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

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
IF YOURS REACH 60 THOUSAND, WE WILL SEND MORE
Turkey put a condition before the United States for a military operation on Iraq: ''If you enter Northern Iraq with 60 thousand soldiers, more Turkish soldiers will be sent to this region.'' Turkey pressed on the button for preparations related with the demand of the Washington administration from Ankara when the United States accelerated its preparations for a possible military operation on Iraq. Ankara wants more Turkish soldiers than the U.S. soldiers to enter the region. Thus, it will turn the military power balance in the region in its advantage. As a surprising development, KC-135 tanker aircraft of the Turkish Armed Forces started to supply fuel to U.S. military planes which are passing transit over the Turkish air space.

BEWILDERING WORDS FROM YAKIS
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis claimed that Turkish army would be in the position of invader in Cyprus if a solution was not found to the issue. Yakis said that he even did not want to think of annexation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Turkey and claimed that Turkish army would be in the position of invader if a solution was not found in the island within the scope of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal harshly reacted to this statement of Yakis and said, ''the words of the Foreign Minister is wrong in all aspects and they are a misfortune. They have to be corrected immediately.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
WE ARE READY IN 2003
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul told Milliyet that reforms would be passed rapidly and the European Union (EU) could not find anything to oppose to in the report it would release about progress recorded by Turkey in 2003. Noting that French President said that the negotiation date could be earlier than 2004 and Turkey should be insistent, Gul said, ''we are in the ruling on our own. Reforms will be concluded till October 2003.''

SURPRISE VETO FROM CANKAYA
The president returned appointment of two people related with financial affairs. The government was uneasy when the decrees on appointment of Genc Osman Yarasli to Financial Crimes Investigation Board Chairmanship and Osman Arioglu to Directorate General for Revenues were returned by the Presidential Palace.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
DON'T SPEND MUCH BY TRUSTING MR.ALI COSKUN
Don't spend much by trusting the words of Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun that obligatory savings would be paid back because the Treasury Undersecretariat has not confirmed it. Coskun said that 12 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) in the obligatory savings fund was a hunchback on economy and inspired hopes: ''We will pay back this money in the shortest time. We can pay at least one-fourth of the money in February or March. Markets will be revived when around 3 quadrillion TL is distributed to working personnel.''

2.9 PERCENT RISE IN PENSION
The government made inflation arrangement in pension of the Social Security Agency (SSK) personnel and increased the pension by 2.9 percent. Accordingly, the minimum pension increased from 249 million 939 thousand 298 Turkish liras (TL) to 257 million 51 thousand 528 TL while the maximum pension climbed from 481 million 645 thousand 784 TL to 495 million 47 thousand 502 TL.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT KEPT ITS PROMISE
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), stressed that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government did not ask views of social circles when preparing bills although it had promised to do so and demanded a summit to be held on economic issues.

PROTEST FROM GREENPEACE
Greenpeace members staged a protest in front of Italian Embassy in Ankara together with villagers from northern Sinop and Samsun provinces demanding hazardous wastes left in Black Sea to be taken back. Hale Ozen, the spokesperson of the villagers, and four Greenpeace members were detained.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
MILITARY SOLUTION TO HEADSCARF
Gen. Tuncer Kilinc, the National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General, brought a proposal to headscarf. Kilinc said, ''female priests are not brought up in this country. We have not seen so far that women Imams are assigned. Female students should not be taken to Imam Hatip schools. The reason creating the problem should be removed for solution.''

POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE AEGEAN
Problems between the sides are collected under main topics in the explaratory talks carried out between Turkey and Greece since last year. Diplomats said, ''the sides understood each other. There is hope for solution.''
A high ranking diplomat said, ''it has become definite who may give up what in problematic issues. Now that those may be united and turned into draft agreement.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
SAVINGS OPERATION
The government, which put an end to the luxurious way of life in public lodgings after immediately it came to power, also took steps on Tuesday for savings in public. Around 250 of the 850 policemen in Guard Directorate linked with Prime Ministry, will be sent to Security Department today. Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir reduced number of his guards from 14 to 2. Following Yalcinbayir's decision, Finance Minister Unakitan said he took the same decision.

STATE MINISTER TUZMEN: CUSTOMS UNION SHOULD BE REVISED
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who addressed the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Council meeting, pointed out that Customs Union should be revised in a way that it would be in favor of Turkey.
Tuzmen said it could have been better if discussions had taken place regarded with the Customs Union in 1996, adding that, ''however, there is a Customs Union agreement today, and this agreement has advantages and disadvantages. Yet, it should be revised in favour of Turkey. Particularly, we should sign free trade agreement with the countries which the European Union (EU) countries had made free trade agreement. Our friends work on those articles, and we will put pressure.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
COPENHAGEN IS LEFT BEHIND, BUSINESS WORLD WAITS FOR PERFORMANCE
Businessmen expect performance from the government, which had given priority to European Union (EU), to put an end to stagnancy in economy. Implementation of Financial Zero Year will begin to be discussed in the Parliament today.
The government, which started activities to meet those expectations, begin to discuss ''Emergency Action Plan'' that was earlier announced to the public.
Abdullatif Sener, Kemal Unakitan, Ali Babacan and Kursad Tuzmen, the four ministers of the cabinet related to economy, convened and worked on the action plan.
The plan will be announced in the Council of Ministers meeting which will take place on Wednesday.

FEBRUARY 28 ACCELERATES SEARCHES FOR A SOLUTION ON CYPRUS
Studies started in line with the agreement reached in European Union (EU) Copenhagen Summit to reach an agreement between the sides in Cyprus till February 28.
It was stated that the Turkish sides conveyed its positive views to start talks with the United Nations.
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu, Presidency Undersecretary Ergun Olgun and the Turkish government officials are expected to meet in Ankara to determine the attitude that will be assumed.