These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 20, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CHENEY DIRECTLY ASKS MILITARY'S OPINION ABOUT IRAQ
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kývrýkoglu getting outside of diplomatic traditions as the U.S. administration insisted on such a meeting. Cheney asked Kývrýkoglu's views about a possible operation against Iraq, but Kývrýkoglu's response was not different from the government's response which was negative. Kývrýkoglu said that ''your interlocutor is not me, but the civilian authority.'' Turkish officials explained Cheney that Turkey was against a U.S. intervention in Iraq. The government stressed that an operation in Iraq would disturb the balances in the region, yet Cheney gave the message to Turkey that ''the U.S. will overthrow Saddam and it is looking for ways to do that.''
''LET'S EXTRACT OIL TOGETHER''
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed Turkey to extract, operate and market the Caspian oil together. Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan has the full political support to Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Nazarbayev asked Turkey to set up organized industry regions and technoparks in Kazakhstan and stressed the importance of cooperation between the small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs). Nazarbayev who recieved Deputy Prime Minister Bahceli yesterday told him that he was very pleased with Bahceli's visit as no high ranking official came to Kazakhstan from Turkey for a long time.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY GIVES ASSURANCE TO ECEVIT
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney told Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that ''there is no question of any military action against Iraq in the foreseeable future,'' while he told Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kývrýkoglu that ''we hate Saddam Hussein.'' Cheney who came to Turkey as the last tour of his visit to the Middle East met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Speaking after the meeting, Ecevit said that ''there is no question of any military action against Iraq in the foreseeable future. Iraq has to abide by the U.N. Resolutions and accept the U.N. arms inspectors to its territory. I hope Iraq to meet the expectations of the international society.'' Ecevit noted that he was pleased with the formation of a basis of dialogue between Israel and Palestine due to Cheney's visit to the Middle East.
U.S. TO GIVE 228 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ISAF'S COMMAND
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the U.S. will give the financial assistance Turkey wanted for the International Security Assistance Fund (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ecevit said that ''Mr. Cheney told me that they would provide 228 million dollars to ISAF with a motion they will submit to the U.S. Congress.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CPT ASKS TURKEY TO PROVIDE TELEVISION, RADIO AND TELEPHONE TO OCALAN
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) advised Turkey to provide a television, a short wave radio to head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan and allow him the opportunity to receive telephone calls at regular basis. In a report CPT prepared following a visit to Turkey between Sept.2-14, 2001, CPT said that Ocalan was offered rather good physical conditions in his cell. It said that Ocalan could be allowed to speak on the phone with his relatives or lawyers on the phone. The CPT also advised Turkey that Ocalan should be checked by the same doctor every two weeks instead of being checked by different doctors twice a day which is currently under practice. The report also claimed that Ocalan should be able to contact with other inmates and should have more activity.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ANKARA FEELS RELIEVED FOR NOW
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Following his meeting with Cheney, Ecevit said that they had comprehensively taken up bilateral relations. He said, ''at the moment, there is not a decision on an operation against Iraq. As Cheney stressed that an operation against Iraq in foreseeable future is out of question.'' Ecevit announced that the United States would make a 228 million U.S. dollars of contribution to Turkey. Cheney had another meeting with Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on ''bilateral military'' issues. Sources said that during the meeting, Cheney had stated that ''Saddam can't escape''. Noting that Iraq was producing mass destruction weapons and it could harm its neighbors, Cheney told Kivrikoglu, ''you are the person who knows this well.''
CEM CRITICIZES BUSH'S IDEE FIXE: IRAQ CASE IS PERSONAL
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Iraq problem should be solved at the U.N. platform. Noting that U.S. President George Bush took ''Saddam case'' personal, Cem said, ''so Turkey opposes and stays away from an operation against Iraq.''
IMF INSISTS: 40,000 PEOPLE TO BE DISMISSED
Under the stand-by deal with the IMF, nearly forty thousand public workers will be dismissed or retire by June with definition of ''overemployment''.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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STATE OF CHILDREN IS GRAVE
Again Health and Education Foundation conducted an annual survey on 'Prevalence of Cigarette, Alcohol and Drug' and the result of the 2001 survey is shocking. The foundation conducted the survey in nine provinces and among 24,250 students below 18 years. It showed that urgent measures should be taken on that issue. According to the survey which was prepared by the methods of joint research of the World Health Organization (WHO), the children started using drugs when they are 13 years old and smoking in 11 years.
ERDOGAN TAKES BRIBE
The report which was prepared by Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu claimed that Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mayor of Istanbul Ali Mufit Gurtuna took bribe from the tenders for the party and National Youth Foundation (MGV). There are serious accusations regarding Gurtuna and Erdogan in the dossiers prepared by Kanadoglu. According to the report, 10 percent of bid bond was taken from the contractors as ''donation''.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TOUGH BARGAINING
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney requested support about Iraq while Ankara called his attention to Turkey's losses due to the Gulf War. Ankara was completely on alert last night. Arrival of Bush's assistant in Turkey was delayed for two times. The Hilton Hotel where he stays was closed. Policemen and undercover agents carried out searches on stressts of Ankara. Cheney who had meetings with the government and military officials said, ''extend support to us for Iraq'' and also requested Turkey to take responsibility in Afghanistan while Ankara gave this message: ''We suffered great losses due to the Gulf War. A similar thing is now in question. We don't want a war against Iraq, but you have to compensate our losses if there would be a war.''
GENERAL TURGUT WARNS EU: DON'T SUPPORT TERRORISM
Speaking at the American-Turkish Council meeting in Washington D.C., the United States, General Staff Planning and Principles Department Director Vice-General Resat Turgut said, ''Europe is hypocritical to Turkey. While they say that they banned PKK, they secretly extend support to this terrorist organization.''
VICTORY OF HAZELNUT
The biggest chocolate products producer company in Japan put its new product which it produces by using Turkish hazelnut, on the Japanese market yesterday. Japan which had imported 400 tons of hazelnuts from Turkey in 2000 purchased 620 tons of hazelnuts from Turkey last year.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ECEVIT: NO INTERVENTION IN IRAQ IN NEAR FUTURE
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney had meetings with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, General Staff's Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in Ankara. Cheney assured Ecevit that ''there won't be an intervention in Iraq in foreseeable future''. Following his tete-a-tete meeting with Cheney, Ecevit told reporters that he had clearly conveyed Turkey's sensitivities about Iraq issue to Cheney. About possibility of a U.S. operation against Iraq, Ecevit said, ''at the moment, there is not such a decision. At this stage, Cheney especially stressed that a military operation against Iraq in near future is out of question. He mentioned this very clearly.'' Noting that Turkey wanted Iraqi administration to abide by the U.N. resolutions, Ecevit said, ''we did not discuss the details at the meeting. In fact, the U.S. administration knows about our opinions. We wish that the Iraqi administration would take decisions expected by the United States and whole world.''
SAD END OF GALATASARAY
Galatasaray who represented Turkey in Europe successfully was defeated by Spain's powerful soccer team Barcelona 0-1 at their home Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul last night and said farewell to the European Champions League.