ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 9, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
EARTHQUAKE JOLTS AKYAZI
An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale jolted Akyazi town of northwestern province of Sakarya at 1.18 p.m. on Saturday. Later, two aftershocks measuring 3.2 and 3.9 on the Richter scale were recorded at 1.19 p.m. and 2.59 p.m. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute said that the earthquake was centered on Akyazi. There were not any immediate reports of casualties and damages. Earthquakes sent residents in Akyazi out to the streets in panic.
TUZMEN: ''IRAQ CRISES WILL NOT PREVENT TURKEY FROM REACHING TARGETS''
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who is currently in Saudi Arabia on an official visit, said, ''neither the Iraq crisis nor another crisis can prevent Turkey from reaching its economic and commercial targets. We can consider all these difficulties an exam for Turkey to get more strong.''
BOLUKBASI DUE TO THE HAGUE
Bureaucrats, who will go to the Hague on March 10, were determined at a meeting, which was held with the participation of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Deniz Bolukbasi, who has been heading the Turkish delegation at negotiations with the United States, will go to the Hague together with Ziyal and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cyprus Department Director General Ertugrul Apakan.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ARINC UNEASY ABOUT MILITARY DISPATCH
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc is uneasy about the military dispatch at Iskenderun Port. Arinc said, ''when the Prime Ministry motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey was not passed, military dispatch of the United States at Iskenderun Port stopped. However, it started again. There is a de facto situation.''
''WE CANNOT DEBATE MOTION ON MONDAY''
Members of the U.S. Congress delegation paid a visit to Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, they conveyed message of U.S. President George W. Bush saying that the the Prime Ministry motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey should be passed on Monday. Erdogan said, ''the by-election will be held in Siirt on Sunday. We cannot bring the motion onto parliamentary agenda on Monday.''
NO SIGNATURE IN THE HAGUE
Turkey will raise its objection to the plan, which was presented to the sides in Cyprus by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, during tomorrow's meeting in the Hague. According to the decision, which was taken at the meeting held with the participation of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish side will tell United Nations Secretary General Annan that it would not sign the plan before some changes were made.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
LETTER OF INTENT COMPLETED
Visit of International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen to Turkey ended. During the fourth review, Turkish side and the IMF have reached compromise on the letter of intent.
MOTION TO BE BROUGHT ONTO PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA TILL MARCH 17
During the meeting, which was held at the Prime Ministry Office with the participation of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it was decided to bring the Prime Ministry motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey onto parliamentary agenda after formation of the new government.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
BY-ELECTION TO BE HELD IN SIIRT TODAY
By-election will be held in southeastern province of Siirt on Sunday. A total of 119 thousand 210 registered electors will cast their votes in 568 ballot boxes between 6.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. The Turkish Communist Party (TKP), the Labour Party (IP), the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will run in the by-election. Other parties stated earlier that they would not join the by-election.
A CALL TO OPPOSITION
Referring to the military dispatch of the United States, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said, ''I am extremely uneasy about the military dispatch. Our parliament should activate all control mechanisms. A censure motion could be submitted to the parliament.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
TURKEY TO ENTER ON ITS OWN
If the Prime Ministry Motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey is approved by the parliament, the agreement between Turkey and the United States will be put into practice. Meanwhile, Turkey will not intervene in northern Iraq except for attacks on Turkmen, Mousul and Kirkuk and foundation of an independent Kurdish state. Turkey and the United States have reached compromise on Turkish Armed Forces' entering Iraq on its own for humanitarian purposes. Turkey will undertake security of Turkmen.
AK PARTY: ''CYPRUS PLAN SHOULD BE CHANGED''
During the meeting, which was held at the Prime Ministry Office with the participation of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, two important decisions were taken. According to these decisions, the Prime Ministry Motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey will be brought onto parliamentary agenda after formation of the new government, and the Turkish side will give the message in the Hague on Monday that the current form of the Cyprus Plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan cannot be accepted.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
TERM IN OFFICE OF KAHKONEN TO END IN JUNE
Term in office of International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen will end in June of 2003. IMF plans to replace Kahkonen with Reza Moghadam of Iran. Moghadam, who has been working in IMF's Europe Department, accompanied IMF First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger during her visit to Turkey in January. Moghadam is known as an expert in inflation and disinflation. His works has concentrated on necessary economic policies for a sustainable economy, disinflation and IMF policies.
SP TO DENOUNCE MILITARY DISPATCH
The Felicity Party (SP) will apply to the Prosecutor's Office on Monday to denounce military dispatch of U.S. soldiers.
KHALILZAD: ''TURKMEN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN CHAIRMANSHIP COUNCIL''
U.S. President George W. Bush's Adviser for Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said that they supported inclusion of Turkmen in the chairmanship council, which was elected during the meeting of Iraqi opposition groups in Salahhaddin town of Iraq, as soon as possible.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
TURKISH TANKS DEPLOYED IN BORDER REGION
After General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok made a statement about the Prime Ministry Motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey, military dispatch to the border region between Turkey and Iraq has been continuing. 300 tanks and nearly 1 thousand 500 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have been deployed in border region.
(UK) 09.03.2003