Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 008523

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL
JCS PASS J-5/CDR S. WRIGHT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2002

THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION

-------
HEADLINES

MASS APPEALS
We took more so that we can give later - Hurriyet
7 of 15 EU members want Turkey be given a date - Vatan
Bush: I am working for Turkey - Vatan
Headscarf is in state protocol - Milliyet
A settlement package for EU - Aksam
Bush pressuring EU for Turkey - Sabah

OPINION MAKERS
Gul: We are for negotiations on Cyprus - Radikal
AKP Deputies Praying Show at Hilton - Cumhuriyet
Gul: We will take steps which will shock the EU - Yeni Safak
Erdogan's radical approach on EU and Cyprus issues - Zaman
Headscarf in protocol - Cumhuriyet

FINANCIAL JOURNALS
London supports Turkey being given a date - Dunya
Erdogan diverts from the official policy line for the sake
of EU membership- Finansal Forum

BRIEFING

Cyprus: "Hurriyet" fronts an interview with the former
President Kenan Evren who served as Chief of Staff for the
Turkish Ground Forces during the Turkish army's Cyprus
operation in 1974. Retired Gen. Evren is quoted as saying,
Turkey at that time invaded more territory than was
originally planned. They did this to ensure a negotiable
portion for bargaining. He said that the UN plan brings a
historic chance and called on the concerned parties to work
for a settlement. "CNN Turk" carried out the interview, and
the "Hurriyet" report also mentions that the two Greek
television stations, "Antenna TV" and "Mega TV" will re-
broadcast it.
All papers report opposition leader Baykal's statement about
the Cyprus plan, in which he says `it is not going to bring
peace to the island in its present form'. The CHP leader
received a briefing from the Foreign Ministry and warned
against losing the two-community structure of the island if
the Kofi Annan plan is adopted.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul gave an interview to
"Radikal" and emphasized that `no solution is the best
solution for Cyprus' is not the approach they will be
pursuing. Gul spoke in a determined tone to work for a
settlement and called the Annan plan negotiable.
"Cumhuriyet" reports that British Rep. for Cyprus Sir David
Hannay is to visit Ankara this weekend for consultations.

Erdogan, EU: Papers continue to report AKP leader Tayyip
Erdogan's lobbying in various European capitals. His
meetings with the British PM as well as EU officials in
Brussels was the media highlight of the day. Erdogan
repeated Turkey's determination to join the EU and
underlined the expectation that the Copenhagen summit would
provide a date for negotiations. "Milliyet" says that
following his consultations with the EU so far, Erdogan had
reached a point (in moving discussions forward) at which the
upcoming EU summit might set a date for Turkey in order to
set a calendar for the accession program, and that would be
good enough at this point. "Radikal" as well as "Zaman"
front Erdogan's pragmatic approach toward the EU as he
suggested to take on "EU-Cyprus-ESDP" as a package.
"Radikal" says this approach is quite a contradiction to
Ankara's traditional policy.

NATO Summit/Bush-Sezer: All papers highlight the Bush-Sezer
meeting during the NATO summit. Reports carry a positive
tone and emphasize the US support for Turkey's EU accession
which Bush personally expressed to Sezer. According to the
reports, Bush-Sezer meeting focused on three items: Iraq, EU
and Cyprus. Bush reaffirmed the US's commitment to protect
Iraq's territorial integrity.

Speaker Hastert: "Cumhuriyet" mentions that Speaker Hastert
is heading a Congressional delegation and is to see Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul as well as Parliamentary
Speaker/Acting President, Bulent Arinc.

Kurdish Broadcast: Higher Council of Radio and Television
[RTUK] announced that it has finished the necessary
regulation-drafting work so that (national TV network) "TRT"
can initiate Kurdish broadcasting. According to the final
regulation the Kurdish broadcast will be 4 hours radio, and
2 hours television in a week.

Supreme Court's torture verdict: Papers report a verdict
from the High Court of Appeal on torture. The Supreme Court
turned down a local court's decision to acquit two policemen
used torture against a thief in order to have him confessed.
The court's verdict says, torture is a crime against
humanity and under no circumstances it shall be considered
as an excuse.

EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq/UN Inspection

"Hans Blix and the Hawks"
Fikret Ertan wrote in the Islamic-intellectual Zaman
(11/21): "The only obstacle before the US about its Iraq
operation plan is the current UN inspection process in Iraq,
and the upcoming report to UNSC. This report is going to be
a very critical one because it will actually come up with an
opinion on whether there is a need for use of force against
Iraq. . In sum, the Hans Blix report will pave the way
either for peace or war. He stands as a target against the
anti-Iraq group, i.e. the hawks, in the Bush administration.
They consider Blix over-moderate and tolerant toward Iraq. .
Hans Blix concentrates his efforts on finding a way to
cooperate with Iraq first rather than rushing into a
conflict with Iraq. His goal is to disarm Iraq without any
armed conflict. Let's hope he succeeds and Iraq has got the
message. .because the hawks will not miss any little chance
to use against Iraq."

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