These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 2, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
CEM CALLS ON ISRAEL TO RESPECT ARAFAT
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem issued a harsh statement yesterday and he condemned the inhumane attitude of Israel against Palestinians and he warned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. ''Mr. Yasser Arafat is the President of a state that Turkey officially recognizes. We do not accept and we strongly protest the treatment that he is subjected to by the Israeli Government. No one has the right to act in such disrespect towards a head of state and the nation he represents. This and similar actions prepare the ground for the Palestinian people, whose majority keeps faith in peace, to succumb into the influence of the extremists. It is not realistic to expect an authority humiliated, occupied, its administrative mechanisms and police apparatus dismantled, its leader isolated, to prevail over the elements of terror.''
Cem also called on Palestine saying ''Turkey vehemently condemns the terror perpetrated through suicide attacks. She shares the agony of the Israeli people. There can be no excuse for terror aiming at innocent people, under any circumstance or condition. Palestine is obliged to do everything it can to prevent these acts of terror.''

SECOND OCALAN OPERATION
Turkey started ''diplomatic hot pursuit'' to catch Cemil Bayik, one of the most important members of the terrorist organization PKK. Turkey officially asked the extradition of Bayik who infiltrated into Iran. Secret negotiations with Iran continue.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
SIGNATURE CRISIS
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz reacted to the signing of a tank agreement with Israel when clashes intensified in the Middle East and people were killed. ''It would be better if we could suspend the tank modernization project with Israel,'' said Yilmaz. Defense Minister Cakmakoglu told Yilmaz that bureaucrats signed it. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit alos defended the signing of the project. ''Please don't forget the fact that the Jewish lobby in the U.S. extends support to Turkey,'' Ecevit said. Meanwhile Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan called the government to cancel the agreement.

EXPORTS INCREASE BY 18,3 PERCENT
Turkey's export increased by 18.3 percent in March 2002 when compared to the same month last year. Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) said that Turkey exported 2,861,064 billion U.S. dollars in March 2002. The export was 2,481,515 billion U.S. dollars in March 2001. The total export increased by 5 percent to 7,636,899 billion U.S. dollars in January-March when compared to the same period last year. The export was 7,272 billion U.S. dollars in the first three months of 2001. Turkey's export climbed 12.8 percent to 31,427,818 billion U.S. dollars in a year as of the end of March 2002.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
FETHULLAH GULEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL IN U.S.
Fethullah Gulen, a sect leader who is tried in Turkey and who lives in the U.S. for a long time was hospitalized due to a heart disease. Gulen's condition is not critial, but he will be kept in intensive care unit for a few days.

HERE IS TURKISH COMMANDER FOR ISAF
General Staff General Secretariat said that the government accepted in principle taking over the command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, noting that a military delegation, led by Gen. Akin Zorlu, will be sent to this country today. Turkey is expected to take over the command on June 22.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
ANOTHER PERSON ON DEATH FAST DIES
Meryem Altun, who was being tried by Istanbul Security Court (DGM) for being a member of the illegal organization DHKP/C and who was death fasting, died yesterday. Altun (26) who started her death fast 301 days ago to protest F type prisons and who was transferred to Samalcilar State Hospital of Istanbul from Kartal special type prison as her health went bad, died.

2,000 WORKERS HOLD PROTEST MARCH IN KOCAELI
Almost 2,000 workers working in Kocaeli municipality in northwestern Turkey held a protest march yesterday saying that they could not get their wages for a long time. The police used tear gas to stop them.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
DISPUTE ON ''POLITICAL WILL''
State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli got angry with State Minister Kemal Dervis's statement that political will was absolutely necessary for the success of the reforms and the measures should be implemented completely. Bahceli responded him as saying, ''you should not show political will as an obstacle to that.'' There was tension between Dervis and Bahceli in the Council of Minister meeting. Dervis who gave information to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''saving measures should be implemented, regional offices should be closed. The number of the ministers should be decreased. We will reach our goals if the political will carries on its determination.'' Bahceli told Dervis ''you should not show political will as an obstacle to that.''

RECORD OPERATION
Gendarme General Command said that 7,456 kg base-morphine was seized in an operation launched in Yarica village in Hendek township in Sakarya province. The market value of the base-morphine is almost 40 trillion Turkish lira. Issuing a written statement on the issue, General Secretariat of the Gendarme General Command said that gendarme found out a drug trafficker team acting in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya and Duzce provinces. The team brought a huge amount of base-morphine from Pakistan to Turkey. A total of 12 persons have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
MUDURNU TAVUKCULUK GOES BANKRUPT
Mudurnu Tavukculuk (poultry dealer) Inc. which had financial difficulties went bankrupt. Mudurnu Tavukculuk Inc. submitted a statement to stock exchange which said the company went bankrupt on March 26, 2002 according to the result of the case which was filed against the company in Istanbul no:2 court of first instance. Mudurnu Tavukculuk Inc. Executive Board Deputy Chairman Oktay Turesin said in the statement on October 19, 2001 that they expected 10 million U.S. dollars of source to restart the production. Turesin said that the company incured 35 million U.S. dollars of debt and the company stopped production as a result of passing to the floating exchange rate in Turkey.

GENERAL STAFF: ''WE GO TO AFGHANISTAN''
General Staff General Secretariat said that the government accepted in principle taking over the command of International Security Aid Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. General Staff stated that Turkey would take over the command of ISAF from Britain as a result of the talks and evaluations which continued for a long time.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
AFTER INDUSTRIALISTS, FARMERS ALSO ESCAPE ABROAD
After scientists and industrialists, farmers also began to go abroad. Farmers who suffered from high cost of production in Turkey make production by hiring lands in Romania, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria and Sudan. The cost in those countries is 70 percent cheaper than in Turkey. High costs, bureaucratic obstacles have led the farmers after industrialists to go abroad. Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Romania, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia present very attractive opportunities for farmers.