These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 16, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CHIEF PROSECUTOR REJECTS REQUEST OF EKEN FOR ''CORRECTION OF DECISION''
Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Kanadoglu rejected Korkut Eken's request for correction of the court verdict which sentenced him to six years imprisonment in Susurluk case.
Kanadoglu said in his decision that the crime for which suspect Eken was tried and the suspect's success in the national fight with separatist terrorism are independent from each other and they should be considered differently.
The regular legal process for Eken has been completed by this decision of chief prosecutor Kanadoglu. Yet the lawyers of Eken can request a new trial, which is known as an extraordinary way of law. In such a case, this request will be examined by Istanbul Criminal Court.

CONTRACTORS ENTER EUROPE
International Union of Contractors, led by Nihat Ozdemir, became a member of the European International Contractors Union (EIC), and took a step toward Europe. With this membership, a decision was taken to hold EIC's general assembly in Istanbul.
Ozdemir said this membership was an evidence of Turkey's full membership to the EU in sectoral basis. He said their second target was the representation of them in EIC administration.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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AYCELL NEEDS TIME
Transportation minister Oktay Vural stressed that there was a strong competition in mobile phone market, noting that, ''we should not consider Aycell issue in short term.''
Vural said ''activity ability of a company should not be narrowed under competition atmosphere.''

TURKISH-FRENCH COOPERATION IN HUMOR
Famous French weekly humor magazine Charlie Hebdo published a joint ediction with Leman magazine.
Hebdo, whose circulation reached 700,000, and known with its harsh criticisms toward politicians, allocated three pages to the caricaturists of Leman in its current edition.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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AS ROMA PLAYERS WHO HIT ON GALATASARAY PLAYERS CONFESS
Here is the striking confession of the match between Galatasaray and AS Roma that has turned into a diplomatic crisis. An AS Roma footballer who spoke to the Italian press revealed the horror that Galatasaray had experienced. He said, ''we cornered a Galatasaray footballer (Vedat) in the tunnel after the match. We were four people. After we buffeted the rival player, we all together ran toward the changing room.''

EU OPPOSITES ARE BECOMING MORE ACTIVE
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the circles not only in Turkey but also in Europe that did not want Turkey's membership were becoming more active as Turkey was approaching to European Union (EU) full membership target. Yilmaz commented on soldiers' EU concerns as follows: ''They do not have any uneasiness to lose their position. However, they are behaving carefully by thinking that the national integrity may be deteriorated.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ECEVIT: IRAQ DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO GIVE HARM
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit conveyed his concern during the summit meeting of heads of state and government of member and candidate countries to the European Union (EU), and said there was not a need for a military operation in Iraq. He said Iraq has been been under control since Gulf War, noting that it was not in a position to give harm.
Ecevit said, ''any military operation on Iraq will give damage to the region and Turkey. There is not any need for a military operation.''

CAKAN: COOPERATION IS A MUST
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan said energy links that would be set up among the southeastern Europe countries will make contribution to the creation of stability atmosphere in the Balkans and continuation of economic development.
Cakan, who addressed the ongoing Southeastern Europe Energy Forum in Milano, briefed about the new projects in the Balkans.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ROBBERIES CANNOT BE STOPPED
A total of 38 billion Turkish liras (TL) was robbed from a paymaster of a company in Istanbul. Robbers injured severely two jeweler in western Izmir province.

GALATASARAY IS TAKING REPORT
While reciprocal accusations continue following the melee between Galatasaray soccer club of Turkey and AS Roma soccer club of Italy, seven Galatasaray footballers underwent a check-up.

MHP PRUNES ''ADJUSTMENT''
The freedoms in ''adjustment'' package were pruned. A back step was taken in the amendment to Law on Associations. Democratic steps in the ''second adjustment package'' were pruned at a great extent due to the pressure of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In the draft law which was delayed for some time due to discussions in the coalition government, the provision saying ''an association cannot be formed to create minority'' which did no place in the first announced amendment was added. The government which preserved the ban of founding associations for the people convicted of intellectual crimes withdrew from a by-pass to gendarmerie. The draft law that was sent to the parliament by saying that ''there was a full consensus of opinion'' also included the provision of ''banning the distribution of published.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SUMMER AND WINTER TOGETHER
While some trees have started to bloom in western provinces, there is still snow in some places of eastern Turkey. While many regions of Turkey experience spring, winter is still influention in East Anatolia Region. Snow thickness is still 30 centimetres in Agri, 6 centimetres in Ardahan, 3 centimetres in Erzurum and 1 centimetre in Kars.

''EXTEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who jointed the European Union (EU) summit in Barcelona, called on all EU countries to extend a more efficient support to Turkey's fight against terrorism.

KANADOGLU DID NOT ACCEPT
Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu rejected Korkut Eken's request for correction of the court verdict which sentenced him to six years imprisonment in Susurluk case. Thus, the legal process for Eken has been completed.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ECEVIT PROPOSES NEW NATURAL GAS PIPELINE TO EU
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who addressed summit meeting of heads of state and government of member and candidate countries to the European Union (EU), proposed Turkish and Greek pipelines to be united and transport Caucasus and Central Asian natural gas to Europe.
Warning that EU's policy should be shapened in line with the Eurasia reality, Ecevit call on all the EU countries to expend an effective support to Turkey in its fight against terrorism.

SHOPPING FESTIVAL STARTS
Istanbul shopping festival ''Shopping Fest 2002'', which will be held for the first time this year, started. Mehmet Yildirim, the Chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, said the festival will last for 15 days. He said the ''Fest 2002'' aims to make Istanbul a world wide shopping center. Some companies will implement 20 or 50 percent reduction in prices of goods.