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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 04 ANKARA 002524

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
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005


THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

MASS APPEAL
Turkey, Israel to Launch 17 Joint Military Projects -
Hurriyet
Erdogan: Turkey Can Mediate for Israel-Palestine Peace -
Vatan
Shalom Opposes Turkey's Mediation Efforts - Milliyet
Abbas: If Israel Agrees, We Won't Oppose Turkey as Mediator
- Milliyet
Turkey to Buy Harpy-2 `Bombing Birds' from Israel - Milliyet
Sharansky Resigns to Protest Gaza Withdrawal - Aksam
Annan Issues Call For Nuclear Non-Proliferation - Sabah
Laura Bush Crushes President's `Tough Guy' Image - Aksam

OPINION MAKERS
Israel Rejects, Again, Turkey's Mediation Offer - Zaman
Attacks on Rise in Baghdad: 100 Killed in 4 Days -
Cumhuriyet
ECHR to Announce Decision on Ocalan May 12 - Cumhuriyet
Rice Threatens North Korea: US Can Defend Itself -
Cumhuriyet
Muslim Votes Key in British elections - Yeni Safak
British Muslims Angry at Blair - Zaman
20,000 Russian Intellectuals Convert to Islam - Yeni Safak

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BRIEFING

Erdogan Visits Israel, Palestine: Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan met with Palestinian `head of state' Mahmoud Abbas
in Ramallah on Monday after wrapping up his official
contacts in Israel earlier the same day. The PM had been
scheduled to meet with Palestinian `Prime Minister' Ahmed
Qurei, but the Palestinians canceled the meeting when
Erdogan was more than two hours late arriving in Ramallah.
After the meeting with Abbas, Erdogan voiced Turkey's
readiness to help advance the Middle East peace process.
Abbas welcomed Erdogan's offer, saying that Palestine wants
to see both a political and economic role for Turkey. Abbas
suggested launching talks with Israel under Turkish
auspices. Erdogan said he had asked Israeli officials to
support Abbas, giving him a chance to apply measures which
will be to Israel's interests. `Abbas must have real power
in order to establish authority and block the activities of
armed groups,' Erdogan said. Turkish papers report that
Erdogan urged PM Sharon on Sunday to end the fighting with
Palestinians. `For years, Syria sheltered a terrorist
organization fighting with Turkey,' Erdogan noted, adding
that `we lost 40,000 lives in terrorist attacks.' `But
today, we have turned a new page with Syria,' Erdogan said,
and he advised Sharon to do the same with Palestinians.
Turkish papers report that Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan
Shalom opposes arbitration efforts by third countries,
including Turkey. Shalom reportedly suggested that Turkey
could instead provide economic and humanitarian assistance
for Palestinians. Erdogan also told the joint press
conference with Abbas and Qurei that Turkey's Union of
Chambers (TOBB) brought together Israeli and Palestinian
business representatives in Ankara late last month in an
effort to support the peace process through the development
of economic and commercial ties. The second leg of meetings
will be held in Israel, Erdogan said, pledging that Turkey
would do all it can to assist the two sides. `We want to
help the Palestinians,' Erdogan said, noting that Turkey
will continue its political, military, and commercial ties
with Israel. Erdogan later joined a meeting of the
Palestinian Business Council in Ramallah and inaugurated the
office of the Turkish International Cooperation Agency
(TICA), through which aid to the Palestinians will be
coordinated.

Erdogan Meets Senator Frist in Jerusalem: Before moving on
to Palestine from Jerusalem on Monday, visiting Turkish
Prime Minister Erdogan met with two leading figures of the
American Jewish lobby as well as Senate majority leader Bill
Frist, "Milliyet" reported. Fritz said he was pleased to
see Erdogan in Israel, and that Turkey could make a
contribution to the peace process. Senator Frist reportedly
offered to host PM Erdogan in the US Senate during his
upcoming travel to the United States. "Milliyet" speculates
that Frist, a figure close to President Bush, may be
effective in delivering messages from Erdogan to the
administration in Washington.

Turkey to Buy Military Drones From Israel: Ankara has
decided to buy 48 `Harpy-2' armed military drones from
Israel, "Milliyet" reports. Manufactured by Israel Aircraft
Industries (IAI), the Harpy-2 attack drones will reportedly
cost Turkey 80 million USD. Shortly before Erdogan's
landmark visit to the region, Ankara had agreed to buy 10
surveillance drones from Israel. Turkish Defense Minister
Vecdi Gonul, who joined PM Erdogan on his state visit to
Israel, said that Turkey-Israeli joint defense projects now
amounted to over 1 billion USD following recent arms
agreements signed by the two countries. The Turkish Defense
Minister will reportedly stay on in Israel for two extra
days to visit Israeli defense industrial sites.

DAS Kennedy in Turkey: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Laura Kennedy arrived in Ankara on the first stop of her
regional tour aimed primarily at relaunching Cyprus peace
talks. Kennedy will meet with Turkish Foreign Ministry
(MFA) Undersecretary Ali Tuygan today before departing for
Athens on Wednesday morning, "Zaman" reports. The paper
expects Kennedy to urge Papadopoulos to send to the UN any
proposed changes to the Annan Plan as soon as possible.

Turkey, US Agree on Incirlik Air Base: Turkish papers
continue to report on `details' of the agreement between
Turkey and the US regarding the use of Incirlik Air Base as
a logistical support hub for operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan. A maximum of six US C-17 cargo planes will be
deployed at Incirlik when the hub begins to operate in June.
The C-17s will take non-lethal cargo brought to Incirlik in
civilian cargo planes to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to
the reports. The Turkish side did not grant `blanket
permission' for cargo flights as requested by the US side.
As the result of `hard bargaining' between the two sides,
the Americans will be required to inform Turkey beforehand
about flight routes and cargo details. Turkey will
terminate the use of the base if national interests requires
it to do so. The agreement will take effect on June 23 and
will be valid for one year.

Zebari Asks for Time to Handle PKK: Iraqi Foreign Minister
Hosyar Zebari told a private Turkish broadcaster that the
new Iraqi government will not support domestic groups
fighting against Iraq's neighbors. Zebari asked Turkey for
time in handling the issue of PKK militants in northern
Iraq. `A tripartite security commission (Turkey, Iraq and
the US) has been established, but we have not yet agreed on
the kind of coordination necessary to take action against
the PKK threat,' he said. Zebari noted that PKK leaders in
Iraq are hiding along borders with Iran and Turkey, areas
not fully controlled by Baghdad.

Schroeder Due in Turkey: German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder will kick off an official two-day visit to Ankara
Tuesday evening. Schroeder will meet Prime Minister Erdogan
tomorrow before moving on to Istanbul, where he will meet
Patriarch Bartolomew and participate in the Turkey-Germany
Economic Forum. Papers expect Schroeder to pressure Erdogan
on the reopening of the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary in
Istanbul, and to urge Turkey to open its border with
Armenia.

Erdogan-Kocharian to Meet in Warsaw: Ankara is trying to
arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Erdogan and
Armenian President Kocharian at the Council of Europe
leaders' summit in Warsaw that will take place May 15-17,
papers report. Azerbaijani President Aliyev is also
expected to meet Kocharian in Warsaw to discuss the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.


EDITORIAL OPINION: Turkey-Israel Relations; Iraq; An Advisor
for Humor

"An Adjustment in Middle East Policy"
Sami Kohen opined in the mainstream opposition "Milliyet"
(5/3): "PM Erdogan's visit to Israel and Palestine was the
result of Ankara's decision to make an adjustment to its
Middle East Policy. The purpose of the was to improve the
damaged Turkey-Israeli relationship. The outcome of the
visit shows that this goal was largely achieved. The timing
of the visit was perfect. There are huge changes underway
in the Middle East. While the region is being reshaped, it
wouldn't be right for Turkey to remain a spectator to these
events. Erdogan's timely visit proves that Turkey is
adjusting its Middle East Policy by approaching developments
in the region in a more moderate and more credible way. It
is obvious that this policy will accelerate Turkey's
relations with the Arab countries as well as with Israel and
the Palestinians. However, Turkish diplomacy should not
expect to play a serious mediating role, at least in the
short run. There are many countries seeking such
responsibility, but Israel has shown no desire so far for
third-party mediation. Nevertheless, there is still a lot
that Turkey can do to contribute to peace in the Middle
East. Supporting reconstruction in the Gaza Strip is only
one example. For the time being, chances for success in the
Middle East seem rather promising."

"The Real Situation"
Hadi Uluengin commented in the mass appeal "Hurriyet" (5/3):
"Do you ever ask yourself what is going in Afghanistan these
days? Even though everything is not perfect there, the new
government led by President Kharzai has succeeded in taking
major steps toward normalization. In general, the situation
in Afghanistan is not bad at all. All of the `conventional
wisdom' about endless bloodshed and resistance in post-
election Afghanistan has been shown to be spurious. What
about the situation in Iraq? The situation is improving
there as well, albeit more gradually. Although the
insurgents have not ended their attacks and the list of the
dead grows longer with each passing day, the `main axis'
does not and will not change. In other words, just like in
Afghanistan, terrorism will not be able to change the
direction of Iraq. Whether Shiite, Sunni, Arab, or Kurd,
the majority of all Iraqi people seek more than anything a
prosperous, peaceful, and sovereign Iraq. The establishment
of the new Iraqi government, the holding of free elections,
and the expectation of a US military withdrawal from Iraq by
July 2006 have narrowed the path of the insurgents. So the
general situation in Iraq is also moving in the right
direction. By the `general situation,' I mean democracy.
Despite all the chaos in the world, we believe that the main
force of change in the 21st century will be the cause of
democracy."

"Erdogan's Most Urgent Need is an Advisor on Humor"
Meral Tamer wrote in the mainstream opposition daily
"Milliyet" (5/3): "Think of this scene: Prime Minister
Erdogan is telling a joke at the podium during a dinner
given in his honor by the Parliament correspondents. As the
joke continues, his wife Emine rushes on to the stage amidst
bewildered looks, seizes the microphone from her husband and
says `not that same stale joke again!' Because the event
would be carried live on all major television channels, the
sight of Emine Erdogan taking the microphone and cracking
joke after joke would leave people laughing so hard their
sides would split. Substitute George Bush for Prime Minister
Erdogan, and Laura Bush for Emine, and this event actually
happened. As I was flipping through the TV channels on
Saturday night, I came across this scene on CNN-
International. Mrs. Bush was being broadcast live at a
dinner at the White House - and she was cracking people up.
Most of the people in the room - starting with President
Bush and Secretary of State Rice - were laughing so hard at
what Mrs. Bush was saying that tears had come to their eyes.
I can't tell you how enjoyable it was to see such a scene on
my screen. Some of the things Mrs. Bush said were reported
yesterday in the Turkish media. The headline in our papers
was her comment that because George goes to bed every night
at 9 o'clock, she and Mrs. Cheney are forced to sit up by
themselves and watch "Desperate Housewives." But what
surprised me most was the First Lady's remarks about her
mother-in-law: `everyone thinks that Barbara is such a sweet
grandmother figure. But if you ask me, she's a lot more
like Don Corleone!' With former President Bush sitting
practically next to her and laughing, the First Lady was
comparing his wife with a mafia boss. It was unbelievable.
My humble recommendation is that Prime Minister Erdogan, no
matter what else happens, go out and find himself a humor
advisor. If there were anyone from his current group of ace
advisors who could fill that role, instead of opening court
cases against cartoonists who draw him in the papers, the
Prime Minister would have responded to those cartoons with a
shot of good humor. It would have been much more effective
than the lawsuit, and he would have gained a lot of public
sympathy by responding to humor with humor. But for
something like this to happen, there would need to be not
only an atmosphere of tolerance, but also a high degree of
self-confidence on the part of those who lead this country."

EDELMAN

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