ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 28, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY'S DECISION: ''WE WILL NOT ENTER WITHOUT U.N.''
At the critical National Security Council (NSC) meeting, the participants gave the response to the United States, which is pressing on Ankara to ''decide immediately'' on Iraqi issue, that ''Turkey will not take a step without a decision of the United Nations (U.N.).'' Turkey's stance towards a support to the United States in a possible operation on Iraq became definite at the NSC meeting that lasted for five and a half hours. The statement of the meeting said, ''first comes Turkey's interests. Iraqi issue should be solved peacefully on the basis of U.N. resolution and legitimacy of international law.'' Thus, ''wait and see'' message was given to the United States.

PROMISE FROM UNITED STATES
Two important U.S. bureaucrats and Turkish economy administration had a bargaining on Iraq in Ankara on Friday. U.S. Department of Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor and State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman mentioned many promises. U.S. side promised military assistance and extention of terms of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank debts, facilitations in quotas, low interest loan and fund assistance to compensate losses of Turkish economy.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SIGNATURE IN YAS ANNOYS GUL
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul signed the decision of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) regarding dismissal of seven soldiers from the army due to fundamentalist links an hour later. Gul, who discussed with soldiers before signing the decision, was quoted as saying that ''dismissals were being perceived by the public as they were targeting them.''

HUSH MONEY TO WORKERS RATHER THAN COMPULSORY SAVINGS PAYMENT
The plan to liquidate compulsory savings was sent to the Prime Ministry. According to the plan, principal money will be paid in July. The interest of the compulsory savings would be paid in four years.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WARNING TO AK PARTY
The European Union (EU) sent severe message to the government: ''Public Procurement Law is as important as political criteria. Don't amend it.'' Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who travelled thousands of kilometres of path in order to get a date from the EU in Copenhagen, are now leaving the Public Procurement Law outside for a 15 thousand kilometres motorway project. The EU warned the AK Party that ''the law is very important for fighting against corruption and transparent society.'' Upon this warning, State Minister Ali Babacan said that deficiencies would be overcome. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the current law would enter into force on January 1, 2003.

CONDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM NSC MEETING TO UNITED STATES
Ankara will make its final decision on demands of the United States regarding a possible operation on Iraq on January 31, 2003. The National Security Council (NSC) gave conditional support to demands of the United States regarding Iraq and decided to wait for the next NSC meeting due on January 31 for a final statement. Ankara will take into consideration Iraq report of the United Nations (U.N.) weapons inspectors for a support to the United States.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ARINC: I CAN NOT SAY THERE IS NOT TORTURE
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc received Human Rights Association (IHD) Chairman Husnu Ondul. Pointing out the importance of NGOs, Arinc said, ''I can not say there are not human rights violations and torture. It is the right of everybody to live in an atmosphere where standards of law and democracy were high.

HE BACKS FUNDAMENTALISM
A prime minister for the first time in Republican history approved dismissal of fundamentalist officers by saying that it is ''antidemocratic'' and by making a statement. National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul also supported Prime Minister Abdullah Gul at the Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting. European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) gave visa for the implementation which was considered antidemocratic by the prime minister.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PREPARATIONS IN BORDER
When preparations of the United States for an attack on Iraq are accelerated, Turkey's military and civilian activity increased in Turkey's borders. Walls of tank battalion in Silopi township are made higher. There is a possibility that U.S. soldiers will stay there. Silopi Industry Site on road to Habur is allocated for soldiers.

''FIRST PAMUKBANK''
A statement of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) said that firstly Pamukbank problem should be solved for reconstruction of debts of Yapi Kredi belonging to Cukurova within the scope of Istanbul Approach.

FOREIGNERS HAVE CONFIDENCE
Foreign Capital Association (YASED) Barometer December 2002 survey indicated that new government's coming to power strengthened economic expectations for 2003.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TALKS REMIND WAR
As preparations of the United States continue regarded with operation against Iraq continue, busy hours were experienced in Ankara throughout the day. All generals in the Turkish Armed Forces convened in General Staff in the morning under the leadership of Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the Chief of General Staff, and evaluated the recent developments regarded with Iraq.
Increase of production of gas masks against nuclear, biological and chemical weapons threat was decided.

RED CRESCENT ALSO GETS PREPARED
The Red Crescent, which began to launch initiatives against a refugee inflow in case of an operation against Iraq, keeps tents and foodstuff, which will be adequate for 20,000 people, in its depots in eastern Elazig province.

WE WILL SET UP 11 CAMPS
Hakkari Governor Isin said they started preparations for infrastructure works for the camp places which they would set up on Northern Iraqi territories against the refugee inflow that may be happen after Iraqi operation.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: NONE OF THE AK PARTY MEMBERS WILL FAVOR WAR
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Parliament would utter the last word regarded with Iraqi operation, stressing that none of the AK Party members would favor war.
Erdogan said Turkey would wait for the decision of the U.N. Security Council to clarify its decision. Recalling that it would be waited till January 2003 for the report which the U.N. inspectors would give, Erdogan said, ''those uttered and written so far are only rumours and estimations.''

NSC ALSO WANTS ''PEACEFUL SOLUTION'' TO IRAQI PROBLEM
Iraqi crisis and its probable consequences, which engaged Turkey's agenda for days, was discussed in all details during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting held in Cankaya Palace under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The Council said efforts to solve Iraqi problem through peaceful means within the framework of international law.