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 05 ANKARA 004188

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, JULY 19, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

MASS APPEAL
Putin: Sanctions on Turkish Cyprus Must be Lifted - Milliyet
Turkey, Russia Target 25 Billion USD Trade - Sabah
World Denounces Kusadasi Bombings - Hurriyet
Germany Warns Zana to Take Position Against Terror -
Milliyet
Austria Proposes Postponing EU Talks With Turkey - Vatan
7/7 Cost UK 2 Billion Pounds - Hurriyet
American `Hawks' Threaten to Bomb Islam's Holy Places -
Sabah
Jafari Extends Iran Visit - Milliyet
`Atlanta Bomber' Gets Life Sentence - Vatan

OPINION MAKERS
Putin Vows to Take Concrete Steps for Cyprus - Zaman
France, Belgium, Spain, US Support Turkey On Kusadasi
Bombing - Radikal
Dan Fried: PKK a Concern for US - Yeni Safak
Tancredo: Islam's Holy Places May be Targeted - Cumhuriyet
`Odd' Reaction from US Lawmaker: US May Strike Kaaba - Zaman
Straw: We Are Grateful to Turkey for Fight Against Terror -
Yeni Safak
US Threatens to Bomb Kaaba - Yeni Safak
US, Taliban Secretly Agree to Swap Prisoners - Yeni Safak
500 UK Muslim Clerics, Academics Denounce Terror - Yeni
Safak
London Questions its Alliance With US - Cumhuriyet
Reports Shake Blair: Iraq War Made UK a Terror Target -
Radikal
World Bank to Give Iraq 500 Million USD - Radikal

BRIEFING

Putin-Erdogan Meeting: Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told the press after meeting
over breakfast at Putin's summer house in Sochi yesterday
that they had had a very fruitful discussion. Putin said
the two country's common goal was to increase bilateral
trade to 25 billion USD in the coming years. Turkish
businesses have invested 1.5 billion USD in Russia, Putin
said, adding that Russian companies are also interested in
making investments in Turkey. The Moscow-based "NTV Mir"
reported that Putin said that one Russian company, the Alfa
Group, intends to invest over 3 billion USD in the Turkish
telecommunications sector. Putin said that the capacity of
the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline between the two
countries should be increased to 16 billion cubic meters
annually. He added that he had discussed with Erdogan ways
for building new pipelines to carry Russian natural gas to a
variety of destinations. But Putin reportedly rejected
Turkish requests to reduce the price of Russian natural gas.
Putin also said that Russia will continue supporting the
initiatives of UN Secretary General Annan on the Cyprus
issue. `International sanctions implemented against a part
of the island don't make sense, and they should be removed,'
Putin stressed. Erdogan said that he shared `identical'
views with Putin with regard to regional welfare and
stability, and global peace. Both Turkey and Russia support
a joint struggle against terrorism, Erdogan said. The
Turkish PM also said that Putin shares his view that a
solution must be found for the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
Following his joint press conference with Putin, Erdogan
continued on to Mongolia for an official visit.
Iraq's al-Zubaydi on PKK, Border Security, Extradition of
Terrorists: Iraqi Interior Minister al-Zubaydi told the all-
news channel NTV that a cross-border Turkish incursion into
Iraq must be contingent on permission from the Iraqi
government. `There is an elected government and a
parliament in Iraq. The Iraqi Parliament would have to
decide about a Turkish cross-border operation,' al-Zubaydi
said. He added that the Iraqi government has been
discussing the PKK issue with Turkish and US officials, but
said that the Iraqi Kurds should also join these meetings.
`The Kurdish peshmerge are in control of Iraq's border with
Turkey,' al-Zubaydi noted, adding that the central
government in Baghdad `does not have sufficient forces to
deploy in the region for border security.' Asked about
reports that Sadettin Akdas and Burhan Kus, al-Qaida-related
Turkish terrorists suspected in the Istanbul bombings in
November 2003, had been captured and are being held in Iraq,
al-Zubayri said he had `no information' on the issue. He
stated that the Turkish government's request to have the
suspected terrorists extradited has not yet reached Baghdad.
Al-Zubaydi also said that Iraq will ask for Turkey's help in
training Iraqi police.

Interior Ministers of Turkey, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Jordan are attending the
ministerial-level meetings in Istanbul to discuss the
security situation in and around Iraq. Turkish papers
report that the Iraqi interior minister criticized Syria's
failure to take serious steps to stop the infiltration of
terrorists into Iraq from Syrian territory. `We have given
Damascus the names of terrorists who have sought and found
shelter in Syria. The Syrians denied that they were on
their territory. But we are 100 percent sure that these
terrorists are there. I have their addresses and pictures,'
he said. Syria expressed `deep regret' over the Iraqi
interior minister's statement. A Syrian Foreign Ministry
spokesman said that Damascus had increased the number of
observation posts and deployed a large number of troops
along the border with Iraq, and called on diplomatic
missions and media outlets to visit the border to check on
the Syrian security measures. Iranian Interior Minister
Abdolvahed Mousavi-Lari said that there are `no PKK camps in
Iran,' and added that Tehran opposed the PKK as well as a
Kurdish federation in northern Iraq.

Assistant Secretary Fried on the PKK: Turkish papers report
that US Assistant Secretary Dan Fried told a conference at
the Washington Institute that a Turkish cross-border
incursion against PKK militants nestled in northern Iraq may
cause `undesired consequences.' `I understand Turkey's
anger and disappointment in the face of PKK attacks,' Fried
said. `However, hot pursuit and the subsequent military
tension that it would cause would not be the best option.
We must act together in making Iraq a successful state, and
then remove the terrorist presence from its territory,'
Fried noted.

McEldowney: We Regard al-Qaeda and the PKK as the Same: US
Embassy Charge d-Affaires Nancy McEldowney hosted a group of
Turkish exchange students at the embassy on Monday, "Yeni
Safak" reports. McEldowney issued a message of cooperation
in the fight against terrorism. `Whether the group calls
itself al-Qaeda or PKK/Kongra Gel, Turkey and America are
united in the knowledge that they are terrorist groups.
Whether the bomb explodes in Cesme or Washington, in
Kusadasy or New York, Turkey and America are united in the
struggle to stop the violence,' McEldowney said.

EU, US Condemn Bomb Attacks in Turkish Resort: Jonathan
Todd, a European Commission spokesman, said that the EU
condemned the bomb attack in Turkey's Aegean resort of
Kusadasi last Saturday. Todd offered condolences to the
families of victims, including EU citizens, and condemned
terrorist attacks targeting innocent people. "Radikal"
reports that the United States also condemned the `vicious
terrorist bombing' that killed five people and wounded
thirteen in Kusadasi. `We express our profound condolences
to the victims and their families. Senseless attacks such
as this only reinforce our determination to combat terrorism
wherever it appears, and no matter who is responsible. We
stand together with our ally, Turkey, in our common fight
against terrorism,' the US State Department Spokesman said.

Charge McEldowney Meets With Turkish Cypriot Representative:
US Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney met with Turkish
Cypriot `Ambassador' Temel Gazioglu in his private capacity
for lunch at her residence yesterday, several papers report.
McEldowney and Gazioglu discussed the need to reenergize
talks for a solution to the Cyprus issue. They also
discussed steps the United States has taken to alleviate the
isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Gazioglu stressed the
importance of the issue of direct flights to northern
Cyprus. McEldowney said that `we are looking into what we
might be able to do, but on that issue there are some
international and legal obstacles.' McEldowney highlighted
the fact that USAID recently announced the disbursement of
10 million USD in assistance to improve the business climate
and the banking sector in northern Cyprus.

Tancredo: If Attacked, the US May Strike Islam's Holy
Places: Turkish papers report that US congressman Tom
Tancredo (R-FL) told a local radio station last Friday that
if the United States faces a terrorist nuclear attack from a
radical Islamic group, then it may retaliate by carrying out
a military strike against Islam's holy places. Asked
whether he meant a possible bombing of Mecca, Tancredo
reportedly replied `yes.' Tancredo later tried to clarify
his remarks, saying he meant to that gravest threat should
be answered in the strongest possible way.

Poll: Majority of Europeans Oppose Turkey's EU Bid:
According to a poll by "Eurobarometer," 52 percent of
European nationals oppose Turkey's membership with the EU,
while only 35 percent approve it. A similar poll by the
same organization in 2002 showed only 32 percent support for
Turkey's EU membership. The most negative country on this
issue was Austria, where 80 percent of respondents oppose
Turkey in the EU. Germany was next, with 74 percent
opposed. Italy was the only EU country in which a majority
(52 percent) of respondents supported Turkey's membership in
the Union.

EU Warns Turkey on Non-Muslim Minorities: The European
Commission urged in a letter to Ankara that concrete steps
be taken to ensure religious freedom for non-Muslim
minorities before Turkey starts accession talks in October,
"Radikal" reports. The Commission warned that Turkey has
not made the necessary improvements regarding the religious
freedom of non-Muslim minorities, and that the draft on
minority foundations has not brought a solution to the
problems faced by the minorities.

Ocalan Blocks Declaration Condemning Killing of HADEP
Member: "Milliyet" reports that Kurdish activist Leyla Zana
and her former Kurdish lawmaker colleagues were preparing to
release a declaration condemning the killing of former HADEP
deputy chairman Hikmet Fidan, but that the declaration was
blocked by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Several
columnists called for a thorough investigation of Fidan's
killing, and speculated that support for the separatist
organization would decline significantly if a PKK role in
the assassination is revealed. "Cumhuriyet" suspects the
PKK might have killed many prominent Kurds in Turkey in the
past, including Musa Anter, Nurettin Aydyn, Mustafa
Gunaydyn, Dr. Rodi Demirkapi, and Salah Nuri.

Osman Ocalan to stablish Political Party in Turkey: Osman
Ocalan, brother of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan,
has written a letter to northern Iraqi Kurdish leaders
Talabani and Barzani asking for increased financial support
for his 750 militants, "Zaman" reports. Ocalan claimed that
he could convince PKK militants in the mountains to lay down
their weapons. Ocalan said he would establish a political
party and publish a weekly newspaper in Turkey, and asked
Talabani and Barzani for 100,000 USD in monthly financial
support, according to "Zaman.".

Several Delegations to Participate in July 20 Ceremonies in
North Cyprus: The Turkish Cypriot "BRT-1 TV" reported on
Monday that the `TRNC' will host guests from Turkey, the
Central Asian republics, and some European countries on the
31st anniversary of Turkey's intervention in Cyprus on July
20, 1974. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to lead
the Turkish delegation to the `TRNC' tomorrow. Delegations
from Azerbaijan, Denmark, Belgium, Macedonia, Georgia,
Yemen, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Palestine are to participate
in the ceremonies, according to BRT.

Turkey's First Kurdish Course Closed: Turkey's first
Kurdish language course, which drew criticism because of
suspicions that it could encourage separatism, has been
closed due to a lack of students and financial difficulties,
papers report. The school was opened in Turkey's mainly
Kurdish southeastern province of Batman in April 2004 within
the framework of EU harmonization laws. 30,000 people
participated in the opening ceremony.

Turkey Becomes Popular With Middle Eastern Tourists: Turkey
is becoming increasingly popular with Arab and Iranian
tourists, papers report. Streamlined visa procedures at
airports have boosted tourist arrivals from Middle Eastern
countries by 50 percent, to 750,000 in the first six months.

EDITORIAL OPINION: Israel; Iraq; Terrorism

"Attention in Palestine and Israel"
Kenan Akin wrote in the nationalist "Ortadogu" (7/19):
"Israel's expected operation in Palestine has a grave
potential to again put the Middle East region in flames.
International efforts should focus on controlling Hamas, but
should also aim to prevent an Israeli attack in Palestine
which could turn into a massacre. Sadly enough, there seems
to be no sign of an effort in this direction on the part of
the international community, including the United Nations.
The Middle East cannot bear further massacres in the midst
of the ongoing bloodshed in Iraq. The Arab world and Turkey
should do their best to express concern over the planned
attack by Israel. But past events proven that Israel has
never paid attention to international concerns, and does not
heed international pressure. It looks like the Middle East
is on the verge of a new era of bloodshed."

"The Importance of Northern Iraq"
Erdal Guven commented in the conservative "DB Tercuman"
(7/19): "The evasive statements by the Iraqi Interior
Minister indicate the difficulty for Turkey in trying to get
permission for a cross-border operation against the PKK.
But it is impossible for Turkey to eliminate terrorism
without wiping out the terrorist camps in northern Iraq.
Turkey used to take counter-measures in advance when the
Turkish army controlled 70 kilometers along the Iraqi
border. But this situation no longer exists. Iraq is doing
nothing to stop PKK terrorism. Instead, the PKK is being
given shelter and encouragement from the Barzani
administration. Given the current situation, Turkey must
start an operation in northern Iraq immediately. The
Turkish military should position itself in northern Iraq so
that the PPK's growing terrorism can be countered in a
timely fashion."

"Calling it What It Is"
Sami Kohen wrote in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (7/19): "The
international media, especially the European press, presents
a confused picture when it comes to the use of the terms
`terrorist' and `terrorism.' Interestingly, some British
papers characterized the bombing in Turkey's Kusadasi as
`terrorism,' but refrained from using the word `terrorist'
to describe the bomber. There are several terms that the
European papers generally prefer to use when referring a
terrorist incident - there is `militant,' `attacker,' and
`guerrilla.' These terms are used especially when referring
to the PKK. The list of terrorist organizations compiled by
both the US and the EU includes the PKK. But why are PKK
members not named as terrorists in the media? If we are
characterizing the attack in the proper context, why are we
not doing the same thing for the person who carried it out?"

MCELDOWNEY

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