ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 4, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NEW ECONOMIC MEASURES ANNOUNCED
After the parliament rejected the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey on Saturday, markets have engulfed in panic. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and relevant ministers were informed on the panic in markets. Prime Minister Gul held an extraordinary meeting with relevant ministers and economy bureaucrats. During the meeting, they decided to resume negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Later, economic measures worth of 15.7 quadrillion Turkish liras were announced. According to the measures, people will pay additional real estate and motor vehicle taxes.
TURKISH FLAG SET ON FIRE IN IRBIL
Thousands of people held a demonstration in Irbil, Northern Iraq, in order to protest Turkey's decision to send soldiers to the region in a possible U.S.-led military operation against Iraq. Demonstrators set four Turkish flags on fire. They chanted slogans saying, ''Kurdistan will become a cemetery for Turkish soldiers'', ''go away Turkey'', ''we want U.S. soldiers, not Turkish soldiers''.
INFLATION HIGH
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that wholesale prices rose by 3.1 percent and consumer prices increased by 2.3 percent in February of 2003 compared to prices of January of 2003. Annual inflation rate in February was 33.4 percent in wholesale prices and 27.0 percent in consumer prices. Meanwhile, according to 12-month averages as of February of 2003, inflation rate was 42.1 percent in wholesale prices and 37.9 percent in consumer prices.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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UNITED STATES: ''OUR OFFER IS STILL VALID''
After the parliament rejected the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey on Saturday, U.S. Treasury Spokesman Fratto said that the offer of the United States to Turkey was still valid. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Department officials said that they would not act hastily to orient their vessels in the Mediterranean Sea towards the Gulf.
EXPORTS INCREASE BY 26.1 PERCENT
Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) said that exports increased 26.1 percent to 2.9 billion U.S. dollars in February of 2003. In the January-February period of the year, exports rose 34 percent to 6.4 billion U.S. dollars. Exports of industrial products increased 36.8 percent to 5 billion 464 million U.S. dollars. Industrial products accounted for 85.5 percent of total exports.
CELIK: ''I CAST MY VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION''
Culture Minister Huseyin Celik said that he cast his vote against the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey, in line with desire of the people. ''If the motion is submitted to the parliament again, I will cast my vote according to conditions and desire of the people,'' he added.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GUL MET WITH PRESIDENT SEZER FOR CONSULTATION
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul went on Monday to Cankaya Palace for the first time after the rejection of motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey. Gul demanded the meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and he said that the meeting was held for consultation. Gul told the developments after the rejection of motion to Sezer in the meeting.
ARINC: MOTION SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT IN SAME WAY
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that what was correct politically was not submitting the motion to Parliament in the same way again. He added that the will of the Parliament should be taken into consideration while submitting a new motion. Arinc said that decision regarding the motion strengthened two political parties and the government.
(UK-GC-AÖ) 04.03.2003