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.

181437Z Apr 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 002193

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, APRIL 19, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

MASS APPEAL
Tuygan: We Are Sorry That Edelman Will Leave Turkey -
Milliyet 4/17
Talat Is Second `President' of `TRNC' - Sabah
Denktas: New President Must Protect `TRNC' Independence -
Vatan
Greek Cypriots Not Interested in `TRNC' Polls - Hurriyet
4/17
Talabani, Barzani Disagree Over Northern Iraq Rule - Star
4/17
President Bush Wants His Privacy Respected - Sabah 4/17
Anti-Turkey Cardinal Ratzinger Leads Papal Race - Sabah
Kissinger: Let's Give the Middle East Back to the Turks -
Hurriyet

OPINION MAKERS
Rice: Turkey an Example of Islam-Democracy Compatibility -
Zaman
U/S Tuygan Returns From US `Empty-Handed' - Radikal
Tuygan Conveys Turkish Concerns About PKK Activities -
Cumhuriyet
KDP, PUK Members Clash After Talabani Takes Iraq Presidency
- Cumhuriyet
Nicosia-EU Strengthen Military Cooperation - Cumhuriyet 4/17
EU Supports US Project of Moderate Islam - Yeni Safak
Dervis Strongest Candidate to Lead UNDP - Yeni Safak 4/17
Kissinger Praises Ottomans - Radikal
Catholics Watch Vatican's Chimney - Yeni Safak
Anti-Japan Fury in China - Zaman 4/17

BRIEFING

Rice Shows Turkey As a Model Country: Secretary of State
Rice presented Turkey as an example that Islam and democracy
are compatible, Monday papers report. Rice told The
American Society of Newspaper Editors that there is no
contradiction between Islam and the Muslim world, and cited
examples of democracies in places where Muslims are in the
majority. Rice presented Turkey as one such example: `You
have, in Turkey, for instance, a state that is growing
rapidly with a strong Islamic party in power,' Secretary
Rice said. She added India as another example in which a
huge muslim population lives peacefully with other groups in
a democratic system. Rice concluded that `there has to be
hope for the Middle East, that you will get moderate
political forces that find the right relationship between
Islam and democracy, that find institutions that accommodate
both, and therefore the democratic process can be tolerant
of all peoples.'

Tuygan Concludes Meetings in US: In a press conference held
after he wrapped up his meetings in Washington, Turkish
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan said both sides
had reaffirmed good bilateral ties: `The talks have shown
that our ties are good. We told our American friends about
our expectations from them,' Tuygan said. He added that the
discussions had been `fruitful,' and that the two sides had
established an atmosphere of mutual understanding. Tuygan
emphasized that the tension in US-Turkish relations had been
caused by the ongoing war in Iraq. `However,' Tuygan said,
`both sides reaffirmed our strong alliance and decided to
leave the past in the past.' Tuygan underlined the recent
increase in PKK attacks against the Turkish military. He
said he had informed US officials of Turkish concerns with
regard to the PKK, the terrorist organization which is using
northern Iraq as a `safe haven.' Tuygan said he did not
expect the US Congress to pass a resolution on `genocide'
claims by Armenians. `If the Congress decides in favor of
Armenian demands, it will cause disappointment in Turkey, a
country which has had excellent cooperation and a strategic
partnership with the US for 50 years,' Tuygan stressed. On
Iraq, Tuygan said Turkey wants Iraq to become a peaceful
country striving for economic development. Commenting on
the resignation of Ambassador Edelman from his post in
Ankara, Tuygan said that `Mr. Edelman is a diplomat for whom
we have high respect. We are deeply saddened over his
decision to leave Ankara. We are confident that he will
continue his good ties with Turkey in his new assignment in
Washington.'

A news commentary in "Radikal" claimed that Ankara was
disappointed by the `low-level' reception Tuygan had been
given by the Americans in Washington, and regards it as a
`negative signal' before possible visits to the US by FM Gul
and PM Erdogan. Unidentified MFA officials said that the
American attitude showed once again the strain in bilateral
relations. The officials recalled the top-level reception
given to former MFA Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal in June 2003
following the rejection by the Turkish parliament of a bill
that would have allowed US troops to deploy through Turkey
to Iraq. `The two visits were very different. It seems
that the US has nothing to say,' one official said. MFA
officials do not expect a meeting between Rice and Gul at
the NATO foreign ministers conference in Lithuania April 20-
21, according to "Radikal." Sunday's "Milliyet" reports
that Ankara has been waiting three weeks for a response to a
request for a meeting with President Bush by PM Erdogan
during his upcoming visit to the US. The US Government
wants Turkish government officials, particularly Erdogan, to
make statements stressing the significance of US-Turkish
relations, "Milliyet" claims. Monday's "Vatan" claims that
Tuygan received `guarantees' from US officials that
President Bush will not use the word `genocide' when he
addresses the Congress on the Armenian issue on April 24.

Gul on March 1 Decision: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
reportedly told a group of AK Party lawmakers over the
weekend that Turkey would have suffered great casualties in
Iraq -- even more than the Americans -- if the Turkish
parliament had permitted the deployment of Turkish troops to
Iraq on March 1, 2003. Turkish troops would have been
deployed in one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq, Gul
allegedly said, noting that `from that standpoint, it can be
said that the rejection of the decree had been for the good
of Turkey.' Gul noted that Kurds who had previously been
working for a Kurdish state in northern Iraq have now turned
their attention to forming the new government in Baghdad,
something that Turkey had wanted all along.

Iraq's Neighbors Meeting Postponed to Late April: A foreign
ministers' meeting of the neighbors of Iraq, scheduled for
April 18-19, has been postponed for a week, papers report.
Iraqi Prime Minister Jafari urged FM Gul to postpone the
conference due to continuing preparations for a new cabinet
in Baghdad, according to diplomatic sources. Gul agreed to
the postponement.

Erdogan Calls Sharon Before Upcoming Visit to Israel: Prime
Minister Tayyip Edogan, who is to visit Israel in early May,
called Ariel Sharon to praise Israeli security measures
against groups protesting his Gaza pullout plan,
"Cumhuriyet" reported over the weekend. Turkish government
sources told the paper that Israel will welcome Turkish
participation in developments in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Monday's "Milliyet" reports that the Turkish
Ministry of Defense is to award the Israeli companies IAI
and ELBIT a $200 million contract for the acquisition of
unmanned aircraft before the Erdogan visit to Israel on May
1-2.

Turkey Condemns `Disrespectful' Act Against Flag: Turkey
regrets the `ugly and disrespectful act' committed against
the Turkish flag at a Greek military academy, where Turkish
officers were being hosted as part of an exchange program,
Monday papers report. On April 12, a crumpled Turkish flag
with anti-Turkish slogans written on it was placed into the
room where the Turkish students were staying. The incident
occurred while visiting Greek FM Molyviatis was discussing
ways to enhance Greek-Turkish relations with FM Gul. The
Turkish officers returned to Turkey on April 13. The Greek
Ground Forces Commander and Defense Minister called their
counterparts in Turkey to convey their apologies for the
incident, urging Ankara not to `exaggerate' what took place.
Turkey, however, has called for an official apology from
Greece, and has asked that those responsible be punished.
Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molivyatis said an official
apology would be issued to Ankara if it can be determined
that such an incident took place. The Greek Land Forces
Command promised to dismiss any students found guilty of
desecrating the Turkish flag.

Turkish Military Operations Continue Against PKK: 33
terrorists have been killed in Turkish military operations
against the outlawed PKK in Sirnak during the past two
weeks. One other terrorist surrendered to security forces,
according to a statement released by the Sirnak Governor's
Office on Friday. The security forces destroyed large
amounts of weapons, explosives, and food belonging to the
terrorist organization, according to the statement.

Anti-US Demonstration in Adana: A group of members of a
leftist party, the EMEP, staged a demonstration at the US
Consulate in Adana in southern Turkey to protest the use of
Incirlik Airbase by Americans for `imperialist' purposes
over the past 50 years, weekend papers report. A statement
read by the protesters claimed the US wants to use Incirlik
for attacks against Iran and Syria, and called for the
closure of the airbase. Demonstrators later dispersed
peacefully.

ROK President Visits Turkey: Visiting South Korean
President Roh Moo-Hyun discussed with PM Tayyip Erdogan
possible joint investments on Friday, weekend papers report.
Erdogan said that Turkey, which is close to the European
market, is an attractive country for foreign investments.
During a call on Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Arinc later
the same day, Moo-Hyun said that the South Koreans would
never forget the sacrifice of Turkish soldiers who fought
together with Koreans during the Korean War. Arinc pointed
to friendly bilateral ties, and noted that Turkish soldiers
had died for the freedom of South Korean people.

Thousands of Turkish Girls Cannot Attend School: Some
570,000 girls of school age cannot attend schools, according
to Monday's "Milliyet." He paper says it is time for Turkey
to change this picture. Almost half of those who have no
access to schools live in 10 impoverished provinces in
southeastern Turkey, where Kurds form a majority of the
population.

Turkish Truck Driver Killed by Roadside Bomb in Iraq: An
unidentified Turkish truck driver was killed by a roadside
bomb near Bayji, north of Baghdad, on Saturday, weekend
papers report.

EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq; US-Turkey

"The Rise of Talabani"
Kamuran Ozbir wrote in the nationalist "Ortadogu" (4/18):
"The fact that Talabani is now the president of Iraq
indicates how much the Iraqi Kurds, who once lived under
oppression as a minority, are now on the political rise.
The Kurds supported the US-led operation to topple Saddam
Hussein in 2003, and now have gained a remarkable political
status by having won 25 percent of the Iraqi vote. This
election victory provided more political clout to the Kurds
than to the Sunni Arabs, who have ruled the country for so
many years. . It is important that Talabani is talking
about a new democratic and united Iraq. The Kurds used to
think about independence, but even then they were aware of
the fact that such an idea would not be welcomed by the US,
Turkey, Syria, or Iran. Now the Kurds have set a different
goal -- a federal Iraq. They are seeking to be as powerful
as possible in the new federaation. The drafting of the new
Iraqi constitution will present them the opportunity to
advance toward this goal."

"Ankara Has Gotten the Message"
Ali H. Aslan wrote from Washington in the Islamist-
intellectual "Zaman" (4/18): "There are three main
arguments used by Turks to counter claims that Turkey's
relationship with the United States is not in trouble. One
is to point out the historic relationship between the two
countries, going all the way back to the Korean War.
Another is simply to claim that there is no anti-Americanism
in Turkey. Finally, there are some who insist that Turkish-
Israeli relations are not as bad as they have been described
in the public debate. Almost all Turkish officials visiting
Washington recently have presented a version of these
arguments to their American counterparts. Foreign Ministry
Ali Tuygan was the most recent visitor, and he was no
exception. Yet the Americans, who have been patiently
waiting for Ankara to `get the message,' finally broke out
of their diplomatic niceties. They explained the message
loud and clear to Tuygan. Tuygan heard the same same clear
message from every American official he met with. . It is
certain that he will convey Washington's message to the high
levels in Ankara. The message includes Washington's deep
concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-
Americanism in Turkey, as well as the rapprochement between
Turkey and Iran and Syria. . Turkey must realize the urgent
need to repair ties with the US. The initiative must come
from Turkey. If Ankara has understood, it can take the
first step by making some goodwill gestures, such as giving
an immediate response to US requests on Incirlik airbase.
By keeping this decision on hold, it appears that Turkey is
waiting to see the stance of the US administration stance on
the Armenian issue."

EDELMAN

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