These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 17, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
IF UNITED STATES NEGLECTS TURKEY, IT CANNOT SLEEP WELL AND COMFORTABLY
Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Turkish-American Business Council annual meeting will start in Washington D.C. A total of 1400 people are expected to be interested in the meeting. Turkish-American Business Council Chairman Akin Gungor said that the message to come out of the meetings would be conveyed to the bureaucracy and politicians of two countries. Ongor said, ''If the United States wants to sleep well and comfortably, it has to choose Turkey as strategic partner.''

TOUR OF TURKISH CONTRACTORS TO AFGHANISTAN
As the deliberations on Turkey's taking over command of international force in Afghanistan after Britain are under way in Ankara, Turkish contractors will go to Kabul. Turkish businessmen who want to have a share in restructuring process of Afghanistan will go to this country together with State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel. The delegation will make preliminary examinations about mine clearing, airport rehabilitation, potable water purification and irrigation projects, and energy and dwelling investments.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
BAHCELI: ''EUROPE DOES NOT SHOW GOOD WILL''
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that Turkey was exerting great efforts in the path of the European Union (EU) especially in the last three years. However, Bahceli noted, it was not possible to see the same good will and effort from the other side.

''WORDS OF PASHAS ARE NOT ENOUGH''
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that new evidence had to be put forth in order to re-try Korkut Eken, who was sentenced to imprisonment related with Susurluk case. Turk said, ''I think that statements of some generals and news stories cannot be sufficient.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
LET'S TAKE THREE STEPS AND SPOIL PLANS
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said, ''in fact, the European Union (EU) does not want us. They mentioned Copenhagen criteria with the thought that ''they would not fulfil them in any case.'' Let's fulfil the three criteria and spoil the plans.'' Here are the three steps that we have to take no later than December for EU full membership negotiations. First step is education in mothertongue. This does not mean education in Kurdish. Turkey's official and education language in Turkish. It will be sufficient to recognize the right to open special courses. Second step is broadcasting in Kurdish. It is possible to solve ban in Kurdish broadcasting by a two-hour broadcasting a day in one of the TRT channels. In fact, 3.5-4 million people are watching med tv through satellite. Third step is capital punishment. People are afraid that Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, will pay his way by an amnesty a few years later if capital punishment is abolished. By a heavy life imprisonment without any amnesty right will solve this problem. Yilmaz said, ''if we take these three steps immediately and prove that we want a solution in Cyprus sincerely, we will have the oportunity to begin full membership negotiations with the EU'' and added, ''also, we can suspend the membership process of Greek Cypriot administration.'' What will happen if we do not take these three steps? Here is Yilmaz's answer: ''a date cannot be set for EU membership negotiations, Greek Cypriot administration's EU membership will become rea. And, we have to annex north of Cyprus. This will be a scenario of disaster.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
AGENDA IS IRAQ IN ANKARA
The U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will be in Ankara on Tuesday within the scope of his visit tour covering 10 countries. The U.S. envisages to carry its fight against terrorism, which was started after September 11 terrorist attacks, to Iraq after Afghanistan. Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), is also expected to be in Ankara the same day.
Foreign ministry sources said Ankara will only listen the sides during the talks.

ANOTHER DIES IN DEATH FAST
Dogan Tokmak, a death fasting inmate, died in Istanbul. He was death fasting to protect the F type prisons. Tokmak, 30, died on the 290th day of death fast.
Dogan Tokmak was imprisoned on October 9, 2000 on charges of being a member of the terrorist organization.
Tokmak, who was in Kandira F type prison, was taken to Izmit State Hospital as his health condition became critical due to death fast and later was sent to Bayrampasa State Hospital.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
IS THIS HEROISM?
Some retired generals protected Korkut Eken, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment in Susurluk case, by saying, ''he is a hero. We knew what he had been doing.'' The statements of the retired generals protecting Eken brought thousands of files onto agenda which wait for illumination linked with Susurluk. However, the generals refrained from giving information to jurisdiction to discriminate which was the crime and which was not.

BAHCELI: EU DID NOT SHOW GOOD WILL
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that Turkey has been exerting efforts on the way to European Union (EU) membership in the past three years, noting that, ''however, it is not possible to say that it receives the same good will from the European Union administration.''
Bahceli mentioned relations with Europe, and stressed that Turkey would not be enriched automatically by entering the EU. He said making suggestions in this respect would be a political misleading.
Pointing out that Turkey would be closer to the EU as long as it catches the necessary growth and prosperity level, and each individual upgrades his own living condition, Bahceli said, ''membership to the EU would contribute to the development of those conditions in a more appropriate atmosphere.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
COMPENSATION CASE FILED FOR BANK GUARD
One more hit on Engin Bozkurt, the guard of the Finansbank in Istanbul for whom a lawsuit was filed demanding 8 years of imprisonment on charges of killing two bank robbers. Wife of one of the robbers filed a compensation lawsit against Bozkurt demanding 250 billion Turkish liras (TL).

MESUT YILMAZ WARNS: ''A KURDISH STATE IS BEING FORMED IN NORTHERN IRAQ''
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader said, ''the nucleus of a future state in Northern Iraq is being formed. When you ask the leaders there, they say that there is not such thing but the process for state is working. Foundation of a Kurdish state will not be good for the Middle East.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
YILMAZ: WE WILL PROTECT TURKEY'S INTERESTS, NOT THE EU
Mesut Yilmaz, the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, defended that discussions on European Union (EU) were untimely.
Yilmaz, who responded to the questions in a private tv channel, pointed out that Turkey applied for the full membership of the EU, and that EU announced the conditions which it wanted from all the candidate countries.
Yilmaz said, ''in the national program we have committed that we will fulfill all those. Now, it is wrong to say that the EU does not protect our national interests. Why will they protect our national interests? It's me who will protect the national interests.''

BAL: TURKEY'S SOLE ALTERNATIVE IS EU
State Minister Faruk Bal said Turkey exert efforts to enter the EU with all its institutions and organizations.
Responding to the questions of reporters, Bal said full membership to the EU was the target of Turkey.
Bal said, ''discussions are underway in this respect. However, Turkey should protect its interests in economic and cultural issues while entering the EU. All those should be discussed and evaluated in Turkey. Turkey can not have an alternative apart from the EU. All the political parties have adopted this.