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 005805

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 12, 2003

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

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

MASS APPEAL
Sweden Cries For Lindh - Milliyet
Lindh and Palme Shared the Same Destiny - Hurriyet
Israel Decides to Send Arafat to Exile - Sabah
PKK/KADEK Bargaining Starts With US Delegation - Sabah
Chalabi Says US is Authorized to Invite Turkish Troops -
Hurriyet

OPINION MAKERS
Sweden in Shock, Europe Mourns - Radikal
Chalabi Says Decision for Troop Deployment UN Responsibility
- Radikal
PM Erdogan Postpones Visit to Iran - Cumhuriyet
Chalabi: Turkish Troop Deployment is US' Decision -
Cumhuriyet
Iraqi Council Members in Ankara - Yeni Safak
Babacan: No Troop Condition for $8.5 billion Credit - Yeni
Safak

BRIEFING

Iraqi Interim Government Members in Ankara: Papers report
that representatives of the Iraqi interim government, headed
by Ahmet Chalabi, arrived in Ankara yesterday. Following
his meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Chalabi was asked
whether or not he wants to see Turkish troops in Iraq.
Chalabi responded by saying that his previous negative
comments on the issue reflected his `personal opinion,'
which did not necessarily reflect the view of the interim
government. Chalabi said that the US, not the Council, has
the authority to decide on this issue. According to
"Zaman," Chalabi said that the interim government's
responsibility is not to invite troops but to ensure the
sovereignty of the Iraqi people. "NTV" reported Chalabi as
saying that "the Turkish Government has given us a guarantee
that Turkish troops will not be sent unless Iraq wants
them."

PM Erdogan Postpones Visit to Iran: "Cumhuriyet" reports
that PM Erdogan has postponed a visit to Iran that had been
scheduled for late September. The paper notes that the
reason for this decision was Iran's refusal to undertake any
action against the PKK/KADEK.

EDITORIAL OPINION: 9/11: Second Anniversary

"Not only a US responsibility"
Sami Kohen wrote in mass appeal Milliyet (9/12): "During the
last two years, global terrorism has increased despite the
US declared war against terrorism. The world is no longer a
secure place, and remains subject to the threat of
terrorism. Al Qaeda is still operating, and Usama Bin-Ladin
is still alive. The US is living under the threat of a new
9/11. . It is true that the policies shaped by the Bush
administration are one of the main reasons for this negative
picture. However, this alone should not make us forget an
important reality: Terrorism is a big and serious threat not
only to the US but also to the rest of the world. . At this
stage, the whole world should feel responsible for dealing
with the terrorism problem by implementing effective and
timely measures against it. Terrorism is an enemy of the
whole world, and we never know where and when it will
strike. The fight against terrorism is such a vital issue
that it should not be left to the US to deal with it alone."

"September 11: Two Years Later"
Haluk Ulman wrote in the economic-political Dunya (9/12):
"Two years later, the picture we now have does not provide
much room for optimism. The Bush administration began its
campaign by arguing that it could eliminate international
terrorism and make the world a more secure place to live.
Yet the campaign has been conducted against the rest of the
world, and these unilateral policies of the US have not
produced any results. The current situation in both Iraq
and Afghanistan, which hints at a broader wave of terrorism,
is enough reason to be pessimistic. . Moreover, the
allegation about Iraq's link with international terrorism
has not been proved, but Iraq has now been turned into an
operational base for terrorists following the US invasion. .
One of the most valuable gains after 9/11 could have been
the formation of a US-led international coalition against
terrorism. However, the Bush administration has not used
this chance -- in fact, it has squandered it."

EDELMAN

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