ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 31, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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UNDERGROUND WAR SCHEDULE
Senior staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) spent four days in the underground center of the First Air Control Group Command near Karacasehir village of central province of Eskisehir and assessed priorities of the TSK and schedule of a possible war in Iraq. Tactical plans were prepared according to two critical estimations about the war schedule.
February possibility: the United States and its allies will launch an air strike against Iraq in the second half of February following the Feast of Sacrifice. After a two or three weeks of bombardment, defense system of Iraqi army will be razed to ground, and supplying facilities will be exhausted. Following the air attacks, land operation will start from Jordan and Kuwait in March.
April possibility: the war can be delayed to April. The United States aims at causing mass desertions from the Iraqi army by increasing pressure and tension on Baghdad.
AK PARTY APPROVES JEWISH-MUSLIM SUMMIT
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has approved the summit meeting in which Jewish and Muslim scientists will come together. Dr. Michel Friedman, the head of the European Jewish Congress, said that the summit meeting was of great importance in regard to efforts that aim to prevent fundamentalism. Friedman who held contacts with AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and National Education Minister Erkan Mumcu, said that they had reached a compromise on bringing Jewish and Muslim worlds together at an international conference biyearly. Friedman proposed to hold the first conference in Turkey next year.
TURKEY TO APPLY NATO FOR DEFENSE SHIELD
Turkey will request NATO to establish a 'defense shield' against attacks in a possible war in Iraq. Unofficial contacts have begun between Turkey and NATO to this end. National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul stated that Turkey would make an official application next week. ''We will request NATO to invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty which envisages collective defense and solidarity in case of an attack on any of allies. Although France and Germany are opposed to a possible war, they are positive about Article 5.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''DO YOU HAVE NSC?''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece, the current term president of the European Union (EU), who came to Ankara yesterday to attend the EU Troika meeting and to hold a series of contacts. During the meeting, Erdogan asked Papandreou whether or not there was a national security council in Greece. Papandreou responded the question, ''there is foreign affairs and defense council. Military officials are invited to meetings if we see it necessary. The EU prefers adoption of a similar structure in Turkey.''
''TURKEY CANNOT ENDURE ANOTHER WAR''
Businessmen who attended Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) General Assembly meeting, said that Turkey had suffered serious losses due to the Gulf War in 1991 so it could not endure another war. DEIK Executive Board Chairman Rona Yircali and Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that they had supported the government's attitude toward Iraq. Meanwhile, Turkish Travel Agencies' Association Chairman Basaran Ulusoy said, ''a possible war in Iraq will cause a serious decrease in our tourism revenues. Turkish tourism sector suffered a loss of 22 billion Turkish liras due to the Gulf War. There are rumors claiming that Antalya Port would be used for military purposes. Such an action will affect our tourism.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''I GAVE WEAPONS TO 80,000 KURDS''
The United States officially informed Turkey that it had armed nearly eighty thousand Peshmerga fighters led by Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani in Northern Iraq in order to send them to military front. In order not to face any reaction of Turkey, Pentagon sent the list of all light and heavy weapons that it had given to Kurds, to the General Staff. Sources said that General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok had conveyed this critical information to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. Weapons in the list were described as ''light weapons most of which are automatic pistols and rifles and heavy weapons like anti-aircraft guns''. The U.S. officials informed the General Staff on the operation plan and this plan will be discussed in today's National Security Council meeting. The ''Kurdish card'' in this plan is described as: ''a- Turkish soldiers are not wanted in Northern Iraq. Forty thousand U.S. soldiers will be deployed there. If Turkey permits, also fifteen thousand U.S. soldiers will be deployed in southeast of Turkey. b- Almost five or six thousand U.S. soldiers will join the war as advance force in northern front. Forty thousand U.S. soldiers will join hot clash together with nearly eighty thousand peshmerga fighters led by Talabani and Barzani. c- Kurdish groups won't flee to mountains as they did in 1991. They will join the war. However, Kurdish groups limited number of RPG, Dochka, BKC, mortars and anti-aircraft weapons and a few number of tanks. d- Nearly eight thousand peshmerga fighters who were organized through nearly 150 CIA agents were given weapons in order to increase battle force.''
FEDERAL STATE
According to ''confidential'' information given to the government by the General Staff, the United States will form a federal structure in Iraq following the war, and Talabani and Barzani will have equal political rights in this federal Iraq. Sources said that the General Staff and U.S. military officials were discussing what would happen to those weapons given to Kurdish groups following the war. U.S. officials said the new administration model in Iraq would not threaten Turkey, on the contrary it would strengthen Turkey. Meanwhile, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul who briefed the Parliamentary Defense Commission yesterday defined possible U.S.-led operation against Iraq as ''Kosovo model''. He said, ''the United States will firstly form an international coalition and later it will launch air strike. Land operation will start if Saddam does not accept to go into exile during this process''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SECURITY MEASURES TIGHTENED
Under the decision taken by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), experienced officers will be charged in the Second Army. Van Public Order Provincial Command, Kayseri Air Command, 18th Border Command and Third Army troops were transferred to southeastern province of Sirnak. Meanwhile, Turkey has decided to request defense assistance of NATO. Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said that consultations between Turkey and its allies had been continuing. On the other hand, U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson paid a visit to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul prior to today's monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). Pearson said that time was running out. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Gul held a meeting with some ministers.
YOUNG PARTY ASKS YSK TO CORRECT ITS DECISION
The Young Party (GP) applied to the Higher Electoral Board (YSK) and asked it to correct its decision on rejection of requests for cancellation of general elections on November 3, 2002. GP Secretary General Mehmet Ali Akgul said that the petition in question had been sent to the YSK. Akgul said that they wanted the YSK to decide on cancellation of November 3 general elections and renewal of elections.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SILENT FIGHT BETWEEN PRESIDENT SEZER AND AK PARTY
After the government got vote of confidence, its four important laws were vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. President Sezer first vetoed the constitutional amendment lifting the political ban on Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. President Sezer did not resort to referendum for the constitutional amendment which was sent to the Cankaya Presidential Palace without any change. Lately, President Sezer vetoed the Tax Amnesty Law. The Parliamentary General Assembly will convene today to debate the law again. The law is expected to be adopted without any change.
PEARSON: ''TIME IS RUNNING OUT''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson paid visits to Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. Addressing journalists following his contacts, Pearson said that he conveyed the message of the United States to Arinc and Gul that time was running out. Pearson said that the United States would do its utmost for a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, it was reported that Pearson would brief the MPs at the Parliamentary General Assembly on February 5.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NSC TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE WAR
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The monthly meeting of the NSC will focus on a possible war in Iraq. During the meeting, requests of the United States from Turkey will be taken up in detail. Recent developments in Cyprus are also expected to be brought onto agenda of the NSC meeting.
GONUL: ''UNITED STATES DOES NOT WANT TO WAGE A WAR WITHOUT TURKEY''
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that the United States planned to launch a military operation against Iraq by opening a front in Northern Iraq. ''We are not positive about opening of a front in Northern Iraq. However, if Turkey does not permit and the United States opens a front in Southern Iraq, Turkey can lose its influence in efforts to rebuild the area following the war. In that case, Talabani and Barzani can be influential,'' he stressed.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NSC TO DISCUSS DISPATCH OF TROOPS TO IRAQ
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul who gave an extensive briefing on Iraq to members of the parliamentary national defense commission said that the National Security Council (NSC) would discuss Turkey's position and attitude in detail at its meeting today. Gonul said, ''the NSC is expected to take a decision on United States' demands including dispatch of troops to Iraq.'' He defended that since 1999, the American administration had been following a series of policies including leaving Turkey ''beholden to the IMF'' in order to force Turkey to stand-by the United States regarding Iraq issue. Gonul noted that NSC would also discuss whether or not Turkey would join international coalition and whether or not this would be limited or unlimited. He added that it would become clear if the issue would be rapidly brought to the parliament for adoption of a decision according to development at the NSC meeting.