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 001567

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
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2003

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

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
-------

HEADLINES

MASS APPEALS
The EU blackmail - Hurriyet
Erdogan works to form his cabinet - Hurriyet
Erdogan finds an EU warning on his first day - Sabah
EU warns Turkey: What bad timing - Milliyet
Turkey faces the threat of being called an invader - Aksam
EU gives a harsh warning - Vatan

OPINION MAKERS
US military work is under tight supervision - Cumhuriyet
The Cyprus nightmare begins - Radikal
Erdogan's victory - Yeni Safak
Cyprus settlement at a complete dead-end/EU threatens Turkey
- Zaman

FINANCIAL JOURNALS
IMF conditionality for US economic aid - Dunya
Chhibber retracts comments - Finansal Forum

BRIEFING

New government: Papers report that the new cabinet will be
announced either today or tomorrow under the leadership of
Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan was quoted as saying there would be
`no significant change' in the cabinet, but the general
expectation in the press is that a government reshuffle will
reduce the total number of ministers from 25 to 23. Newly-
resigned Prime Minister Gul is expected to become Foreign
Minister and Deputy PM in the 59th government.

Iraq: Stories analyzes the Iraq issue from two angles. The
ongoing military work and build-up in southeast Turkey, and
the possible timing of the authorization request from the
parliament. Television reports speculate that Erdogan will
leave anti-war ministers out of the cabinet list, so that
the parliament will have an easier time passing the
resolution. The general expectation is that the issue will
be taken up first thing after the new government takes
charge. "Hurriyet" notes that during the phone call from
President Bush to Erdogan, the US asked permission for an
air corridor, but Erdogan said such a decision would require
parliamentary approval. A story in "Radikal" notes that all
of the ongoing US military activities is carried under the
guidance and coordination of the Turkish military. Using
the Turkish General Staff as its source, the story
highlights that the first authorization decree provided a
certain degree of military activities for the US, and that
the US has never gone beyond the authorized limits.
Meanwhile "Yeni Safak" writes that due to insistence of some
CHP parliamentarians, the TGS is going to send a group of
military inspectors to the sites to ensure that US
activities are within the framework of the agreement.
Opposition leader Baykal sharply criticized the government
for its handling of the Iraq issue. Baykal accused the
government of `making a promise for the second authorization
decree behind the scenes.' Otherwise, Baykal argues, there
would be no large US military build-up in Turkey's border
area.

Cyprus: Failure of the Annan plan is a main highlight in
today's Turkish press. The front-page stories all note two
warnings from the EU: that Turkey will be viewed as an
`occupying force' on EU territory, and that the failure of
the Annan Plan will be an obstacle to Turkey's efforts to
begin membership negotiations with the EU. Most newspapers
interpret the EU warnings either blackmail or a threat.
"Radikal" notes that the Cyprus issue is turning into a
nightmare, while the nationalist "Ortadogu" applauds Denktas
for being solid and strong against `internal and external
traitors.'

EDITORIAL OPINION:

a) Iraq/UN process
b) Cyprus

"The UN needs a reform"
Yilmaz Oztuna opined in the mass appeal-conservative Turkiye
(3/12): "Under its current structure, the United Nations is
being used as a means to serve the interests of certain
countries. It has failed to present itself as above
interests of individual states, and it has not been fully
obeying its founding laws and principles. The UN is
urgently in need of a reform process in order not to turn it
into a kind of `League of Nations.' The restructuring also
requires a change in UNSC membership. . For example, oddly
enough, Japan and India have never been a part of the
Security Council. Turkey, for instance, was never elected
to the UNSC while three African nations, two of which are
former French colonies, have membership. The US, a driving
force in both NATO and the UN, is well aware of the need for
reform. Although very few Turkish politicians are aware of
this, the fact of the matter is that the US is in the
process of establishing a new world order - a Pax
Americana."

"Cyprus issue requires a miracle"
Erdal Guven analyzed the current status of the Cyprus issue
in the liberal-intellectual Radikal (3/12): "Unfortunately,
the Cyprus question has now fully consumed another
settlement effort to no avail. UNSG Annan has clearly given
up on the plan he designed and continually referred to as a
`last chance.' The plan itself is still on the table, yet
there is no authority any more to claim responsibility for
it. Without the UN's mediation, it will be a miracle if the
two sides reach a settlement by themselves. . I am afraid
the Turkish Cypriot side is rapidly turning into another
`East Germany.'"
PEARSON

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