ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 2, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN RESPONDS TO CRITICISMS OF NSC
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who responded to criticisms of National Security Council (NSC) said that the government was aware of the steps taken regarding Cyprus, EU and Iraqi issues. Addressing the opening of the AK Party Founding Board meeting, Erdogan said, ''those who want to overshadow us regarding these issues, will overshadow the interests of Turkey.'' ''Cyprus issue which is high on the agenda is also wanted to be used as an issue of speculation and polemics...We are not against productive criticisms against us, but Cyprus issue is a very important issue which is beyond polemics,'' Erdogan said.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GREEN LIGHT TO NORTHERN FRONT
Two critical decisions were taken in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting last Friday: ''Turkish Army will increase its military existence in Northern Iraq and the U.S. soldiers will be permitted to pass to Iraq.'' During the NSC meeting, officials stressed that Turkey could not stay indifferent to a possible operation against Iraq and that an authority had to be taken from the parliament.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BAYKAL: ''YOU SHOULD NOT PUT PRESSURE ON TURKEY''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen. Baykal said at the meeting that Turkey should not be put under pressure regarding Cyprus issue. Baykal informed Verheugen about CHP's policies on EU, Cyprus and Iraqi issues. Verheugen said that Turkey would be evaluated equally with other countries. Verheugen said that he had the view in Turkey that the latter had the will to continue democratic and economic reforms rapidly. Stating that he believed that Turkey would overcome all problems, Verheugen welcomed the fulfillment of the political and economic criteria in Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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UNIVERSAL PEACE IS BIGGEST HERITAGE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that big developments and incidents which cause useful results for the humanity were always products of periods of peace. Asking all the countries to have the same understanding in ensuring universal peace, Sezer said ''I hope the existing international problem which negatively affects the future of the humanity to be solved through peaceful means.''

BAYKAL:TWO DIFFERENT DECISIONS ARE NECESSARY
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that two separate decisions had to be adopted for sending Turkish troops abroad and for deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey. ''The first issue is Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq to eliminate threats against Turkey. The second issue is a third country's sending soldiers to Iraq via Turkey. These should be separated from each other,'' Baykal noted.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''WE EXPECT PATRIOTS''
The government will ask for authority from the parliament first for bases and later for deployment of soldiers. Foreign Minister Yasar Yakýs said that ''we applied to NATO for installation of Patriot and AWACS systems.'' Following the recommendatory decision taken by the National Security Council (NSC), the government started to operate the process of getting authority from the parliament regarding a possible operation against Iraq. Foreign Minister Yakýs said that firstly an authority would be taken for the U.S. officials who would come to Turkey to upgrade Turkey's ports and bases.

ERDOGAN:CYPRUS ISSUE CAUSES PROBLEMS
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the military who extended support to TRNC leader. Erdogan said that the Cyprus issue was a source of trouble and that there were some groups who expect to benefit from the policy of insolubility in Cyprus.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IN KABUL
Turkish soldiers who have served the security in Afghan capital Kabul under International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for eight months, have started to depart from Afghanistan. A troop including 199 Turkish soldiers returned to Ankara. A total of 1,400 Turkish soldiers who are on mission under ISAF in Kabul will return to Turkey by February 10 when Turkey will hand over command of ISAF to Germany and the Netherlands.

MEXICAN MODEL ON SYRIAN BORDER
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who holds contacts in Syria, said that the aim of the new government in Turkey was to lift the obstacles in front of the trade. Tuzmen said that a trade center would be constructed on the border between Turkey and Syria and noted, ''we want to improve the trade between the border cities with the project we call 'Border Trade Centres.' We will start to implement them as small projects, but later we want to have a model like the one between the U.S. and Mexico.'' Tuzmen who also met with Syrian Prime Minister Miru conveyed messages of Prime Minister Gul and AK Party leader Erdogan to him.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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AUTHORITY FOR WAR CAUSES TROUBLE FOR AK PARTY
After National Security Council (NSC) took a recommendatory decision, the government started to get prepared to ask authority for war from the parliament. However, Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) attitude that Turkey should not be involved in a war caused some troubles for the government. According to Article 92 of the Constitution, the government should take authority from the parliament when admitting soldiers to Turkey and sending soldiers abroad.