ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 19, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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EUROPE COMFORTS ANKARA
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul felt relieved when Europe, which would like the operation to be launched under the umbrella of the United Nations, approached positively to the deployment of U.S. soldiers in the region. Leaders declared a joint report in the extraordinary summit of European Union (EU) in Brussels and said that war was not inevitable and use of force could be considered the last solution. Gul said ''I wish they took this decision a few weeks ago.''

BUSH: TURKEY DOES NOT HAVE A BETTER FRIEND THAN US
U.S. President George W. Bush said that Turkey did not have a better friend than U.S. government and added that he hoped that two countries would reach an agreement on Iraq issue which would satisfy both sides soon. Responding to question of a reporter who asked, ''Are you close to an agreement about assistance package to Turkey?'', Bush said, ''We are working closely with Turkish officials and you know that we have great respect to Turkish government. They do not have a better friend than U.S. government. And I hope that we will reach an agreement which will satisfy both sides.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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UNITED STATES REBELS TO TURKISH TAX
The fuel oil tax paid by Turkish citizens when buying gasoline was considered a burden by the U.S. army. They want gasoline tax free. Three interesting problems are tried to be overcome in negotiations on the support that the U.S. will extend to Turkey. Turkey cannot reach a compromise on ''activities of special forces'' in Northern Iraq and ''priority in logistics.'' The other disagreement is the fuel oil tax which is almost 70 percent. The United States asked to be exempted from fuel oil tax by depending on the agreement signed in 1954. Turkey says, ''conditions have changed.'' The United States also wants experienced U.S. companies to renovate the bases instead of Turkey.

6 BILLION USD BARGAINING
It is said that there is a bottleneck in bargaining with the United States since Turkey thinks that the proposed amount of donation is low. Washington says that ''they can donate 3 billion U.S. dollars and erase 3 billion U.S. dollar debt of Turkey and guarantee 20 billion U.S. dollars of loan.'' Turkey insists on increase of the donation by two-folds.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BUSH SUSPECTS
U.S. President George W. Bush suspects whether Turkey has been bargaining for an economic aid package or trying to avoid a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq. Ankara's requesting 92 billion U.S. dollars from the United States to meet its losses in a possible war has given rise to suspicions in the U.S. administration. President Bush has offered Turkey an economic aid package of 26 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration has launched a pressure campaign against Ankara through the press. A message has been given to Ankara in an article, which was published in the New York Times that the United States could launch a military campaign without assistance of Turkey.

TURKEY SENDS A 100-PAGE REPORTS TO UNITED STATES
Turkey has sent a 100-page report to the United States including its economic, military and political requests in a possible U.S.-led military operation against Iraq. In the report, Turkey stressed that the new government to be formed in Iraq following a possible war, should be based on democratic ground. Turkey noted that appointment of an American governor to Iraq would delay Iraq's transition into democracy.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SEZER: ''SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IS OBLIGATORY''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stressed that there should be a situation which was considered legitimate by international law in order to ratify a motion on deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey. Sezer expressed belief that a new decision other than the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council resolution no. 1441 should be taken. Sezer underlined that the decision-making organ in Turkey was parliament.

NAME OF CRISES IS TURKEY
A possible operation against Iraq will be the ''seventh earthquake'' for Turkish economy. Turkish economy, which was shaken by crisis in 1994 then earthquakes a few years later without overcoming the effects of the 1991 Gulf War, is facing a possible second Gulf War without healing the wounds of 2000 and 2001. The national income per capita was 2 thousand 682 U.S. dollars 12 years ago while it reduced to 2 thousand 160 U.S. dollars today. The debt per capita increased from 2.550 to 2.740 U.S. dollars.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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YOK GOES, 'COORDINATION' COMES
New draft law about the higher education is ready. Higher Education Coordination Board (YEK) and Autonomous Interuniversity Board will replace Higher Board of Education (YOK). National Education Minister Erkan Mumcu said that the draft law was completed and added that YEK would be formed instead of YOK. He said that they would amend Article 130 and 131 of Constitution to provide academic, financial and managerial autonomy to the universities.

'SHARE' IS HUGE IN IRAQ
Turkish contractors who met with American contractors and officials of OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) are increasing their targets. Turkish contractors who focus on studies for the renovation of bases in Turkey that is predicted to cost around 500 million U.S. dollars are interested in opportunities after the war. A total of 60-80 billion dollars of investment can be necessary for the restructuring of Iraq after war, according to a coordinator of a contractor firm.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SHOCKING CONFESSION FROM GERMANY
Germany said that it had sold eight laboratories to Iraq to produce chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. During his speech at the United Nations Security Council on February 5, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that mobile laboratories, which were used in production of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, were lost in Iraq. In an interview with the ARD TV Channel, Hans Breinscheidt, a German official who was charged in Iraq, said that they had handed over eight mobile laboratories to Iraq since 1988 under the permission of the German government.

PRESIDENT SEZER WARNS UNITED STATES
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer warned the United States, ''a second resolution of the United Nations is required to legitimize a possible military operation against Iraq.''

TUZMEN DUE TO ALGERIA
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen will pay a four-day visit to Algeria between February 19 and 23 in order to increase mutual trade with neighboring and regional countries. A crowded delegation of businessmen will accompany State Minister Tuzmen during the visit. After wrapping up his contacts in Algeria, Tuzmen will go to Britain to attend Turquality-Elite Fashion Show.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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UNEMPLOYMENT FUND TURNS INTO DEBT SOURCE OF STATE
The unemployment fund was formed two and a half years ago to give salary to the unemployed. The money in the fund exceeds 5 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) while only 53 trillion TL has been paid to the unemployed who paid premium to the fund so far. The money in the fund is used to buy bonds and debenture bonds to increase its value. Labor and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu said that they would overcome the imbalance in the fund in favor of workers.

UNITED STATES: ''YOU DON'T HAVE A BETTER FRIEND THAN US, DECIDE NOW''
The U.S. government, which increased pressure on ratification of the motion on passage of U.S. troops to Northern Iraq via Turkey, said that it made its last proposal to Turkey about the economic package on which the negotiations were obstructed. The U.S. government obviously called that ''it was time to decide'' for the first time. According to reliable sources, the United States proposes an economic package of 26 billion U.S. dollars as ''the last proposal.'' However, Turkey mentions a higher amount. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who returned from Brussels last night, said that they had not yet received ''a last proposal'' from the United States.

(GC-UK-BRC) 19.02.2003