ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 22, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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F-15 PROTECTS THESE SHIPS
When reporters of Hurriyet daily wanted to take the photograph of two cargo ships carrying U.S. military equipment off Karpaz, U.S. F-15 planes obstructed them. Two reporters of Hurriyet started to search the Mediterranean Sea by a special plane in order to find the ships carrying U.S. military equipment. They found two ships off Karpaz. There were 50-60 containers on each of the ships and the ships were heading towards Iskenderun. When the reporters started to take photographs of the ships, two F-15 war planes of the U.S. Air Forces waylaid the plane carrying reporters. This is a serious warning for the plane to turn back according to aviation rules. Then, Incirlik Base tower intervened and asked the pilot of the plane to leave the area. This incident revealed that U.S. planes took the East Mediterranean under control.

PROPOSAL FOR HAVING TURKISH ADVISER IN NEW IRAQI ADMINISTRATION
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal said that Turkey wanted a Turkish official to take place in the ''interim government'' which would be formed in Iraq after the Saddam administration was overthrown.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MOTION AT PARLIAMENT ON TUESDAY
The government conveyed the decision to submit motion on deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad to parliament to the United States with this message: ''Solve remaining problems till that day.'' Two issues cannot fully solved in negotiations between Turkey and the United States. One of these issues is the armament of Kurds against Saddam Hussein. Turkey says, ''let's do it together and collect weapons at the end of the war'' while the United States says, ''we will have problems with the Kurds if you are involved. Trust us.'' Turkey put forth a condition that Iraq should have one army and militia should be dissolved. The United States is delaying. However, a progress was recorded in these two issues yesterday. The government decided to submit the motion to parliament and the United States was conveyed the message that ''those problems should be solved so that deputies could be convinced.''

BUSH WANTS, U.S. CONGRESS GIVES GUARANTEE
The U.S. Congress assured Turkish officials for economic assistance upon the request of the Bush administration. The assurance of the Congress indicates that any package which may be submitted will be immediately ratified.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SNOW AND SNOWSTORM TO BE INFLUENTIAL TILL THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK
Snow is expected in Istanbul at the weekend. Temperatures will decrease to -5 degrees Celcius at night. Avalanche fell over a team which tried to clear roads in Catak township in eastern Van province. Two people are missing. Roads of nearly 1896 villages are closed throughout the country.

SEZER: U.N. DECISION IS NECESSARY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul conveyed Turkey's wishes to the members of the U.S. House of Representatives who came to Ankara to convince Turkey.
Presidential Press Center issued a statement and said Sezer received the U.S. House of Representatives delegation led by Joel Hefley.
The statement said President Sezer stressed the importance of strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States. Sezer said Turkey was willing to further deepen relations with the United States in regional issues as well as bilateral issues in the basis of this partnership.
Pointing out the importance of continuation of contacts and relations between the legislation organs of the two countries, Sezer said they expected the U.S. House of Representatives to contribute improvement of relations and help overcoming of some problems which obstructed further improvement of bilateral relations.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MILITARY DISPATCH UNDER CONTROL
A statement of the General Staff said that unloading of equipment from Tellus ship was under control and noted, ''preparations started in bases and ports under the motion adopted by parliament on February 6. Personnel, vehicles and equipment continue to come to bases and ports for preparations. It is not possible to accept foreign soldiers in Turkey without a decision of the parliament as expressed by some press organs.''

CYPRUS BARGAINING
Turkish and Greek diplomats sat at a table to reach a compromise on issues like security and guarantor states regarding Cyprus issue. United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto also came to Ankara. U.S. Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston will meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas on Saturday.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PEARSON ACCUSES
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, who accused the government to bargain on money, said that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) wanted 92 billion U.S. dollars from the United States while they proposed 28 billion U.S. dollars.

SNOW CLAIMS LIVES
Meteorology officials announced that snowfall which was influential around Turkey would continue for three more days. Istanbul Municipality put into implementation C plan which meant ''high alarm'' due to heavy snowfall. Teams will be on duty 24 hours a day.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CONTACTS CONTINUE IN A FRIENDLY MANNER
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who addressed the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO) session after meeting with the U.S. Congress Representatives Assembly delegation, pointed out that talks with Washington were carried out in friendship and sincerity. He said, ''both sides understand the worries of each other in the very best way.''

IRAQI AMBASSADOR WARNS: ''TURKEY WILL ALSO SUFFER LOSS''
Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Talip Abid Saleh al-Duleymi said that Turkish people were against war, and that the government should reflect will of people. Saleh defended that Turkey would suffer an economic loss, which will be two or three times more in a possible operation, than it had suffered in the Gulf War.
Saleh visited Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu.
The Iraqi Ambassador, who spoke before the meeting, stressed the importance of relations between Turkey and Iraq as two neighboring countries. He said, ''in case anything happens to a country, this will be reflected in the other country. If Iraq has difficulty, Turkey will also have difficulty.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANKARA: WE DO NOT MAKE DOLLAR BARGAINING IN NEGOTIATIONS
Ankara harshly reacts to the attitude of the United States showing ''money'' as the only issue that could not be solved in talks carried out with Turkey. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul warned that considering the talks carried out with the United States as only an economic issue was not right. Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said they were not in ''dollar bargaining'' with the United States.

MEDAL TO COMMANDER OF TURKISH UNITS IN AFGHANISTAN
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok decorated Gen. Hilmi Akin Zorlu, and Deputy Commander Gen. Mehmet Emin Alpman with Turkish Armed Forces with the Medal of Meritorious Service. Gen. Zorlu and Alpman successfully commanded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for eight months.
A welcoming ceremony was held to welcome the Turkish units who had been assigned in Afghanistan.
Gen. Ozkok, who addressed the ceremony, said Turkey completed its preparations immediately after Turkey decided to undertake the command of ISAF. Gen. Ozkok said Turkish Armed Forces, for the first time in its history, sent around 1400-people unit to a remote region like Afghanistan.

(AY-BRC) 22.02.2003