ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 15, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GERMANY TO EXTRADITE KAPLAN
Dusseldorf Provincial Supreme Court decided to deport Metin Kaplan, the leader of the Islamic Community-Denominational Vision. Earlier, Germany has banned all activities of the Islamic Community-Denominational Vision. Upon the developments, Directorate General of Security sent a message to German authorities, and reminded them of Turkey's request for extradition of Kaplan. If Germany responds Turkey's request in the affirmative, Kaplan is expected to be brought to Turkey next week.

''EITHER RESIGN OR SIGN''
Representatives and supporters of leftist political parties, trade unions and associations held a rally in Lefkosa on the eve of today's negotiations between President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides. Nearly 30 thousand people were in attendance at the rally. Participants called on President Denktas either to sign an agreement till February 28 or to resign. They thanked Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul for their new policy about Cyprus.

''UNITED STATES HAS ALLOCATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MEDIA''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the United States had allocated a fund of billions of U.S. dollars for inciting war and lobby activities. He added, ''there are some allegations saying that a part of this fund was transferred to media organs in Turkey.''

AKGUNDUZ APPLIES FOR CANDIDACY
Despite the law saying that those who are sentence to more than a year in prison cannot be elected as deputy, Fadil Akgunduz applied for independent candidacy in the elections to be held in southeastern province of Siirt on March 9, 2003. The Higher Election Board (YSK) will assess application of Akgunduz under new developments.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS THE MESSAGE
Prime Minister Gul who gave Saddam Hussein the message of ''cooperate with the United Nations and abide by its resolutions'' is planning to persuade Iraq for peace by cooperating with Syria, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and being their spokesman. The message which Prime Minister Gul sent to Saddam Hussein with State Minister Kursad Tuzmen after his contacts in regional countries puts forward what Ankara wants to do at first stage. Here is the message: ''Also you have great responsibilities in seeking peaceful way to solve the issue. Until January 27, Baghdad should act in a way which does not allow occurrence of any suspicion. It should make a transparent cooperation with weapon inspectors and take steps that satisfy the U.N. Security Council and abide by all resolutions of the Security Council.'' Prime Minister Gul thinks that Saddam Hussein should first of all not allow occurrence of any suspicion about mass-destruction weapons. Meanwhile, the message that Gul received from Saddam can be summarized as: ''We appreciate Prime Minister Gul's initiatives for peace. Also we do not want war. We are making everything easier for U.N. inspectors. And we are aware of Ankara's good will.''

SYRIA GIVES UP HATAY
Syria changed the maps which showed southern province of Hatay within its territories. The rapprochement that started after expelling of head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan is taking another historic turning point. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara who came to Ankara conveyed Syrian President Bashar al-Asad's message of ''I am determined to develop relations'' to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. President Sezer replied Asad's message by saying, ''problems were left in the past and a new page has been opened. I expect to see you in Ankara.'' Asad will pay a visit to Turkey through the end of the year and he will be the first Syrian President to visit Turkey since 1946. After cutting its support to PKK, Asad administration gave the signal that it would give up its claims over Hatay. Damascus which showed Hatay within Syrian territories in school books has started to change these maps. Foreign Minister Shara guaranteed that Damascus would also accept KADAK as a terrorist organization.

BARZANI'S COMMANDER BEDIRHAN: ''WE ARE HAPPY WITH TURKS''
Babekir Bedirhan, the military commander of Bahdinan region that is controlled by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani in Northern Iraq, said that the number of Turkish soldiers in the region was exaggerated. Bedirhan said, ''the number of Turkish soldiers deployed in Amadiye town, Bamerni Airport, Sersing and Sirye regions was almost five hundred. This number has currently increased a little. Our agreement with Turkey is for border security. In these regions, one thousand and five hundred Peshmargas and Turkish soldiers are side by side. Turks are our friends.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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STATE OF SO-CALLED SHEIKH
Gendarmerie forces launched an operation in Akfirat hamlet in Tuzla town of Istanbul against a religious sect. The operation unveiled that so-called sheikh Yasar Y. who is married with nine women, has collected illegal tax and formed illegal courts in the hamlet. It was also revealed that the sheikh obtained a wealth of 1 trillion Turkish liras. Number of detainees increased to 20 in the operation. Mayor Ali M. Soylu of Akfirat hamlet has also been accused.

SECURITY FORCES IMPOUND 41.1 KG OF HEROIN
Security forces impounded 41.1 kg of heroin in an operation in Istanbul. Acting on a tip-off, security forces stopped and searched an automobile near Silivri town of Istanbul which was on its way to Bulgaria. During the search, they confiscated 41.1 kg of heroin hidden in secret parts of the vehicle. A total of 10 people including five Bulgarian citizens were taken into custody.

SIX POLITICAL PARTIES TO ATTEND ELECTIONS IN SIIRT
Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Republican People's Party (CHP), Democratic People's Party (DEHAP), Turkish Communist Party (TKP), Labor Party (IP) and Young Party (GP) notified the Higher Election Board (YSK) that they would attend the elections in southeastern province of Siirt.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MOST EXPENSIVE FUEL OIL IS IN TURKEY
The prices of fuel oil increased seven percent in the term of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the last two months. Thus, the most expensive fuel oil is consumed by Turkey in Europe. The price of fuel oil has changed for eight times since the elections in November 3, 2002.

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ORGANIZATION: PUT PRESSURE ON TURKEY
According to 2003 World Report of Human Rights Watch Organization, the organization is only worried about the condition of Iraqi civilians in a possible operation against Iraq. It was stated in the report that the United States should put pressure on all the neighbors of Iraq including Turkey, Iran and Jordan for making them open their doors to refugees.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TENS OF THOUSANDS RALLY FOR SOLUTION
The biggest rally of the history of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was held in Lefkosa yesterday. Nearly 60 thousand Turkish Cypriots attended the rally organized in cooperation between the ''Common Vision Action Committee'' and ''This Land is Ours Platform''. Participants chanted slogans saying that a solution should be found to the Cyprus question till February 28 in accordance with the plan presented to the sides in the island by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. They carried banners criticizing President Rauf Denktas of TRNC and eulogizing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. Meanwhile, President Denktas reacted to the rally saying, ''the demonstrators have destroyed my opportunities of bargaining.''

GUL DEFENDS HIS POLICY
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul reacted harshly to criticisms against the government. He said, ''we sent a message to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with State Minister Kursad Tuzmen. I said that the step to prevent a possible war would be taken in Iraq. However, the press misunderstood my words. There are still many alternatives to find a peaceful solution to the issue of Iraq. It does not fit us to appear as a supporter of war. We have settled about Iraq policy on the basis of the compromise reached at the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). We have also taken into consideration views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Armed Forces.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL: WE ARE DETERMINED
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that their reforms in every field will continue and universities are included in those reforms. Gul said that they do not have any hesitations in their policies and added that they are in favor of a solution without war in Iraq issue.

ANOTHER PROMISE FROM PEARSON
The United States Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson said that they will compensate the loss of Turkey in case of a war. The losses of Turkey was taken up in the meeting of Pearson and Turkish businessmen in Istanbul Consulate. Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said that Pearson found Turkey's loss which was estimated as 100 billion dollars too much and he promised that the United States will compensate the losses.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PEARSON: ''TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS IN HARMONY WITH THE UNITED STATES''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson met with leading names of Turkish business world including Sakip Sabanci, Bulent Eczacibasi and Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan. After the meeting, Pearson told reporters that they had prepared a package about a possible military operation against Iraq, and discussed it with Turkish government. He stressed that Turkish government had been in harmony with the United States.