ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 27, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THIS WAR IS NOT OUR WAR
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok said, ''this war is not our war. This mission is not our mission.'' Ozkok stressed that Turkey would not enter Northern Iraq if it was not obligatory. Ozkok said, ''it is difficult to understand why those who are saying that there is an overseas threat, don't find Turkey as convincing when it says that there is the same threat across its border. I wish our friends won't have to ask us to launch the initiatives they have opposed to.'' Ozkok noted, ''there are Turkish forces in Northern Iraq. We will send additional forces if an attack is made on these forces, if there is a big flow of refugees, and if there is instability in the region.''

8.5 BILLION USD HOPE RELIEVED MARKETS
The news that the United States will release 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan to Turkey on condition that the loan is approved by the Congress had a positive impact on the markets. Bond and debenture bonds decreased by 8 points. The interest fell by 7.16 to 64.24 percent. The stock exchange increased 220 points to 9.408 points. The U.S. dollar reduced to 1 million 708 thousand Turkish liras (TL) in the Central Bank. The decrease in the U.S. dollar was 34 thousand TL.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TUSIAD'S TOMEHAWK
Industrialists and businessmen harshly criticized the government: ''The government has started its work without any preparations. We have been isolated from the world. We can even go 50 years back.'' Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said, ''the European Union (EU) path was obstructed, and insolubility was chosen in Cyprus in the last four months. The government prefers to be alone instead of a wide cooperation. Turkey can say farewell to its dreams and ideals.''

PRIVATIZATION TAKEN FROM SENER'S RESPONSIBILITY
Upon the request of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Privatization Administration Board was taken from the responsibility of Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Abdullatif Sener and given under the authority of the Finance Ministry. Businessmen who did not make payments although they bought companies within the scope of privatization brought Erdogan and Sener face to face with each other.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS OUR TOMORROW'S PLACE
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok, who announced that troops would not enter Northern Iraq for the time being, said, ''what is important is around which countries we will take place when this geography is re-structured.''

DIFFICULT SABAH QUESTION TO COMMISSIONER
When Sabah's Brussels correspondent Fikret Aydemir asked European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen a question saying, ''EU member Britain is bombing Northern Iraq, which you said should never be entered by Turkey. Isn't it a contradiction?'' Verheugen said, ''I am using my right to remain silent.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''DON'T BE A PART OF MURDER''
Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Talib Abid Salih said that they would resist to the United States for years if necessary. Salih noted that this war was the war of those who were oppressed by the imperialist forces, not a war of the United States and Iraq. Salih said that it would be others' turn after Iraq and that Turkey was aware of this. Salih said that Turkey should not have opened its airspace and opening of the airspace by Turkey disappointed Iraqi people.

ONE MORE VICTIM IN DEATH FAST
The 109th person died in the death fast to protest the operation on prisons and F type prisons. Yusuf Arici, 32, who was under medical treatment in Ankara Numune Hospital, died yesterday morning. Meanwhile, sources said that the state of health of Tanju Mete, who continues death fasting in Ankara Numune Hospital, was serious.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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UNITED STATES DEMANDS BASE FROM TURKEY
The United States, which is having difficulties in the south front during the Iraq war, demanded three bases from Turkey to be used in bombardment. Ankara said that a new motion was needed. The United States, which withdrew from a compromise at the last stage of the negotiations prior to the war and demanded Turkey to only open its airspace, asked for Ankara's permission to use Incirlik, Malatya and Batman bases for bombardment when it had difficulty in going towards Baghdad from the south of Iraq. The government said that Incirlik could be used for transfer of dead or injured soldiers and broken down vehicles, but a new motion would be needed for other purposes and bases. Sources said that concerns of the both sides over Northern Iraq had not totally be overcome during the negotiations.

WARNING FROM TUSIAD TO GOVERNMENT
Tuncay Ozilhan, the Chairman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), said that the current policies were pushing Turkey into loneliness. Ozilhan noted, ''if there is a deviation from the economic program, even surprise sources can't save us.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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THREE CONDITIONS FROM SOLDIER
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok said, ''elimination of chemical weapons in Iraq is of vital importance for the region and our country. But, this is not our war and mission. However, we can decide to send additional troops to Northern Iraq in case threats occur there and in case our forces which are currently there can't prevent the threats.''

IT IS A NECESSITY OF FRIENDSHIP
U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell, who said that Turkey was a good friend, noted that they allocated a source for Turkey from their budget since they had seen that Turkey could have some needs. Powell said that this reflected their loyalty to Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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STATE MINISTER BABACAN: ''WE WILL TAKE THE MOST DIFFICULT MEASURES IF NECESSARY''
State Minister Ali Babacan for the Treasury said that when calculating the 2003 macro-economic figures, the loan to be given by the United States was not taken into consideration. Babacan drew the attention that they had taken measures around 20 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) so far in order not to be affected by the Iraq war. Babacan emphasized that they could take additional measures for the sake of the economy without any hesitations if necessary.
(BRC-AÖ) 27.03.2003