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 005668

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
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2003

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

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

HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Turkish Cypriot Opposition Agrees to By-Pass Denktas -
Hurriyet (9/6)
Ankara Questions US on Zebari's Remarks - Milliyet (9/6)
Five Turkish Patrol Stations Between Habur and Baghdad -
Hurriyet (9/7)
FM Gul Says Turkish Troop Deployment Requires Military's
Approval - Milliyet
Bush's Rating Drops - Hurriyet
U-Turn From Zebari - Milliyet
Bin-Laden Opens A New Front in Iraq - Milliyet
Zebari Staffs Foreign Ministry With Non-Arabic Speakers -
Hurriyet
Simitis Calls For Solution in Cyprus - Turkiye

OPINION MAKERS
PKK Interlude to Turkish-U.S. Military Meetings - Radikal
(9/6)
US Agrees to Warn Zebari - Radikal (9/6)
FM Gul: "We'll Go to Iraq Only For Peace"- Cumhuriyet
Iraq is the New Al-Qaeda Front - Cumhuriyet

BRIEFING
Turkish Troop Deployment: Sunday's "Cumhuriyet" reports
that despite remarks by Iraqi Government Officials, FM Gul
says that Iraq's territorial integrity and political
cohesion are important to Turkey, and that Turkish troops
will go to Iraq to establish peace and stability. Today's
"Milliyet" gives front-page coverage to the FM's comments
that Turkish General Staff approval is a must for the troop
deployment. Gul stressed that the government is not
trying to pass responsibility for the decision to the TGS.
He said that the decision will a political one, but that it
would be wrong to act without the military's approval.
Sunday's "Hurriyet" covered details of the agreement
reportedly reached between US and Turkish military
delegations. Turkey and the US have agreed that Turkey will
control a separate sector in Iraq. According to "Hurriyet,"
Turkey wants to set up five military patrol stations between
Habur and Baghdad to ensure security for the transit of
Turkish troops.

Zebari Steps Back: Today's papers report that Iraqi Foreign
Minister Zebari made a `U-turn' from his remarks implying
that Turkish troops are not wanted in Iraq. Zebari said
that Turkey, Syria, and Iran can play a role in the
reconstruction of Iraq. "Vatan" points out that Zebari's
change of view comes after a US intervention. Ankara had
asked the US to issue a warning to Zebari, the paper notes.

Cyprus Issue: "Milliyet" draws attention to FM Gul's
statements regarding Cyprus. Gul said that he will be
travelling to Greece in October to discuss the Cyprus issue
and the EU accession. During his trip, Gul said that he may
announce `new decisions.' Gul added that a link will be
established between a solution on the Cyprus issue and a
date for Turkey's negotiations on EU accession. Weekend
papers reported that three opposition parties in the TRNC
have agreed to cooperate against Denktas in December's
elections. The three parties signed a protocol in which
they agreed that Denktas will be removed as Cyprus
negotiator is he is defeated in at the ballot box.
EDITORIAL OPINION

"We can't merely watch"
Yasemin Congar wrote in the mass appeal Milliyet (9/8):
"Some in Turkey tend to see the Iraqi Kurds as `puppets' of
the United States. They therefore evaluate Iraqi Minister
Zebari's statements of opposition to a Turkish troop
presence as an effort by the Americans to `play the Kurdish
card.' But anyone who follows this relationship closely can
see that the Kurds do not simply follow U.S. orders.
.Turkey's government leaders have made a correct analysis,
and concluded that the success of the United States in Iraq
is in Turkey's interests. . The U.S. wants a unitary Iraq
that is moving on a path toward democracy, an Iraq that does
not shelter terrorism, and an Iraq that will become a source
of stability in the region. Therefore, Turkey must work
against the powers struggling against the establishment of
such an Iraq. . President Bush, in a televised speech
today, will urge the international community to increase
cooperation in Iraq. Ankara is happy with the Bush
Administration's U-turn. . Turkish diplomats believe that
the U.S. effort at the UN might encourage the Turkish
parliament to adopt a decision to send troops to Iraq. .
The decision to be taken by Turkish politicians will bring
to them an historic responsibility."

"Why should we go to Iraq?"
Ali Bulac commented in the conservative/opinion maker Zaman
(9/8): "Iraq's infrastructure has totally collapsed, and
the majority of the Iraqi population is struggling against
hunger to survive. Infant deaths are rising significantly.
The occupiers are carrying out disgraceful operations in
which they arrest and humiliate people every day, including
the violation of Iraqi women. . Turkey cannot look at the
Iraqi tragedy through the eyes of America and the West. .
Turkey must go to Iraq to help its Iraqi brothers, not the
occupiers. . We don't have scholars who can establish a
dialog with the holders of social and political initiative,
the Sunni and Shiite clerics in Iraq. . Human rights
organizations should have reported ongoing violations in
Iraq. Humanitarian aid organizations should have organized
extensive programs to help the Iraqi people. Our medical
organizations should have rushed to the help of dying Iraqi
children. In short, Turkey must go to Iraq with its brain
and its heart."

EDELMAN

© Scoop Media