 and 17 as the Earthquake Week. Yilmaz has launched an initiative after necessary measures were not taken in Istanbul against the possible threat of earthquake. Yilmaz will pay a visit to Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute Director Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Isikara on Monday morning.

TOBB TO COMPLAIN TO IMF ABOUT GOVERNMENT
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen will pay a visit to Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu on Monday morning. During the meeting, Hisarciklioglu is expected to compain to the IMF about the government saying that banking system could not work.

TREASURY TO AUCTION 224-DAY BONDS THIS WEEK
Treasury will hold an auction on Tuesday to sell 224-day bonds. The value date of these bonds is March 13, 2002 and maturity is October 23, 2002. On March 5, Treasury held two auctions to sell 175-day and 336-day bonds. In 175-day bond auction, the total bid was 2 quadrillion 207.7 trillion TL and the Treasury sold 1 quadrillion 903.9 trillion TL nominal-valued bonds. The net sale became 1 quadrillion 476.1 trillion TL. The composite interest became 69.80 percent and the simple interest became 60.30 percent. Meanwhile, the total bid was 2 quadrillion 581.3 trillion TL in the 336-day bond auction. The Treasury sold 1 quadrillion 810.7 trillion TL nominal-valued bonds. The net sale became 1 quadrillion 119.8 trillion TL. The composite interest became 68.30 percent while the simple interest was 66.83 percent.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT: ''COALITION PARTNERS DO NOT ARGUE ON THE ISSUE OF EU''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''political parties forming the coalition government accepted the target of the European Union (EU) full membership without any argument at the beginning. They also approved the National Program again without any argument. An important part of the public opinion wants Turkey to become a full member of the EU. In fact, any row does not break out during meetings of the Council of Ministers or at meetings among coalition partners. Such rows break out in front of public opinion for some reason or other.''

CILLER: ''TURKEY CANNOT GIVE UP EU''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said, ''Turkey cannot give up its target of the European Union (EU) membership. No one has the right to sabotage Turkey's EU full membership.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GENERAL DOGAN: ''GENERAL KILINC WAS MISUNDERSTOOD''
First Army Commander General Cetin Dogan said, ''I think that National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc's statement was misunderstood. His statement was an expression of sorrow over Western countries' rejecting to accept PKK and other organizations as terrorist organizations.''

SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT 36 FOREIGNERS
Security forces intercepted 36 foreigners in Ipsala Border Gate in northwestern province of Edirne as they were trying to proceed to Greece illegally. The foreigners of Iraqi and Palestinian origin would be deported once the lagal proceedings were completed.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SECOND STAGE IN ADJUSTMENT
Coalition partners will submit the new adjustment package to the Parliament this week. There are important regulations in the second package. Meanwhile, if the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) can get support of the opposition parties, the mini democracy package would be approved by the parliament despite the objections of National Movement Party (MHP). The draft will be discussed at today's meeting of Council of Ministers. It does not count as crime protecting the cultures apart from Turkish culture, saying ''there are minorities in Turkey''. With this amendment to be made in the Unions Law, unions can be established to protect and develop the cultures. If the draft is legalized, the ban on using the languages which were forbidden by law, at the demonstrations and the meetings will be lifted.

WE TO GET WET FOR TWO DAYS
Directorate General of Meteorology said that the rainy and cold weather which affected the most of the country will continue to be influential until Wednesday. A new rainy weather coming upon the Middle Mediterranean started to make itself felt across the country. The rainy weather which began to be influential in Marmara region the previous day will affect all the country until midweek.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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U.S. HAD 1.8 BILLION DOLLAR DEBT TO TURKEY
While Turkey is attempting to erase its military debts to the United States, it has been revealed that the U.S. also had debt worth of 1 billion U.S. dollars to Turkey. The U.S. government is demanding from Turkey to erase its own defense companies' 1 billion U.S. dollars of off-set debt. When Turkey's debts were brought to the agenda, the U.S. government also brought the debts of its companies to the agenda and said, ''you also erase those debts''. However, Ankara stated that there are many Turkish companies which depend on the indirect off-set links and which are waiting for the sales through this way. Ankara also drew attention to Turkey's economy which is in a difficult situation. Sources said that a progress could not be provided on both issues during the meeting.

2.3 QUADRILLION TL TO FARMERS
Nearly 2.3 quadrillion Turkish liras, 1.4 quadrillion TL of which is direct income support, will be provided to the farmers this year. Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp said that the total monetary support would be 2 quadrillion TL to the farmers in 2002 and noted, ''1.4 quadrillion TL direct income support, 200 trillion TL premium payment, 610 trillion TL support buying implemented by state-owned economic enterprise (KIT) and 75 trillion TL to support livestock will be provided to the farmers in 2002.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SPECIAL STATUTE TO COME TO LALELI
''Special Region Project'' providing special opportunities in trade to Istanbul's Laleli district, which is the center of luggage trade, is being put into practice by Istanbul Governor's Office. There will be some facilities on employing foreign personnel, tax regulations and customs issues by the project which will be implemented for the first time in Turkey. After Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir announces the project publicly in coming days, the price and rent of the real estates in Laleli are expected to reach the ceiling prices based on the trade volume in the region.