ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 24, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MYERS: WE USE TURKISH AIRSPACE
Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Turkish airspace was first used on March 22 to transport U.S. soldiers to Northern Iraq.
Pointing out that they opposed to entrance of the Turkish forces in Northern Iraq apart from preventing refugee inflow, Gen. Myers said no such refugee inflow has been seen so far, stating that thus there was no need for the Turkish soldiers to enter.
Speaking at a tv program in ABC television, Myers said they used the Turkish airspace on March 22 night. He said in fact technically they were not the first U.S. soldiers in Northern Iraq, but that they were the first soldiers who entered the region following the permission which had been taken in the Turkish Parliament.

TWO TOMAHAWKS FELL ON SANLIURFA
Two missiles on Sunday fell on two villages in Viransehir and Birecik townships of southeastern Sanliurfa province. Firstly, it was thought that the missiles fell from planes, but later it was claimed that they could be the two Tomahawk Cruise missiles which were launched from the war ships in the Mediterranean.
The first missile fell near Ozveren village in Birecik township at around 17.30 local time. This was an area that is 500 meters away from the village houses. The villagers called the gendarme to inform about the incident. The gendarme forces saw the missile which opened a four meters wide and one meter deep hole, but did not explode.
Immediately after this incident, news report that another bomb fell from a warplane near Ayakli village in Viransehir township. Officials, who went to the spot, found another missile which stuck in the soil.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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YENER RESIGNS FROM TRT
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation's (TRT) Director General Yucel Yener resigned from his post claiming that Justice and Development Party (AK Party) put pressure on him to leave the post. Yener submitted his petition of resignation to Prime Ministry.
Yener, who was acting as the Director General of the TRT since 1997, in his written statement said, ''as it was stated in Article 133 of the Constitution, we have exerted efforts to make TRT a state broadcast in real sense. TRT will continue to broadcast under the order of Turkish Republic and nation, and without making concession from the principles of constitution, laws and public broadcast, and from understanding of contemporary broadcast.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ''I WILL NOT PERMIT ANY VIOLATION IN PROGRAM''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while addressing the nation, pointed out that he would not permit any violation in the economic program.
Stating that the government was in full determination to implement the economic program, Erdogan said that they would not permit any violation of economic program by putting forward difficult conditions or other reasons.
Erdogan said that they took measures to meet expenses of extraordinary conditions complying with the economic program and he expected that fourth review would be completed in the first half of April.

ABDULLAH GUL OPTIMISTIC: COORDINATION CONTINUES
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson came to Foreign Ministry on Sunday and met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi.
Pearson did not make a statement following the meetings, but Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the meeting took place within the scope of coordination with the United States.
Stating that Ankara was in full consensus of opinion on Iraq's territorial integrity, and that all resources of Iraq belonged to Iraqi people, and that Arab, Turkmen and Kurds constituted the main elements of Iraq, Gul said, ''Turkey does not want any refugee inflow. Everybody respects this. Secondly, we don't want terrorist activities in the region.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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AK PARTY GOVERNMENT LOSES 21 VOTES
The 59th government founded by Recep Tayyip Erdogan got vote of confidence in the parliament on Sunday. A total of 514 deputies took part in the open voting: 348 deputies voted for the government, while 164 deputies voted against it.
A total of 21 parliamentarians did not participate in the voting, including the State Minister Mehmet Aydin.

HEALTH PERSONNEL DUE TO SOUTHEAST
Hundreds of doctors and health personnel assigned in 24 health institutions in Istanbul, will leave for the Southeast in line with a decision taken by the Health Ministry on March 21.

EYES ARE ON CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
Constitutional Court will listen to the verbal statements of Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu on the case which he opened against AK Party and Turkish Communist Party (TKP).

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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U.S. SOLDIERS GATHER IN ISKENDERUN TO RETURN
The U.S. military personnel, who came to Turkey to renovate the bases and harbors and for logistic support, is getting prepared to leave. The equipment which are kept waiting at the harbors will also be loaded.
The United States began to take back its forces in Turkey after Parliament's attitude in not permitting them to pass to Iraq from the land. A total of 500 U.S. soldiers, who were deployed in Nusaybin, gathered their equipment early in the morning, and left for Iskenderun.

NO REFUGEE INFLOW FROM THE NORTH
Prime Ministry Crisis Administration Center said no refugee inflow toward Turkey was observed.
The center stressed that activities targeting preparation for humanitarian aid continued.
Meanwhile, Cukurca Mayor Mehmet Kanar, who pointed out that he talked to Northern Iraq by phone everyday, stated that the peshmerga families he talked there told him that they did not think of migrating to Turkey, and that they would shelter in mosques and schools in case they are in a difficult situation.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: TIME FOR UNITY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who addressed the nation, stated that Turkey passed through difficult days, and noted that the nation would overcome those difficult day in unity and integrity.
Erdogan said they did not make economic bargaining with the United States.
Underlining that everybody, mainly the media, should act with responsibility, Erdogan said he wanted the nation not to lose hope, and leave the determination to produce and be successful.

SNOW TO CONTINUE
Snowy weather, avalanche and land slide are negatively influencing some regions of Turkey.
Some roads were closed to transportation because of snow storm, which is particularly influential in eastern provinces. Snow storm is also influential in Istanbul causing traffic accidents.
Meteorology officials said negative winter conditions would continue for some time more.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: ''WE HAVE STRENGTH TO PROTECT OUR SECURITY AND INTERESTS''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who addressed the nation after getting vote of confidence, boosted morale to the citizens who feel concern over the war and to the markets. Erdogan said this difficult period would be overcome in unity and integrity.
Recalling that Turkey did its best to prevent the war, Erdogan said, ''unfortunately efforts for peace failed, and we are left face to face with war.''
Erdogan said Turkey was seriously effected from this incident which occurs near itself although it is not directly involved in it. Erdogan said Turkey was not involved in an economic bargaining with the United States, and called on the Turkish media to be sensitive on issues which would hurt national interests. Erdogan said, ''Turkey had the strength to protect its security and interests. It will not be weakened in social, military and economic means.''

BAYKAL: IRAQ IS UNDER BOMBING WITH YOUR VOTES
CHP leader Deniz Baykal described the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ruling as the ''government of hesitations'' because of its Iraq policy.
Pointing out that people had to pay the cost of the hesitations and indecisiveness of the government, Baykal said, ''peace can not be discussed from now on. You also opened the airspace. Iraqi children are under bombs with the votes you have given.''

(AY-AÖ) 24.03.2003