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 008622

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
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2002

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

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION

-------
HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Heavy diplomacy traffic expected next week - Sabah
Denktas: No acceptance of the plan, but evaluation only -
Hurriyet
From Hannay to both sides on Cyprus: Yes or No - Milliyet
One million postcards to EU leaders - Hurriyet
Foreign Investors await Copenhagen Summit - Milliyet
Bulent Arinc: I will not support mistakes - Milliyet
PM Gul: Worship in Hilton was not smart - Hurriyet

OPINION MAKERS
Grossman and Wolfowitz are coming to Ankara - Zaman
Denktas sounds convinced - Radikal
Pressure on Turkey about Cyprus increases - Cumhuriyet
Portugal's PM Barroso: EU has kept Turkey waiting for too
long - Radikal
Headscarf finds its way to Prime Ministry - Cumhuriyet

BRIEFING
Diplomacy Traffic: "Sabah" reports about next week's
expected heavy diplomatic traffic in Ankara. British FM
Jack Straw, UN envoy Alvaro De Soto, Danish FM and EU term
President Per Stig Moller, Grossman and Wolfowitz are among
the list of visitors expected next week. "Zaman" reports
that A/S Marc Grossman and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul
Wolfowitz are coming to Ankara at the beginning of December
to discuss Iraq, the EU, and Cyprus.

Cyprus: "Hurriyet" reports that TRNC President Denktas is
under heavy pressure by Ankara, Washington, the UN and the
TRNC opposition to accept the UN plan. However, during his
interview with Bayrak TV, Denktas was said that `We asked
for extra time from the General-Secretary. To accept the
plan is different from evaluating and amending it.'
"Radikal" reports that FM Yasar Yakis was successful in
convincing Denktas to sit at the table for discussions.
Tomorrow Denktas is expected to announce his decision to
discuss the UN plan.

EU: All papers cover AKP Leader Tayyip Erdogan's successful
meeting with Portugal's PM Barroso. "Radikal" reports that
the meeting in Lisbon boosted Erdogan's morale. Barroso
reportedly gave Erdogan full support and said that the EU
should give a concrete answer, either `Yes' or `No', to
Turkey. To have a country wait this long for an answer is
completely wrong, he said. Barroso promised to support
Turkey in Copenhagen. "Hurriyet" and "Radikal" report that
300 students from 45 universities have launched a new
campaign to send one million postcards to EU leaders asking
for their support for Turkey at the Copenhagen Summit.
Domestic Politics: The headscarf issue continues to be at
the top of the agenda. "Sabah" reports that AKP leader
Erdogan was upset by the emphasis given to the headscarf
issue. "Milliyet" reports that the Turkish General Staff is
preparing a report citing `fundamentalism' as Turkey's
number one security threat. The report will be presented to
the NSC at their November 29 meeting. Moreover, Land Forces
commander General Yalman will reportedly voice concerns
about the negative impact of politicians' wives wearing
headscarves. "Cumhuriyet" reports that the headscarf has
penetrated the Prime Ministry despite the warning of the
President that the headscarf must not be worn in public
places. One of the Prime Ministry's secretaries went to
work yesterday wearing a headscarf.

Umut Oran: "Hurriyet" reports that Turkish Apparel Industry
Association (TGSD) Leader Umut Oran will take over the
leadership of the International Ready-wear Apparel
Federation (IAF) on December 2 in Miami. 130,000
organizations from 27 different countries will be
represented at IAF. IAF's 2003 congress will be held in
Istanbul.

EDITORIAL OPINION:

a) NATO Summit
b) UN Cyprus Plan

"After the NATO Summit"
Haluk Ulman wrote in economic/political Dunya (11/26): "The
demise of communism left the NATO alliance without an enemy.
The lack of a common enemy led many to ask whether European
members of NATO should seek more independent policies by
loosening their military ties with the US. The continuation
of NATO is a very important issue for the US. NATO remains
the most appropriate tool for the US to preserve its
influence and control over the European continent. . The
search for a good justification for NATO's existence has
ended for the benefit of the US following the 9/11 events.
The new enemy is international terrorism, and the Prague
summit signified that new era. What both the old and the
new members of NATO accepted, in fact, either reluctantly or
enthusiastically, was the American view on how to cope with
the common enemy, i.e. international terrorism."

"What should be done about the Cyprus Plan?"
Sedat Ergin wrote in mass appeal Hurriyet (11/26): "Two
conclusions can be made about the plan. First of all,
although portions of the language may be inadequate, the
plan envisions sovereignty and equality for the Turkish
Cypriot side. . Secondly, the territorial concessions call
for very serious analysis and revision. However, this can
be done at the negotiating table and, whether we like it or
not, we have to prepare ourselves mentally for territorial
concessions. . It would be very wrong to impose the EU
summit as a deadline for this plan. The document requires a
negotiation process, which will inevitably take place early
next year. Therefore, it cannot be signed in its present
form."

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