ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 29, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GIANT SAVING OF 660 TRILLION
The biggest saving operation of Turkish history has been completed. The boss of the sunken banks was Kamuran Cortuk and he was given 8.5 million U.S. dollars. Kamuran Cortuk, the owner of Bayindir Holding, became the first person, the debts of whose banks were re-structured for the first time within the scope of Istanbul Approach. Cortuk agreed with 15 receivables under leadership of Vakifbank. Cortuk's debt worth of 399 million 780 thousand U.S. dollars (equal to almost 660 trillion Turkish liras) was divided to 10 years.

SEZER SIGNS, NO REFERENDUM
It was claimed that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed the constitutional amendment bill which he earlier vetoed. The bill will not be sent to referendum. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Yazici said that they could not yet get a confirmation on the issue.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''WE ARE NOT PAID SOLDIERS''
Soldiers in National Security Council (NSC) said, ''assistance to be made by the United States will not affect stance of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).'' The military wing in NSC meeting left the final decision on Iraqi issue to politicians. Also, they stressed that stance of soldiers was not bound to U.S. assistance and added, ''the only criterium is our long term interests.''

TUPRAS: ''LOSS OF WAR CAN AMOUNT TO 1 BILLION USD''
Husamettin Danis, the Director General of Turkish Oil Refineries Inc. (TUPRAS), crude oil price was expected to climb to 25 U.S. dollars in case of a war on Iraq and effect of strike in Venezuella. Danis said that liquified petroleum gas (LPG) prices could also increase.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HEROIN TRUCK OPERATION
A truck which was en route to foreign countries was stopped in Kapikule border gate and 23 kilograms of heroin was confiscated. Police raided company of businessman Hayyam Garipoglu in Avcilar district of Istanbul related with the drug trafficking and detained brother-in-law of Garipoglu.

COMMON GROUND FOUND WITH UNITED STATES
Permission given for use of some bases in return for 15 billion U.S. dollars of assistance. They said ''no'' to land force. During contacts with two U.S. undersecretaries, a common ground was found for contribution that the United States would make to Turkey in a possible operation on Iraq. Use of some bases are permitted but Turkish soldiers will not join the operation with the U.S. soldiers but will undertake the role of shield.

ANKARA PUTS OBSTACLES BEFORE US
Ankara's statement that a second United Nations (U.N.) decision is needed to respond to demands of the United States made Washington uneasy.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''WE ARE BEING PULLED INTO WAR''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that a solution other than war should be found to Iraqi issue and noted, ''it will be very grave if Turkey becomes a front in a possible operation.'' New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem, who accused the government of assuming an ''unofficial approach'', requested that possibility of re-occurrence of terrorist incidents in Turkey should be taken into consideration.

SOUTHEAST -40 DEGREES
Severe winter conditions which are especially influential in eastern parts of the country makes living conditions more difficult. Temperature fell to -40 degrees Celsius in Southeastern Anatolia Region. A person froze to death in Gaziantep province. Meanwhile, temperature will climb till 20 degrees Celsius in western parts.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HIDDEN SIDE OF NSC
The National Security Council searched for a balance among the public, international legitimacy, and demands of strong ally United States: Turkish Armed Forces would carry out the consultations. Number of soliders should not make people uneasy. Combatants would not be deployed in Turkey. Economy will be preserved. Parliament will give the decision.

CRITICAL SIX MONTHS FOR THE EU
There are many steps which Turkey would take in regulations and implementations to get a date to start full membership negotiations in December 2004. The European Union (EU) starts a new Accession Partnership Document. Ankara will present its new National Program in July.
It is a condition for the government to make comprehensive arrangements in the Constitution and the Turkish Penal Code.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PEACE MOBILIZATION
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who will go on a tour to Middle East, will exert efforts to prevent war.
Gul, who will visit Saudi Arabia between January 4-6, will later go to Jordan, Syria, Iran and Egypt. Gul is expected to call on the leaders to put pressure on Saddam to give all the information he has to the United Nations.

YAKIS: WE DON'T WANT WAR
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said they wanted solution of Iraqi problem through peaceful means. Yakis said war will not add anything to Turkey, or Iraq. He stated that war was something which should be thought in the end. He noted, ''we will do what is required by Turkey's national interests.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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110-VEHICLE MILITARY CONVOY PASSES FROM HABUR TO NORTHERN IRAQ
Turkish armed forces, which continues preparations for possible Iraqi operation, started passages to the region from the Habur Border Gate against various scenarios that may be experienced in Northern Iraq. Soldiers, who continued to pass from the border for days, entered Northern Iraq at 17.00 local time on Saturday.

THEY WILL NOT LEAVE THEIR VILLAGES IN IRAQI BORDER AT WAR
Kapili village, which is very near to the Iraqi border, does not care even to the chemical weapon threat in a possible war. The villagers, who were forced to immigrate during the Gulf War, said this time they would not leave their villages.
Kapili is the village of Silopi Township of southeastern Sirnak province. The 65-year old villager Tahir Kurnaz said, ''there is nothing to do. We will not go anywhere if they come and force us to leave our village.''