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 06 ANKARA 004636

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, AUGUST 8, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- --
Monday, August 8, 2005

HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Americans Do Not Support Bush on Iraq - Hurriyet
Iraq War Opponents Protest Bush in US, Britain - Aksam
Assad Visits Tehran for `Wide' Cooperation - Vatan
Netanyahu Resigns to Protest Gaza Pullout - Sabah
Withdrawal Crisis in Israel - Hurriyet
Three Turkish Truck Drivers Abducted in Iraq - Hurriyet
60th Anniversary of Hiroshima - Sabah 8/7
Europeans Purchased 262 US Companies in 2005 - Milliyet 8/7

OPINION MAKERS
Iraqi Leaders Disagree on Federalism - Zaman
US Warns Shiites - Radikal
Talabani: No US Pressure on Iraq Constitution - Zaman
Barzani: Iraq Should be Federal and Democratic, Not Islamic
- Yeni Safak
Iraqi Police Shoot at Protesters: 1 Killed, 60 Injured -
Cumhuriyet
New York Times: Iraqi Insurgents Use Iranian-Made Bombs -
Zaman 8/7
Assad Makes Support Visit to Iran - Yeni Safak
Iran Challenges EU Troika - Radikal
Ahmedinajad Takes Oath, Rejects EU Proposals on Nuclear
Program - Zaman 8/7
Fanatic Brits Call for Death to Muslims - Yeni Safak 8/7
Popular Support for Bush Iraq Policies Plunges - Cumhuriyet
War Opponents Unite in US - Yeni Safak
US on Terror Alert in Saudi Arabia - Yeni Safak
Cheney, Father Bush in Saudi Arabia - Yeni Safak 8/7
London, World Mourn for Cook - Radikal
Hiroshima's Pain Still Fresh - Radikal 8/7

BRIEFING

US-Turkey-Iraq Security Talks: Turkish diplomats have asked
the US at three-party security meetings among US, Turkey and
Iraq in Washington to close the PKK offices in northern
Iraq, weekend papers report. US and Iraqi officials said
that the office in Kirkuk belonged to the Kurdistan
Democratic Solution Party, and that they could not close the
offices of political organizations. Americans, however,
promised to take action if evidence linking the party to the
PKK is provided, say reports. Turkey also reiterated
requests for extradition of 150 PKK terrorists hiding in
Iraq and urged the Iraqis to tighten border security
measures to prevent infiltration of terrorists into Turkey.
Monday papers agree that the security talks held in
Washington had yielded no results. US officials are
reported by the Turkish press as saying that the PKK was not
seen as a primary threat in `sovereign' Iraq, and advising
Turkey patience. Some papers speculate that Washington had
told the Turks that the US was ready to mediate between
Turkey and Iraq for resolution of the PKK problem.
Meanwhile, Saturday "Zaman" reports a meeting held by the
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs in
Washington. Specialists participating in the meeting
stressed that the US must launch action against the PKK as
soon as possible, says the report. Monday "Hurriyet" quotes
retired general Osman Pamukoglu as warning that cross-border
incursions against the PKK in northern Iraq would produce no
results. Pamukoglu, the former commander of the Hakkari
Mountain Brigade, said that there was no point in
infuriating the world by launching operations against the
PKK on Iraqi territory. He advised Turkey to set up an anti-
terror ministry, claiming that this practice would be
adopted around the world in a few years.

Grossman on US/Turkey, Iraq War, PKK: Former State
Department U/S Marc Grossman said in an exclusive interview
with "Milliyet" that the US needed to take forward steps
against the PKK if it wanted to ease Turkish reactions to
the `hooding' of Turkish troops by American forces in
Suleymaniye in northern Iraq in July 2003. According to
Grossman, the US made three mistakes in bargaining with
Turkey before the war with Iraq: the US failed to outline a
plan for struggling against the PKK while negotiating with
Turks the transfer of US troops to Iraq through Turkish
territory; post-war plans should have been more `specific';
and the US should have voiced the benefits of a democratic
and prosperous Iraq to Turkey louder, so that the Turkish
nation would not have felt being excluded from the process.
Grossman also said that the Turkish military had been
informed of all the details of the Iraq war beforehand.
Grossman regards the rejection of March 1 as the failure of
both the US and Turkish governments in convincing the
Turkish parliament. `Now we must look at the future,'
Grossman said. `Now we must do something to convince the
Turkish nation that Turkey should make some political
investments to see a successful Iraq, which will be in the
interests of Turkey.' Grossman also said that the Turkish
nation was very much aware of the US support for Turkey
against the PKK until the end of 1990s. `I hope the Turkish
nation will not forget that it was the United States who put
the PKK in the list of terror organizations and pressured
the European Union to do the same,' Grossman stressed.

US Senators to Visit North Cyprus: Monday papers report
that seven US congressmen will fly from Istanbul to northern
Cyprus today for talks with `TRNC' officials, including
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The Greek Cypriot
government denounced the `unlawful' visit, papers report.
Greek lobby attempts to block the visit remained futile,
according to papers. Monday "Hurriyet" says that the
members of the US delegation were not US congressmen, but
congressional staffers.

MFA on Iraqi Kurds, Constitution: `Turkey closely monitors
the developments with regard to residential registration of
thousands of Kurds in Kirkuk city in Iraq,' Turkish Foreign
Ministry (MFA) Spokesman Namik Tan said at a weekly press
briefing on Friday. `Turkey is aware of the efforts of some
groups in Kirkuk,' Tan said, adding: `Concluding the
constitution, which guarantees Iraq's unity and territorial
integrity, and underlining national ownership of places
characterized as Iraq's national assets, such as Kirkuk, are
the expectation of the Iraqi people. Turkey supports this
will.' Tan noted that a division in the future will not be
a problem concerning Iraq alone, adding that Turkey believed
that the Iraqis will not allow such a disintegration. Tan's
remarks came as a response to the Barzani remarks last week,
in which the KDP leader had announced inclusion in the
constitution of referendum rights for the Kurds to determine
their own fate, say papers.

AKP Lawmakers' Report on Southeast Turkey: Monday papers
say that AKP lawmakers from southeast Turkey had drafted a
report on regional problems on the eve of Prime Minister
Erdogan's trip to the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakyr on
Friday. The report says that unemployment and street theft
top the list of problems in Diyarbakyr. Lawmakers suggested
the following in the report: New irrigation dams are needed;
agricultural industries should be supported; the
Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) should be completed;
economic imbalances in the region should be eliminated; and
direct flights should be launched from Diyarbakir to
European countries.

Erdogan to Discuss with Intellectuals the PKK Question: On
Wednesday, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is to receive a
group of intellectuals who have issued a statement calling
on the PKK to lay down arms and on the government to pass
necessary legislation, weekend papers report. Some
prominent Turkish authors, journalists, academics and
artists will join the meeting with the PM to discuss
proposals to end the rising PKK terrorism. Several Turkish
intellectuals released a declaration on June 15 expressing
concern over growing violence in Turkey. Kurdish
intellectuals have been reportedly `angered' at the meeting
for excluding them, and far-rightist Nationalist Action
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli denounced the gathering,
saying that the government had agreed to make a contact with
the PKK.

General Ozkok Complains of Restricted Military Authority
against Terrorism: On Friday, the Chief of the Turkish
General Staff (TGS) General Hilmi Ozkok pointed to the
rising terrorist actions in recent days, saying that the
military's struggle against terrorism will continue despite
the curtailment of their authority. Ozkok told a ceremony
in Ankara to welcome back soldiers serving in the
multinational peacekeeping force ISAF in Afghanistan that
the fight against the PKK will be more effective if it is
carried out with the participation of the Turkish nation and
its leaders and non-governmental organizations along with
the military and security forces. Recent amendments in the
anti-terror law aimed at facilitating Turkey's entry into
the European Union have limited the authority of security
forces, bringing strict rules on house raids and arrests.
Following legal reforms that took effect on June 1, the army
is no longer allowed to conduct searches during the night,
and will need permission from the prosecutor for house
raids. The military had asked the government to set up a
special institution to coordinate the fight against
terrorism, but the government rejected the request.
Saturday "Sabah" claims that the Turkish military was
pressing for new measures against terrorism such as the ones
seen in Western countries. Government spokesman Cemil Cicek
responded to the complaints of Ozkok and said that the issue
will be discussed at the National Security Council (NSC)
meeting on August 23.

Turkey's EU Secretary-General Resigns: Turkey's Secretary
General for EU Affairs Murat Sungar has resigned from his
post, weekend papers report. Sungar rejected press reports
claiming that he had quit over problems with the government,
adding that his decision was solely for personal reasons.
Sungar is said to have resigned because of his wife's health
problems and because he wanted to make room for the
government to form its own team for Turkey's upcoming entry
talks with the EU. Sungar said he would remain in office
until September. Papers speculate that Sungar had resigned
in reaction to delays in EU harmonization reforms.

Israel Reroutes Cruise Ships to Avert Attack: Israel on
Friday ordered four of its cruise ships carrying thousands
of tourists not to dock at Turkey's Mediterranean resort of
Alanya after receiving warnings of a possible terrorist
attack, Monday papers report. There had been information of
a possible al-Qaida attack against the ships carrying 3,500
Israeli tourists, say reports. The ships were diverted from
Turkey to Cyprus on Monday.

Poll in Turkey on al-Qaida Actions: A public opinion poll
conducted by Turks under the Center for International
Strategic Studies (CISS) on the `perception of terrorism'
among 2,500 respondents in the major Turkish provinces of
Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana and Bursa shows that only 4
percent of Turks believe that al-Qaida is pursuing `jihad,'
and that only 5 percent see al-Qaida militants as freedom
fighters, "Zaman" reports on Saturday. Thirty-four percent
believe that al-Qaida actions have shown Muslims in
disrepute. Eighteen percent see al-Qaida operations as a
`humiliation' for Muslims, and 31 percent are worried about
the shape of the things to come. Bomb attacks in London,
Madrid and Egypt have been wrong, according to 90 percent of
Turks. Five percent believe that the attackers were right.
Forty percent of Turks said that al-Qaida has attacked
Istanbul thinking that Turkey constituted the best alternate
against al-Qaida views. Thirty-six percent said the
Istanbul attack was launched against Turkey for being an
ally of the Western world. Fifty percent hold President
Bush responsible for the spread of terror around the world,
while 22 percent blame Ariel Sharon, 17 percent Osama bin-
Ladin, and 4 percent Tony Blair. Six percent believe the US
policies in the Middle East to be responsible for global
terror. Only 4 percent link terrorism to religion,
according to the survey.

Poll on Popularity of Turkish Leaders: Monday "Hurriyet"
reports a public opinion survey which shows that the
popularity of Prime Minister Erdogan has increased from 40.1
percent in June to 43.1 percent in July. Motherland Party
(ANAP) leader Erkan Mumcu has 15.5 percent of backing of
those conducted. The popularity of the Nationalist Action
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli and True Path Party (DYP)
leader Mehmet Agar shows ups and downs depending on the
political situation and are 16.2 and 15.2 percent,
respectively. Public support for the main opposition CHP
leader Baykal took a dive and is 13.1, says the survey.

Middle Eastern Capital Shifts to Turkey: Turkey has become
the center for Middle Eastern capital, with more than 200
companies operating in Turkey following the enactment of the
law on direct foreign investments, papers cite the semi-
official "Anatolian Agency" on Sunday. The Middle Eastern
foreign capital amounted to USD 42 million in 2004. Middle
Eastern companies operate in Turkey in communications,
tourism, infrastructure and finance fields. Dailies comment
that the Middle Eastern and Arab capital began flowing into
Turkey after reactions in the United States and the European
countries against the Arabs and Muslims following the
September 11 events. They also say that the speeded-up
privatization and revival of political and trade relations
with regional countries were other main factors in the
transfer of Arab capital to Turkey.

Report: 2.5 Million Unemployed in Turkey: A report by the
Ankara Chamber of Trade (ATO) shows the number of unemployed
in Turkey to be about 2.5 million, papers report. More than
one million, which makes 38 percent of the unemployed, are
the primary breadwinners of their families. Seventy percent
of the unemployed, most of them between the ages of 25 and
49, live in cities, says the ATO report.

Terrorists Kill 5 Soldiers in Southeast Turkey: Five
Turkish troops were killed and six others were wounded in an
attack by PKK militants in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari
province, papers report over the weekend. The attack
happened in the early hours of Friday near the town of
Semdinli on Turkey's borders with Iran and Iraq. Military
officials said that a bomb was left in a plastic bag and
went off as the soldiers were passing it near the local
jandarma headquarters in Semdinli. The bomb is believed to
have been set off by remote control. Security forces have
launched an operation to catch the terrorists. Meanwhile, a
landmine thought to have been planted by PKK militants
exploded on a rural road in the Bingol province in eastern
Turkey on Friday shortly after a convoy carrying senior
local officials and AKP lawmakers passed, but there were no
casualties, local sources said. On Saturday, five suspects
were arrested in the Mediterranean city of Mersin in
connection with a plot to carry out bomb attacks, papers
report. Police said that 1.5kg of plastic explosives and
20kg of chemicals had been seized together with the suspects
who were preparing for attacks on government buildings and
tourism facilities.

Three Turks Abducted in Iraq: Three Turks were abducted by
an insurgent group called `Al-Fursan Brigades' in Iraq,
Monday papers quote Al-Jazeera TV. The group said in a
statement that its repeated warnings against working with
the US forces have been in vain and that the punishment
awaiting the abducted Turks will be the last warning to
companies cooperating with the occupation forces. The Turks
were working for a Turkish company ferrying goods to US
forces in Iraq.

PKK Terrorists Captured in Mersin: Five PKK terrorists were
captured in Turkey's southern port city of Mersin, papers
reported on Saturday. 1.5 kg of plastic explosives and 20
kg of chemicals were seized in the hideout of terrorists who
were preparing to attack state institutions and tourism
facilities in the region, Mersin police said in a statement.

EDITORIAL OPINION: GWOT/Iraq

"The US and the PKK"
Umit Ozdag argued in the mass appeal-sensational "Aksam"
(8/8): "The trilateral security meeting in Washington about
the PKK ended with no tangible results. Turkey raised the
issue of the PKK bureau in Kirkuk. However, both Iraq and
the US representatives described it as a bureau of the
`Democratic Solution Party of Kurdistan.' . The US
continues to implement certain tactical steps in Iraq.
Currently the US tactic is to change the demographic
structure of Kirkuk in favor of Kurds. In recent weeks the
number of Kurds flowing into this area reached 80,000. The
US army plans to station troops in the military bases along
the Musul-Erbil-Kirkuk line and control the area. By doing
that the American army will leave other parts of Iraq to a
civil war between Sunnis and Shiites and keep `Kurdistan' in
the north away from a civil war situation. US control in
Iraq's north also means the use of oil by American and
Kurdish companies. Given the current situation in Iraq, the
US is using the PKK against Turkey as well as to gather
intelligence against Iran. Turkey is living in a period
where enemies and friends constantly change."

"Standing against Terror"
Gungor Mengi commented in the mass appeal "Vatan" (8/6):
"Growing terrorist incidents in Turkey have become a major
concern for everybody, and the Turkish Chief of General
Staff made a call to all segments of society to exert
efforts to fight against terrorism. . First of all, we
should not define the PKK's power as being bigger than it
actually is. Secondly, Turkey should do its best to
convince the US of the PKK threat. The PKK terrorists are
using the area controlled by the US and manage to cross the
border to go back to their headquarters after carrying out
their attacks in Turkey. The US is currently presenting a
double standard against the fight on terrorism, and it is
also betraying its own values. The US is losing Turkey's
friendship under the current circumstances. . Turkey's
problem with terrorism will not come to an end even if we
convince Washington about the PKK threat. There is no doubt
that some neighbors of ours with bad intentions will
continue to play terrorism as a trump card against Turkey.
Therefore, Turkey must start thinking about a professional
anti-terror military force. A professional structure is a
must, especially when we don't get sincere support even from
the US on the fight against terrorism."

"First, the War at Home Has to be Won"
Kamuran Ozbir observed in the nationalist "Ortadogu" (8/8):
"The careless attitude of the US is the biggest obstacle for
an international conference to be arranged on the issue of
terrorism. Washington is not enthusiastic about such a
conference. Including the UK, all the other allies of the
US continue to observe the growing terrorism with serious
concern. Because they are worried that some Muslim groups
in their own countries will turn against them in the future
due to the developing anti-Islam stance in the West. As the
famous French author Gilles Kepel mentioned last year, `The
Muslim's biggest intellectual battle in the next ten years
is not going to take place in Palestine or Iraq but more
likely in London, Paris and in the other European capitals.
To win the war at home naturally will require great changes
in the UK's foreign policy."

MCELDOWNEY

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