ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 27, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS NORTHERN FRONT
After the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey is approved by the parliament, 80 vessels will bring U.S. soldiers and military equipment to Turkey. These soldiers and equipment will be deployed in military bases in Turkey, which will constitute the Northern Front in a possible U.S.-led military action against Iraq.

''DO NOT PUT THE MOTION TO VOTE''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer invited Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc to the Cankaya Presidential Palace after Arinc told reporters that the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey could be debated at the parliament on Thursday. During the meeting, President Sezer reiterated that international legitimacy should be sought before approval of the motion.

TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD EVACUATED
Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Osman Paksut and 11 embassy staff departed Baghdad and returned to Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Turkey temporarily suspended the activities of its embassy in Baghdad as of February 26 due to extraordinary atmosphere in Iraq but diplomatic relations with Iraq were under way.

BABACAN: ''8.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL BE SENT TO TURKEY''
State Minister Ali Babacan said, ''if U.S. President George W. Bush starts a military action against Iraq, a bridge loan of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars will be sent to Turkey.'' Babacan added, ''the United States has proposed us a loan of 24 billion U.S. dollars or a donation of 6 billion U.S. dollars. Conditions of the loan are more appropriate than conditions of the donation.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SPECIAL MENU FOR TURKISH SOLDIERS
Upon request of the Turkish Armed Forces, the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) has been working on 14 different menus, which can be kept for two years, for Turkish soldiers. A single package of food costs 15-20 U.S. dollars.

20 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOR SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT
The United States has rented Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport for six months in return for 20 million U.S. dollars. The airport will be used to provide logistic support to the Northern Front in a possible U.S.-led military action against Iraq.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND UNITED STATES ENDS
Political, economic and military negotiations between Turkey and the United States about a possible military action against Iraq ended. The sides will sign the memorandum of understanding later today. Meanwhile, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''the memorandum is not perfect, but we have to endure it.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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MOTION CRISIS
While Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there was no problem in the prime ministry motion, President Sezer and Parliament Speaker Arýnc insisted on two separate motions. This caused a crisis within the state. Erdogan said yesterday that ''it would be wrong if we said we have agreed 100 percent with the United States on every issue, there are points we haven't agreed on, but we'll have to put up with that.'' However, Sezer and Arýnc opposed the deployment of the American soldiers in Turkey telling that it was not legitimate. When some AK Party deputies also supported the same stance, the division of the motion into two and their voting separately came to agenda.

TURKISH EMBASSY IN IRAQ EVACUATED
Turkey decided to evacuate the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. The decision was taken as a measure to prevent certain hostile reactions that can come out in Iraq due to the acceptation of the motion on deployment of soldiers by Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PARLIAMENT VOTES 'FIGHTING'
The motion on deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and sending of Turkish soldiers abroad is expected to be voted in the secret session in the parliament today. Some deputies within the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) told in AK Party group meeting yesterday that the motion had to be divided into two and voted separately. The ministers couldn't persuade those AK Party deputies and the AK Party group meeting will continue today. Following the sending of the motion to the parliament by the government, President Sezer called Parliament Speaker Arýnc to Presidential Palace.

INVESTIGATION ABOUT ANAP
Inspectors said that the Motherland Party (ANAP) got material and educational assistance from Federal Germany, asking the party's closure under Article 69 of the Constitution. Upon the claims Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu started an investigation about ANAP.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANNAN PRESENTS THIRD PLAN
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan presented the third plan to President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos during his visit to Cyprus. Annan asked the sides to convey their responses as soon as possible.

DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. SOLDIERS IN TURKEY TO START ON MARCH 3
If the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey is approved by the parliament, deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey will start on March 3. The delegations will complete the negotiation process on Sunday after approval of the motion. Later, the United States will start deploying its soldiers and military equipment in Turkey on March 3.

PRESIDENT BUSH TO ASSURE PRESIDENT SEZER WITH A LETTER
U.S. President George W. Bush will confirm the commitments about the memorandum of understanding, which is envisaged to be signed between Turkey and the United States, in a letter to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Another copy of the letter will be sent to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. The letter is expected to relieve Turkey.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HERE IS MILITARY ACTION PLAN
The Turkish delegation has displayed a successful performance during the negotiations with the United States about a possible military action against Iraq. The United States has accepted 95 percent of Turkey's requests. According to the agreement reached between Turkey and the United States, Kurdish groups and Turkmen will be given only light weapons. These weapons will be taken back after the possible military operation ends. Turkish Armed Forces will use its weapons in case of an attack on Turkmen people and Kirkuk-Mousul oil pipeline and for self defense. Security of Turkmen people will be provided against any attacks.

AK PARTY DEPUTIES CONVINCED
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) group has been holding extraordinary meetings for two days. During the meetings, ministers tried to convince AK party deputies to cast their votes in favor of the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey. They said, ''if the motion is not approved, a Kurdish state will be founded in Northern Iraq, terrorism will arise again, Armenian genocide claims will be recognized, the United States will impose embargo, Turkey will be left alone, Turkey's loss will increase up to 100 billion U.S. dollars and Turkey will fail to repay its debts.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRIME MINISTER GUL TO GO TO SIIRT TO SUPPORT ERDOGAN
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul decided to go to Siirt province to support the parliamentary candidacy of AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who would compete in the elections that would be renewed in Siirt on March 9. Prime Minister Gul will ask people in Siirt to vote for Erdogan.

ARINC: MOTION IS NOT LEGITIMATE
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arýnc said that he was against the motion on sending soldiers abroad and accepting the deployment of foreign soldiers to Turkey. Stressing that the motion didn't have international legitimacy, Arýnc said that ''if I was in a position to cast vote for the motion, I would not accept it.''

(ÖS-UK-AÖ) 27.02.2003