ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 23, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
THREE CONDITIONS OF U.S. FOR NORTHERN IRAQ
The U.S. wants Turkey to abide by three conditions if it is going to move troops to Northern Iraq:''Turkey should not enter Northern Iraq now, the operation can be disturbed. Turkey should not move mechanized troops equipped with heavy armed and armored motor vehicles, and the troops should not go more than 15-20 kilometers from the border.'' The crisis between Turkey and the U.S. about the issue of airspace and the entrance of Turkish soldiers into Northern Iraq was sorted out by the telephone talk between U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan:''Powell: We didn't want to put pressure on you, but the opening of the airspace is very important for us. Erdogan: We opened the airspace at 21.00. Powell: Thank you very much, you saved many lives by this decision. Erdogan: Our target in Northern Iraq is reflected in a wrong way. We want to move there in order to protect the security and for humanitarian needs.''

GUL: LAST CRISIS HAS BROUGHT US CLOSER TO EU
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that during his contacts in Brussels, all European leaders told him that ''as Turkey is a candidate of the EU, the borders of the EU expanded till Iraq. Turkey attracted very much attention during the meeting. EU leaders told me that 'it has been seen how Turkey was democratic by the decision its parliament took about the motion. Turkey was not that close to EU norms before. Turkey proved a democracy which is at the level of Copenhagen criteria.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
''WE WILL MOVE TROOPS TO NORTHERN IRAQ IF NECESSARY''
Turkey openly conveyed its view about ''moving troops to Northern Iraq if this is necessary for Turkey's national interests'' to the U.S. The telephone talk of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Myers decreased the tension. Gen. Ozkok explained U.S. Gen. Myers the position and targets of the Turkish army about Northern Iraq and said that the Turkish army would take action for border security, migration movement, terrorist attacks and humanitarian aid.

IRAQI MINISTER THREATENS TURKEY
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naci Sabri said that Turkey's helping the war led by the U.S. would damage the relations between Turkey and Iraq. Sabri, who is currently in Syria to participate in the Arab League summit, said that ''we hope that our Turk neighbours would realize their true interest...Who seeks to harm Iraq, multiple harm would be inflicted on him.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
GENERAL STAFF: WE DIDN'T ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ
General Staff denied yesterday the news telling that 1,500 soldiers moved to Northern Iraq. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said following the opening of the airspace that ''we didn't enter Northern Iraq, but we will enter.'' Transportation Minister Binali Yýldýrým said in his part that ''soldiers entered Northern Iraq.''

PENTAGON CANCELS SILOPI FRONT
Pentagon which lost the hope of moving troops from Turkey to Northern Iraq, decided to send its 40 ships waiting in East Mediterranean for months, to the Gulf from Suez Canal. The ships off Iskenderun port were carrying the heavy weapon and ammunition belonging to the Fourth Infantry Division. The latter was waiting in Texas to open the Northern Front.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO TAKE PLACE TODAY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) group administration called all of its deputies to take part in the vote of confidence which will be held in the parliament today. The party wants to end the image of any division within the party following the voting of the motions in the parliament.

TURKISH PROJECTS ON THE WAY TO EU
Turkey will take part in the common education programmes carried out by the EU. The projects which will be prepared by various institutions and persons to this end will be presented to the EU in November 2003. EU aims to bring education in all EU countries to the same level by carrying out such common education programmes, an official from General Secretariat for EU Affairs said.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
TURKEY ALONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ
The U.S., Kurds and Europe tell Turkey not to move troops to Northern Iraq. Meanwhile U.S. forces are withdrawing from the Mediterranean. General Staff which denied the news reports saying ''Turkey enters Northern Iraq,'' issued a statement saying the troops were ready, but they didn't enter Northern Iraq. U.S. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said Turkey's entering Northern Iraq with a big troop would not help them. Germany said that ''if Turkey enters Northern Iraq, NATO assistance to Turkey will end.''

OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH ENDS
Foreign Ministry said that the Operation Northern Watch which was started in the no-fly zone in north of Iraq in 1996 was ended due to the war in Iraq. Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the U.S. and British Embassies in Ankara were informed about the decision ending the Operation in which American and British air units took part.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
SENER: EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL
Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Abdullatif Sener said that the economy was administered in a way in line with the needs of the country and war conditions. Sener said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would give more detailed information both about the recent developments and also about the economic programme on Sunday. Sener said that the measures taken and the economic policies implemented continued and the economic data operated on a sound basis.

WE SET UP NATURAL GAS BRIDGE IN EUROPE
The natural gas pipeline which will be laid between Turkey and Greece will reach European countries. An agreement was signed between Turkey and Greece on February 23 in Thessaloniki to build a pipeline which will carry natural gas from Shahdeniz to world markets via Turkey. This common energy system will have a length of 280 kilometers.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
U.S.-TURKEY TENSION DOES NOT END
The tension between Turkey and the U.S. which started by the rejection of the second motion in the parliament escalated by Turkey's decision of closing Incirlik base to flights within the scope of Operation Northern Watch. White House announced yesterday that it would not transfer U.S. units equipped with armored vehicles to Northern Iraq from Turkey.

(ÖS) 23.03.2003