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 02 ANKARA 005637

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
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

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

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- -

HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Zebari Crisis - Sabah
Zebari: Turkish Troops Should Not Come to Iraq - Milliyet
General Jones says the US Will Solve the PKK issue -
Milliyet
Iraqi Governing Council Ready to Welcome Turkish Troops -
Turkiye

OPINION MAKERS
Iraqi People Want No Muslim Troops in Iraq - Cumhuriyet
Ankara Disturbed by Zebari's Remarks - Radikal
Bush Requests $65 Billion Additional Budget for Iraq -
Radikal
Turkey to Supply Food to Iraqis During Ramadan - Zaman
Rumsfeld: Countries Who Supply Troops will Sit at the Table
- Zaman

BRIEFING

Zebari Remarks: All papers give extensive coverage to
remarks by Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari. Zebari, a
representative of the KDP and Iraq's new foreign minister,
said yesterday that Turkish troops should not be let into
Iraq as peacekeepers, and that all of Iraq's neighbors
should stay out in order not to create more problems for
Iraqi stability. Turkish PM Erdogan said that Zebari's
remarks reflected his personal views, while Foreign Minister
Gul stressed that Zebari should not forget that he is the
foreign minister of all the Iraqi people, not only of the
Kurds. Gul urged the Iraqi FM to avoid statements that
could cause confusion. "Cumhuriyet" notes that a survey by
the Iraqi Center for Strategic Research shows that only 3.8
percent of the Iraqi people support the deployment of Muslim
troops in Iraq.

Turkish Troop Deployment: "Zaman" reports that Turkish and
US military delegations met yesterday to discuss a possible
Turkish contribution to stabilization efforts in Iraq. The
delegations reportedly discussed details such as the number
of troops, the location of the deployed unit, the command
structure, and the transit route through the north. The
military delegation is expected to leave Turkey today.
"Milliyet" reports that General Jones signaled that the
Pentagon is taking the necessary steps to eliminate the
PKK/KADEK in northern Iraq. "Hurriyet" reports that Turkey
is working on a humanitarian plan in order to win the
support of the Iraqi people. Within this framework, Turkey
will arrange concerts of popular Turkish singers in Iraq
and, during the holy month of Ramadan, will supply the Iraqi
people with food for iftar.

EDITORIAL OPINION

"Get ready for a Kurdish state"
Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in the mass appeal Posta (9/5): "In
Iraq, only the Kurdish zone in the north has established the
necessary elements for self-governance. The Kurds have
developed an infrastructure as well as education, health,
and defense services, and they await Washington's nod and
protection to declare sovereignty. The possibility is
growing that Washington will give a green light for Kurdish
autonomy within a federation or confederation. . Syria is
not powerful enough to counter such a development. Iran
will not be willing to further strain its ties with the U.S.
. Turkey needs to develop a new and more realistic Kurdish
policy in the face of changing global conditions. . Instead
of drawing new `red lines' for Northern Iraq, Turkey must
adjust itself to the new conditions."

"Things not spoken"
Erdal Guven noted in the mass appeal Vatan (9/5):
"Papadopoulos prefers that a minimum number of Turkish
settlers remain in the Turkish Cypriot sector. The Greek
Cypriots believe that the Annan Plan enabled an estimated
75,000 Turkish settlers to acquire citizenship in the new
state in Cyprus. The Greeks view this number as extremely
high. . Papadopoulos does not believe that the EU will
provide a security umbrella for the island. The 6,000
Turkish troops allowed by the UN plan to remain in Cyprus is
more than necessary, he believes. . Papadopoulos is also
unhappy with the political rights envisaged for the Turks in
the Annan Plan. . It seems that Papadopoulos will never
reveal his true position in detail unless a real negotiator
sits at the table with him. He is comfortable as long as
Denktas is in place."

EDELMAN

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