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 002282

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, APRIL 21, 2004

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

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION

HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
8,000 Kalashnikovs Seized from Turkish Ship - Milliyet
Honduras to Withdraw Its Troops From Iraq - Milliyet
10 Suicide Bombers Arrested in England - Hurriyet
US Urges Both Sides on Unification in Cyprus - Hurriyet
Suicide Bomber Alarm At Manchester Stadium - Sabah
Powell Urges UN Decision on Cyprus - Sabah
EU Parliament Pressures Greek Cypriots to Approve UN Plan -
Turkiye
7,000 Kalashnikovs on their Way to the US - Turkiye

OPINION MAKERS
White House Urges Both Sides To Vote Yes in Cyprus - Radikal
US Presses UN for Cyprus Resolution Before Referendum -
Cumhuriyet
Ammunition in A Turkish Ship - Cumhuriyet
NSC to Hold Extraordinary Meeting on Monday - Zaman
US Declares War Against Hamas - Yeni Safak
Turkish Parties and Groups Head to Cyprus to Advocate a No -
Yeni Safak

BRIEFING
Cyprus: "Cumhuriyet" reports that the US Administration is
exerting efforts to ensure that the UN Security Council
approves a resolution on Cyprus implementation guarantees in
advance of Saturday's referenda. "Hurriyet" reports that
AKEL leader Christofias urged Powell and Annan to secure
approval of the resolution. "Cumhuriyet" notes that `TRNC
President' Denktas continues to campaign against the Annan
plan. `I know for sure that those who say yes today will be
crying in three months time,' Denktas said yesterday.
"Yeni Safak" reports that some political parties and other
groups from Turkey arrived on the island to campaign for the
refusal of the UN plan. Former PM Ecevit arrived in Cyprus
yesterday and referred to Greek Cypriots as `expansionist
and racist.' MHP leader Devlet Bahceil is also in Cyprus to
oppose the plan. "Zaman" notes a current poll that indicates
a 60 percent yes vote is likely in the `TRNC.'

NSC Meeting on Monday: Turkey's National Security Council
will hold an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss
developments in Cyprus following this weekend's referenda.

Seized Ammunition: All papers report that Italian police at
the port of Gioia Tauro seized around 8,000 Kalashnikovs and
military uniforms from a Turkish ship on Tuesday. The
weapons were reportedly loaded in Romania, and were
scheduled for onward transport to New York. The ship's
owner acknowledged that the ship had been carrying weapons,
but claimed that he thought the weapons were `antiques.'
Italian authorities are continuing to investigate the
incident.

EDITORIAL OPINION:

"Division the only solution left for Cyprus"
Mehmet Ali Birand commented in the mass appeal "Posta"
(4/21): "The mistaken policies pursued by Denktas and
Ankara in the past have enabled the Greek Cypriots to
deceive the international community for long decades in a
way that portrays the Greeks as the only side favoring a
peaceful settlement in Cyprus. . The EU's membership offer
to the Greek Cypriots, US support for the Annan Plan, and
the sidelining of Denktas have revealed the true intentions
of the Greek Cypriots. The Southern Cypriots will be
digging their own grave if they vote against the Annan Plan
on April 24. Saying `no' in the referendum will mean
acknowledging that division is the only formula to be
applied in Cyprus. It is up to the Greek Cypriots to decide
whether to accept the Annan Plan or divide the island."

"The Middle East provoked"
Mim Kemal Oke opined in the conservative/mass appeal "DB-
Tercuman" (4/21): "Israel is pursuing an extermination
strategy against Hamas. However, the real intention is to
provoke Hamas into fanatical actions that will expose to the
international community the viciousness of Palestinians and
will also give Israel a pretext to retaliate. . Hamas has
remained silent thus far. . The EU has not approved the
occupation of Iraq by the US. President Bush would like to
end the foreign policy isolation the US has been facing
after the war with Iraq. . The upcoming presidential
election in the US is a determining factor as well. Bush,
who is being challenged seriously by Kerry, feels obliged to
play for the Jewish vote.""EDELMAN

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