ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 20, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NEGOTIATIONS ARE ON MILITARY AND POLITICAL ISSUES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said concerning Iraq crisis that negotiations with the United States were continuing on political and military level. Upon a question whether an economic assistance would be provided by the United States, Erdogan said ''It is completely military and political at the moment.'' When asked whether the United States drew back six billion dollars assistance package, Erdogan said that such a condition was not in the agenda of Turkey and added that what was on the agenda was that the assistance regarding economic program would continue.
ARINC: THE UNITED STATES IS ACTING TYRANNICAL
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that the United States was completely disregarding the United Nations and international laws. Replying questions of reporters concerning the motion, Arinc said, ''the statement 'I am strong, I can do whatever I want' is more dangerous than war. With this statement, you ignore the phrase 'the one who is right is strong' and you accept the words 'the one who is strong one is rightful'. This idea is cruelty and tyranny in the world.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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INDECISIVE ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT PUTS TURKEY INTO DIFFICULT CONDITION
Uninterested and indecisive attitude which the government exhibited for 18 days pertaining to the motion on opening of air space to the U.S. planes and deployment of Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq brought Turkey face to face with difficulty in economic, political and military areas.
Unstable attitude of the government, which supported the action against Iraq, even reluctantly, brought Turkey face to face both against its most important strategical ally the United States and with its enemy. Principles pertaining to entrance of the Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq could not be based on a reliable basis as the memorandum of understandings could not be signed.
Accession of Turkmens to Chairmanship Council either could not be provided at the meeting of Iraqi opposition, and thus even indirectly, the financial aid facility, which reaches to 26 billion U.S. dollars, was missed.
MILITARY AGREEMENT IS INVALID FROM NOW ON
After the United States limited its demands only with opening of air corridor, the military memorandum of understanding, determining the military cooperation between Turkey and the United States in Northern Iraq, lost validity.
The concern appeared that there would be ''problem'' in entrance of Turkish army to Northern Iraq before reaching an official agreement with the United States.
A high ranking official said, ''a verbal agreement was reached with the United States regarded with deployment of forces of the Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq. However, there is a need for a new agreement for the operation elements of the units in the region. Turkish Armed Forces will either enter Northern Iraq following the signing of this agreement or enter urgently with the reason of refugee inflow, and approval will be made afterwards.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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AGREEMENT LEFT ''SUSPENDED''
Attitude of the United States in giving up the idea to give six billion U.S. dollars created the concern that motion would be rejected again. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned, ''I don't want any crack voice''.
The United States told Ankara, which prolonged the bargaining on the motion, that they only wanted Turkey to open air corridor.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who met with the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, briefed about his meeting with Powell in Council of Ministers meeting.
Gul said he proposed two alternatives to Powell. ''We may either open air corridor or permit passage of a limited number of your soldiers from the land.'' Powell in response said time was running out and that air space was very important for them. He wanted Ankara to open air corridor and that they could solve the rest through talks.
ERDOGAN REACTS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the ministers not to make statements about the motion. Erdogan said, ''I don't want any crack voice. Everybody will abide by the final decision that will be taken.''
When journalists asked Erdogan whether or not there was an uncertainty about motion, Erdogan said, ''no, there isn't. Entrance of the Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq is included within the motion. Another issue is the air corridor which is called as over flight.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NO PERMISSION TO INCIRLIK BASE
The request calling for authority regarded with sending of Turkish soldiers to Northern Iraq, and opening of Turkish air space to the United States, was sent to the Parliament toward midnight yesterday. Turkey decided to stop the flights from Incirlik Base to Northern Iraq in case the United States starts operation.
The limited motion also excluded the economic support package from the agenda. The United States said the aid package was not valid from now on, but that aid to Turkey was not disregarded. Ankara said talks with Washington has not yet ended, and that a new motion could be prepared according to the developments.
RED CRESCENT SENDS MOBILE HOSPITAL TO REGION
The Red Crescent sent a mobile hospital, having 50 bed capacity, and 50 personnel to the region within the scope of the U.S. action against Iraq. The Red Crescent currently has 234 personnel in the region. This personnel, who will be assigned in refugee camps got training against chemical and biological weapons.
Meanwhile, 300 gas masks were sent to the region, and that this number will increase to 900 in a few days.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAYKAL: U.S. SOLDIER IS UNAUTHORIZED
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Parliament did not give permission to the activities of U.S. soldiers out of the bases and he added that if the problem was not solved with the new motion, they would make the necessary initiatives. Baykal said that there was a legal problem in the activities of U.S. soldiers out of the bases and Parliament did not accept any motion which would allow such activities. Baykal said that there was a legal vacuum and a motion which would give permission to the activities of U.S. soldiers was not accepted. He added that the officials said that there was an agreement while they were making activities and he said that there could be an agreement but the agreement did not have a legal base. Baykal said, ''The memorandum of understanding of February 8 is exceeding the first motion which was submitted on February 6. While preparing the memorandum of understanding, it was probably considered that the motions would be accepted together. But they were not accepted together. And this causes a serious legal problem.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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MOTION WITHOUT MONEY
The element 'deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey' was cancelled in the second Prime Ministry motion which was sent to Parliament to authorize the government. The economic assistance package which was promised to be given to Turkey by the United States was also cancelled. The United States which demanded Turkey's airspace as a priority suggested financial circles to trust in Turkey, instead of providing assistance package. Meanwhile, sides had reached an agreement on the deployment of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.
POSSIBLE WAR AFFECTED AVIATION
Closing Iraq war affected significantly the traffic of planes and passengers in Ataturk Airport. Some airlines are decreasing the number of flights due to inadequate number of passengers and this situation causes cancellation of reservations in tourism field. The number of passengers decreased 20 percent in 17 days of March when compared with the same period of February.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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IRAQ STOPS OIL EXPORTS, TUPRAS TO GET OIL FROM BLACK SEA
Husamettin Danis, the Director General of the Turkish Oil Refineries Corporation (Tupras), said they called for permission from the government to meet oil need from other sources as five million tones of crude oil, which was planned to be taken from Iraq in 2003, could not be taken after Iraq's stopping oil exports.
Danis said they planned to meet the additional crude oil from Siberian Light, Kumkol, and Ural origins of which were Black Sea.
SECURITY DEPARTMENT HOLDS MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF EMBASSIES
The police department has taken extraordinary security measures due to a possible U.S. military operation against Iraq and the impact of this operation on Turkey.
Ankara Police Chief Ercument Yilmaz held a meeting with ambassadors, consuls or attaches of 70 countries in Ankara and explained the security measures.
The sources said that possible U.S. military operation against Iraq and impact of that operation on Turkey were taken up during the meeting.
Yilmaz said in the meeting that they had taken extraordinary measures to protect around 5,000 sensitive places in Ankara.
(GC-AY-AÖ) 20.03.2003