ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 11, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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STRANGE POLICY
Turkey sent businessmen to Baghdad yesterday to search for ways making commercial cooperation with Iraq, it on the other hand signed the document that opened its bases to the U.S. which prepares for a war against Iraq. The 350-member delegation headed by State Minister Kursat Tuzmen went to Baghdad with two planes. In the same hours, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul officially announced that he signed the modus operandi which enabled the U.S. soldiers to inspect certain Turkish ports and air bases for possible use in an Iraq operation.

SEZER GIVES VISA TO ERDOGAN FOR CANDIDACY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved yesterday the adjustment law which ended the obstacle for AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be elected as the prime minister. Therefore Erdogan can run candidacy for the by-elections that will be held in Siirt on March 9.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL: ''THERE ARE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INTERVENTIONs''
Military officials said that political will should take a decision on a possible U.S. operation against Iraq as soon as possible. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that there were internal and external interventions related to the government's taking a decision regarding a possible operation against Iraq.

PEARSON SAYS U.S. WANTS A SOLUTION WITHOUT WAR IN IRAQ
The U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson said that Iraq threatens international peace and everybody has a responsibility and obligation in this issue and added that they want a solution without war. Pearson who delivered a speech in a seminar entitled ''Business Opportunities with the United States'' which was held by Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO), evaluated the issue of a possible military operation against Iraq. Noting that Turkey is a bridge for peace in the region, Pearson said that however, there are some problems in the region. He added that solving Iraq issue will also bring a solution to the problems such as terrorist organization PKK, Northern Iraq and trade in the region for Turkey.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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U.S PRESSURE ON TURKEY
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson who visited Prime Minister Abdullah Gul late on Friday wanted Turkey to give a clear decision related to a possible operation against Iraq as soon as possible. Pearson said that unless Turkey took a decision on the issue, the United States would search for other alternatives. Gul explained Turkey's concerns related to a war against Iraq at the meeting which lasted for one hour and 45 minutes.

PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV OF KAZAKHSTAN RECEIVES ERDOGAN
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was received by President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan on Friday. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Erdogan said that Turkish businessmen made significant investments in Kazakhstan. Stating that necessary studies would be made to further improve cooperation in economic and cultural fields, Erdogan said that Turkish businessmen's investments in that region exceeded 2 billion U.S. dollars. Erdogan noted that trade volume between the two friendly countries could be much more increased and added, ''Mr. Nazarbayev has determination on that issue, we also have determination. Turkey and Kazakhstan should record progress on that issue hand in hand.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GREEN LIGHT FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY FOR CYPRUS
U.N. special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto warned that the sides in Cyprus have to reach a balanced agreement on Annan plan as soon as possible. Turkey announced that negotiations for reaching an agreement on the basis of Annan plan will start soon. Foreign Ministry used the discourse of the countries which don't recognize TRNC for the first time and referred to Rauf Denktas only as ''the leader'' and ''Mr. Denktas.''

SEZER:CYPRUS POLICY HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal asked President Ahmet Necdet Sezer if the Cyprus policy of Turkey has been changed. Baykal who received the response from Sezer that the policy didn't change, defended the view that AK Party tries to sound the public opinion out by its statements about Cyprus.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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WHAT HAPPENS IN CYPRUS?
CHP leader Deniz Baykal asked President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc about the new Cyprus policy. Foreign Ministry said that there is no radical change in it. Meanwhile U.N. special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto said that U.N. can give an extra period for solution of the Cyprus question later than February 28.

ARINC WARNED
Foreign Ministry officials warned Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc who will go to TRNC with a delegation of 20 deputies. Foreign Ministry said that ''two opposite fronts have been formed on the island for the first time. There are many persons who oppose Denktas, but his supporters also speak differently than Denktas. Be careful about the protests.'' The delegation will also meet with the opposition in TRNC.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKEY EXERTS EFFORTS TO PREVENT A WAR AGAINST IRAQ
Turkey is exerting great efforts to prevent a possible war against Iraq. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen who went to Baghdad with an accompanying delegation including 350 businessmen presented a letter of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul which underlined the importance of peace in the region to officials of the Iraqi government. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who met with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani will go to Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Gul who will proceed to Iran on Sunday will meet with Iranian officials and continue to exert efforts to prevent a possible war against Iraq.

PRESIDENT SEZER APPROVES EU ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the law which foresees to make amendments in some laws under adjustment to Copenhagen criteria and the Constitution. Under the law, punishments, given on charges of torture and abuse could not be turned into fine, and could not be postponed, and interrogation period of the suspects, in places where Emergency Rule is implemented, reduced to four days.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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THY TO GIVE 21,000 U.S. DOLLARS TO FAMILIES
Turkish Airlines (THY) decided to give 21,000 U.S. dollars of compensation each to the families of those persons who died in the plane crash in Diyarbakýr and the five persons who were injured in the accident.