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 03 ANKARA 003839

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, JULY 1, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

MASS APPEAL

Ahmedinejad was among Hostage-Takers in 1979 - Hurriyet
US Embassy Says No Handcuffs Used In Incirlik Incident -
Hurriyet
Turkish Academician Reveals Armenian Fraud - Hurriyet
High Tension at the Parliament - Sabah
Buyukanit: "Certain EU Countries Support the PKK" - Sabah
Baku Promises Direct Flights and Investment to `TRNC' -
Sabah
Direct Flights to Start from Baku to `TRNC' - Milliyet
Broader Middle East Scholarships from the US - Milliyet
Government-YOK Dispute Continues - Vatan
Tensions Rise in Ankara - Aksam
Edelman: "Turkey's Policy Matches US Policy" - Aksam
Azerbaijan Extends Brotherly Support to `TRNC' - Turkiye

OPINION MAKERS

AKP Insists on Infringing the Constitution - Radikal
Big Gesture from Azeri Administration to `TRNC' - Radikal
EU Fails to Fulfill Pledges to Turkey - Cumhuriyet
Harsh Reaction from PM Erdogan to YOK Chief Tezic - Yeni
Safak
Edelman: "We had Great Cooperation with Turkey" - Yeni Safak

BRIEFING

Turkey-Azerbaijan Relations: Papers continue reporting on
PM Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan. "Milliyet" reports that
Azerbaijani President Aliyev announced that direct charter
flights from Baku to the `TRNC' would begin soon. Aliyev
also confirmed that Turkish Cypriots would be able to enter
Azerbaijan on their `TRNC' passports once the relevant
regulations have been amended. PM Erdogan said that the
Turkish border with Armenia would not be opened before the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem is solved, and he called on Armenia
to remove its troops from the disputed region. Aliyev
announced that Azeri companies would open offices in
northern Cyprus, adding that `we cannot endure the isolation
of our brothers in Cyprus. Azerbaijan will fulfill its
responsibilities on this issue.'

Turkey-EU Relations: "Cumhuriyet" accuses the EU of not
fulfilling its pledges to Turkey. The paper claims that the
EU presented Turkey with a new condition in its EU roadmap
on Wednesday. Ankara was pleased that the framework
document affirmed that negotiations with the EU would start
on October 3, but the Turkish side was disturbed by the link
made between the Cyprus issue and the accession negotiation
process. "Cumhuriyet" complains that in 1999 the EU had
announced that the Cyprus issue would not be a criterion for
Turkey's EU entry, but the framework document shows that
Cyprus is `the most important criterion' for Turkey.
General Buyukanit Accuses EU on PKK: Land Forces Commander
General Yasar Buyukanit said yesterday that `there are those
supporting threats to the territorial integrity of our
country under the guise of human rights.' He added that
`some of these initiatives' are being supported by `EU
ountries.' Buyukanit claimed that the PKK has achieved
`ideal conditions' in northern Iraq, where it is `supported
by some neighboring countries and members of the EU.'

Ambassador Edelman's Remarks in the US Senate: "Aksam" and
"Yeni Safak" cover the remarks by former US Ambassador to
Turkey Eric Edelman before the Senate Armed Forces
Committee. Ambassador Edelman said that while the US had
been `very disappointed' by Turkey's decision on March 1,
cooperation between the two countries remains strong in many
areas. Edelman said he believes Turkey `shares the same
goals' as the United States for a stable, politically
united, and sovereign Iraq.'
PM Erdogan Comments on Iranian Election Result: Asked by
journalists about the Iranian Presidential election result
during his visit to Baku, PM Erdogan responded as follows:
`Everyone was expecting a different result, but this is the
will of the people. I am not in a position to say `I don't
like the result so it shouldn't be this way.' Whether you
like it or not, everyone who believes in democracy has to
respect the statement made by the Iranian people.'

Ahmedinejad Accused As Iranian Hostage-Taker: Most papers
write about allegations from several of the Americans held
hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 that the newly
elected President of Iran was among the captors involved in
the hostages' interrogations.

Tension Between AKP and CHP: All papers report that the
governing party AKP stirred new tensions yesterday by
passing a controversial regulation in the parliament that
limits debate on specific provisions of draft laws. The
move was designed to accelerate the approval of legal
reforms required by IMF. "Radikal" notes that the
Constitutional Court has annulled similar regulations twice
in the past. Opposition party CHP deputies say the
regulation would harm lawmakers' freedom of expression.

EDITORIAL OPINION: Fort Bragg Speech; Iran

"A Pathetic Situation for Bush"
Fehmi Koru argued in the pro-government/Islamist "Yeni
Safak" (7/1): "It is hard to imagine how the remarks of
President Bush could possibly raise the morale of the
American people, especially at a time when 6 out of 10
Americans believe the Iraq war as a mistake. But the neo-
con writers, columnists, and TV commentators are having a
good time praising the Fort Bragg speech. Just watch out
for those neo-cons in Turkey Bush talked about the
pressing need to attack Iraq and topple Saddam. The
justification used to be weapons of mass destruction. But
this time President Bush gave 9/11 as reason. He did not
even bother to draw a link, direct or indirect, between the
events of 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. Bush's approach is a
clear indication that the problems he created for his own
country and for the world are not going to end in the
foreseeable future. President Bush listed the reasons why
the US should remain in Iraq. He was hoping that none of us
would notice that these reasons were all consequences of the
invasion of Iraq in the first place. . Bush made this speech
at a military base, where military people constituted a
majority of his audience. It was interesting to see the
many unsmiling faces while he was delivering his remarks.
The audience, mostly military, gave no applause or any sign
of enthusiasm. Given the situation, there is nothing to
justify high morale. This is a pathetic situation for
Bush."

"The Iranian Conundrum"
Turker Alkan observed in the liberal-intellectual "Radikal"
(7/1): "The new Iranian president talked about the worldwide
spread of the Islamic revolution. It is extremely worrying
if he is serious about `exporting revolution.' But it
remains to be seen whether this rhetoric is an indication of
a shift in Iranian foreign policy or just domestic
posturing. . Even if Ahmadinejad is serious about exporting
the revolution, it is probably not an achievable goal. It
can achieve nothing but create more trouble and increase the
international isolation of Iran. The possibility that
Ahmadinejad can put Iran on good terms with the US and the
Western world is very remote. At least he might present
himself as a reconciliation figure for a while. . Turkey
should watch Iran carefully and evaluate developments there
in a cold-blooded way. We should be ready for every
possibility. If the Iranian regime moves toward a more
radical position, it will enhance Turkey's importance in the
eyes of the US and the EU."

MCELDOWNEY

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