ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 25, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''OUR TARGET IS TRANSITION INTO EURO''
State Minister Ali Babacan for Economy, who is currently in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, said that the target of the government and Turkey was transition into Euro. Babacan recalled that adoption of Euro as currency was not necessary for European Union (EU) membership.

''LET'S POSE ALTOGETHER''
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Davos. Sources said that Powell wanted to address press members together with both Prime Minister Gul and Erdogan following the meeting in order to give the message that there had been a sound cooperation between Turkey and the United States.

PAMUKBANK RETURNED TO KARAMEHMET
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) returned Pamukbank to the Cukurova Group of Mehmet Emin Karamehmet in accordance with the decision taken by the Council of State. The BRSA stated that talks on the issues of ownership of Cukurova Group and Yapi Kredi Bankasi, and debts of Pamukbank and Cukurova Group would continue.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN DEFENDS TSK
During his first day in Davos, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a conference on the issue of the European Union (EU) together with the President of Poland and the President of the European Parliament. Responding questions about the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), Erdogan said, ''the TSK has filled the political vacuum whenever it was necessary. The TSK is in favor of the EU membership.'' When he was called the prime minister of Turkey, Erdogan corrected this mistake by saying, ''I am not the prime minister, but the leader of the AK Party.''

ANTI-MILITARIST DEMONSTRATION HELD IN INCIRLIK
Members of the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Anti-Militarist Platform, who came to southern province of Adana by the ''Peace Train'', held a demonstration in front of Incirlik Air Base to protest a possible military operation of the United States against Iraq. The group carried banners which read ''No War'' in different languages. Speaking on behalf of the group, IHD Chairman Husnu Ondul said, ''we do not want civilians and soldiers to die in a meaningless war.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BELGIUM NOT TO EXTRADITE ERDAL
Belgium has been trying Fehriye Erdal, a member of the illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Army-Front (DHKP-C) and one of suspects of killing of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996, on charges of crimes she committed in Belgium. Belgium still insists on not extraditing Erdal to Turkey. Turkish officials said that the Ministry of Foreign Ministry requested Belgium to extradite Erdal to Turkey under the international laws after Turkey lifted death penalty in line with the European Union (EU) adjustment laws.

UNITED STATES TO GIVE TURKEY AN AID OF USD 14 BILLION
The United States has been preparing an aid package to meet losses of its allies Turkey, Israel and Jordan due to a possible military operation against Iraq. An U.S. official, who talked to the Reuters on condition of anonymity, said that the United States could give Turkey an aid of up to 14 billion U.S. dollars.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''WE DIDN'T MAKE ANY COMMITMENT TO THE UNITED STATES''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that they were seeking a peaceful way to solve Iraq issue, adding, ''Saddam Hussein has the biggest responsibility.'' Noting that they had replied U.S. President George W. Bush's letter which said, ''increase your support'', Gul said that they had not made any commitment to the United States. Recalling that the final decision in Turkey was taken by the parliament, Gul said, ''everybody is getting prepared against the worst scenario.''

''WE WON'T REMAIN SILENT''
Prominent journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu, who was killed in a car-bomb attack in Ankara ten years ago, was commemorated in several provinces yesterday. A ceremony was held in the garden of the newspaper's headquarters in Cagaloglu, Istanbul. Kemalists, workers, students and intellectuals attended the ceremony and they chanted slogans: ''We Will Never Forget'' and ''Damn American Imperialism'' and in the speeches, necessity of unity of progressive and leftist powers and of fight against war was stressed.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HIDDEN SIDE OF BARGAINING ON NUMBER OF SOLDIERS
The United States has been planning to send enough number of military troops to destroy Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's military force of 60 thousand soldiers that guard Mousul and Kirkuk. Previously, it was claimed that the United States would deploy 120 thousand U.S. soldiers in Turkey. Later, this number was reduced to 15 thousand. According to some experts, all these numbers were futile. The first clue for the real number is the fact that the United States has deployed 100 thousand soldiers in the south. This number is expected to increase up to 130 thousand with participation of Britain.

''THESE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS DOUBLE-STANDARD''
Referring to the issue of Iraq, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, accused all states of hypocrisy. He also criticized the United States, saying, ''all states should purify themselves from weapons of mass destruction in order to settle peace in the world. Almost every country spends most of its budget on defense expenditures. We should not deceive each other.'' He emphasized that Turkey would act in line with resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and reports of United Nations weapon inspectors.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE BRING OUR POWER INTO PLAY
Statements of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ministers drew great attention and we brought our power and influence into play as of the first day of the Davos summit. The Turkish delegation which brought its power into play in the first day of the Davos summit in which leaders and businessmen of nearly 130 countries are participating, gave whole world the impression of being trustworthy in their bilateral contacts. With his striking statements in meetings, Erdogan proved that he is one of the important leaders who are attending the summit. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gul explained the decisions taken in the ''Peace Summit'' in Istanbul to the participants of the meeting and said, ''whole world appreciates our efforts''.

''WAR CAN BE PREVENTED BY SADDAM''
Prior to his departure for Switzerland to attend the Davos summit, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul made a statement at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, saying, ''Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will make the biggest contribution to prevention of war.'' Gul who attended BBC session in Davos said, ''we gave Iraq the message that 'time is running out so you should cooperate with the United Nations in harmony.''

PAMUKBANK RETURNED
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) and the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) said that they had decided to return the Pamukbank T.A.S. to its former owners, that is, Cukurova Holding as of January 24, 2003.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN BRINGS IRAQ TO DAVOS
Iraq crisis left its mark on yesterday's sessions of the World Economic Forum meetings that started two days ago in Davos, Switzerland, to seek an answer to the question ''Can confidence in global economy be re-settled?'' This happened because the United States which seems to be the boss of global economy ''focused'' on military operation and because Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought the issue onto the agenda in every platform. Holding a press conference, Erdogan said that he would be pleased to meet with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if he was assigned to do that for a peaceful solution to Iraq issue. Referring to panel discussion on Iraq held in Davos, Erdogan said, ''its result is very clear. The world wants the issue to be solved through peaceful ways.'' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gul who attended BBC's session on ''Is Iraq war necessary, inevitable?'' said, ''there is no time to play games. The time is running out. We told Iraq that it can prevent this war.''