ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''BARGAINING IS NOT WITH IMF BUT WITH U.S. TREASURY''
The government has started to make a direct bargaining with the U.S. Treasury about the losses that Turkish economy would suffer in case of an operation against Iraq. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''about this issue, we are bargaining not with the IMF and the World Bank but with the U.S. Treasury Department.'' Meanwhile, State Minister Ali Babacan said he had been holding telephone conversations about the Iraq issue for a few times a week with the U.S. Secretary of Treasury. He said, ''what kind of a package would be prepared for the Iraq issue with the U.S. Treasury will be given shape according to talks. Important progress was recorded. Maybe it would be a donation or a specific amount of loan.''
''IT SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND''
A strict bargaining was made on the number of U.S. soldiers to be deployed in Turkey with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers who spent 18 hours in Ankara. The United States decreased the number of soldiers to 15 thousand while Ankara insisted on a number below 10 thousand. Ankara gave the message of ''decrease your demands to reasonable levels.'' During Myers' 18-hour stay in Ankara, two important files were brought onto the agenda. Ankara maintained its insistence that the number of U.S. soldiers to be deployed in Turkey should not exceed 10 thousand while it gave the message that it would bring the decision on other demands to the parliament after the U.N. resolution on January 27.
WE HAVE 4 BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ
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 that are 30 kilometers from the border was almost five hundred. This number has currently increased a little. Turkey exists here for its security.'' Turkish-CNN team and DHA correspondent entered Northern Iraq and televised existence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq. Here are the Turkish troops in four bases in Northern Iraq:
''BAMERNI: 15 tanks, 15 armored vehicles; KANIMASI: 15 tanks, 15 armored vehicles, 150 soldiers; AMADIYE: 2 tanks, 2 armored vehicles; SIHRIYE: 2 tanks, 2 armored vehicles''.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''THREE BASES SUFFICE SUCH AN OPERATION''
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers who came to Ankara after visiting Incirlik base met with General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok at dinner two days ago. Ozkok gave Myers who stressed importance of northern front and repeated demands for support of Turkey the message that ''decrease your demands to reasonable level.'' At the meeting, the report that U.N. weapon inspectors will present on January 26 and determination of existence of chemical and biological weapons in Iraq were discussed. Within this scope, Myers stressed importance of Turkey and northern front in operation to overthrow Saddam Hussein and repeated their demands. Ozkok gave him the message that ''decrease your demands to reasonable level. A new list of demands should be negotiated.'' Myers was told that use of all of the bases and ports where site-survey by U.S. experts was allowed was impossible and that only Diyarbakir, Batman and Incirlik bases might suffice such an operation. It was mentioned that the demand for number of U.S. soldiers to be deployed in Turkey was decreased from 120 thousand to 25 thousand in the meetings but Myers was told that even this number was unacceptable for Turkish public opinion. Holding a press conference prior to his departure from Ankara, Myers said that there was not a lack of cooperation between Turkey and the United States.
NATO TO TAKE DECISION ON IRAQ
It was mentioned that General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok and U.S. Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Richard Myers had reached an agreement in principle on a NATO decision on operation against Iraq. At the meeting, Myers was told that Turkey attributed importance to principle of ''international legitimacy'' and that a NATO decision would relieve Turkey. Under this, a step was taken to relieve Turkey regarding support to operation. All members should ''approve'' NATO decision.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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NUMBERED LIFE
The project which started 31 years ago was put into practice yesterday. Now, every Turkish citizen has an ID number. Without this number, Turkish citizens will not be allowed to get passport or driver's license. The ''Main Public Registration System'' which spreads every information about citizens to computer network throughout Turkey was put into practice in a ceremony after 31 years. Within next five years, everyone will be given new identity card including citizenship number. In this way, bureaucracy will decrease.
GUL: ''WAR SHOULDN'T EVER HAPPEN''
Regarding possible Iraq war, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey was caught as a country that is vulnerable to Iraq crisis. Speaking to economy journalists, Gul said that he did not want a war in Iraq. He said, ''we cannot keep secret the facts about war. Everybody knows about amount of our external debts and our economic problems. So we are acting in line with Turkey's interests. Turkey's economy, future and politics are among its interests. Such a war should happen for both economy and humanity. We should do our best to prevent such a war.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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IT SEEMS MILITARY CONCENTRATION IS FOR PEACE
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers defended that they concentrated mass of weapons and troops in the region in order to assist the U.N. activities and settle peace. Myers said they were patiently waiting for support decision of Ankara, adding, ''cooperation will continue.'' Meanwhile, the General Staff gave Myers the message that, ''we cannot meet all of your military demands. You should better decrease your demands.'' At the meetings, it was adopted that Turkey and the United States would cooperate with the aim to have the NATO take a decision on an operation against Iraq.
GARCIA: ''SUPPORT TO WAR DELAYS MEMBERSHIP''
French Ambassador in Ankara Bernard Garcia said that a military operation against Iraq could come onto the agenda as the last alternative only after all solution efforts through political ways were exhausted. Garcia said they did not think it right for the United States to give the start for military preparations in Turkey before completion of U.N. weapon inspectors' report. Noting that there was not a condition like Turkey's contribution to an operation against Iraq for IMF support, Garcia said defended that influence of Europe within the IMF was two-fold of the influence of the United States. Stressing thet war hampered reforoms, Garcia said that war might slow down Turkey's integration with the EU.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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POLITE MESSAGES FROM UNITED STATES
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers said White House did not send a message to Turkey, regarding Iraqi issue, that it is ''impatient''. Myers said there was nothing lacking in cooperation, stating that he departed from Turkey positively. Myers said Bush administration has not yet taken a decision about operation.
''PROGRAM WILL NOT BE DISRUPTED''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent a letter to U.S. President George Bush and stressed that the government was determined to continue the economic program without disruption. Gul also said improvement of bilateral relations with the United States would accelerate this process.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKEY COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES
World Bank Deputy Consultant John Mc Arthur said Turkey has a very appropriate situation with respect to foreign investors, stating that there were important opportunities for those who were to make long term serious investments. Mc Arthur said work power and productivity affected people.
EYES TURNED TO ISTANBUL SUMMIT
Everybody is hopeful that the decision, which will be issued from the ''Iraqi Summit'' that will take place in Istanbul on January 23, will contribute to the regional peace.
PRIORITY IS TO DIPLOMACY
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers made a statement after meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. Gen. Myers said they had not yet taken a decision about the operation, stating that the first preference of his country in Iraqi tension was solution of the problem through diplomacy.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BARGAINING ON PLACE OF IRAQ SUMMIT CONTINUES
Foreign ministers of Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria are expected to come together prior to a meeting that Turkey plans to host to seek peaceful ways to solve Iraq issue with participation of heads of state and government of these five countries. Foreign ministers of Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria would come together with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis on January 23 or 24. However, bargainings are under way between Ankara and Arab countires on place of this summit meeting. Foreign Minister Yakis said that talks on ''whether or not the meeting in question would be held in Turkey or Damascus'' were continuing with sister countries. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said that Ankara summit would be held in level of heads of state and government while Damascus meeting would be held in level of foreign ministers. Diplomatic sources said foreign ministers would prepare philosophical infrastructure of the initiative and that the meeting of heads of state and government would be built on that infrastructure.