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 003729
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, JUNE 9, 2003
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
-----------------
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
U.S. suspends plan for interim government in Iraq - Hurriyet
Palestinian organizations reject road map, choose terror -
Turkiye
Erdogan letter to Bush: Continue cooperation with Turkey -
Vatan
Greece invites Turkey to EU Thessaloniki summit - Sabah
Erdogan: We support the Bush-led Road Map - Milliyet
Hamas strikes a blow against Aqaba summit - Milliyet 6/8
Wolfowitz `gang' distorted Iraqi WMD reports - Aksam
OPINION MAKERS
Palestinian organizations' bloody response to call for
disarmament - Radikal
Palestine headed toward civil war - Cumhuriyet
Peace hopes fading in Mideast - Zaman
DEHAP asks for general amnesty for KADEK - Yeni Safak
CSIS: U.S. seeking Turkey's support against Iran, Syria -
Zaman 6/7
Iran under American siege - Yeni Safak 6/8
Pentagon knew that Saddam had no WMD - Milliyet 6/7
Arabs, Muslims to be deported from U.S. - Cumhuriyet 6/8
Ashcroft wants expanded death penalty, long detention for
terrorists - Radikal 6/7
Turkey ranks third in global unemployment - Cumhuriyet
BRIEFING
EU reform package: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that
Turkey would not ignore liberalization because of security
concerns, and promised that the sixth package of EU
adjustment laws would be submitted to the parliament this
week without waiting for the June 26 meeting of the National
Security Council (NSC). Gul stressed the need to modernize
Turkey's administration. The reform package would allow
broadcast in Kurdish on private television channels. Gul
said on Saturday that the government would press ahead to
enact the reforms despite objections by the military on some
controversial issues such as broadcast in languages other
than Turkish and changes to the Law on the Struggle Against
Terrorism.
Erdogan prepares letter for Bush: MFA U/S Amb. Ugur Ziyal,
who is expected to visit the U.S. later this week, will
present a letter from Prime Minister Erdogan to President
Bush, according to Turkish dailies. Erdogan's letter
reportedly urges that Turkey and the U.S. forget past
disagreements and look to the future: `Turkey, which is
still facing westward, views the U.S. as a strategic
partner. The Iraqi nation trusts Turkey, and this could be
to the advantage of the U.S.'
AJC delegation visit: An American Jewish Committee (AJC)
delegation met with top-level Turkish leaders on Friday,
weekend dailies reported. Harold Tanner, the head of the
delegation, told officials that the AJC is ready to extend
help in exchange for Turkey's support on regional problems.
Prime Minister Erdogan vowed to boost Turkish-Israeli ties,
and said he would pay a visit to Israel soon after the
upcoming visit of Israeli President Katsav to Turkey.
Turkey wants to host Mideast peace summit: Prime Minister
Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul have called their
counterparts in Israel and Palestine, inviting them to a
prospective summit meeting in Turkey on Middle East peace.
Erdogan called Sharon on Sunday to denounce the killing of
innocent people and to express Turkey's strong support for
the Middle East roadmap highlighted by last week's summit in
Agaba. Sharon expressed satisfaction about the level of
Israeli-Turkish ties, and said that a likely meeting on
Middle East peace should be held in Turkey, according to
Monday's dailies.
Turkey's `changing' Iraqi policy: Foreign Minister Gul told
"Hurriyet" in a Sunday interview that Turkey will attempt to
exert influence on Iraq via economic cooperation. Ankara
prefers to address the Kurds via the central administration
in Baghdad, Gul said. `Kurds are an influential part of the
new Iraq. Kurds are our neighbors, and we will protect them
as well,' Gul noted. Gul is uneasy about the situation in
Kirkuk, Hurriyet claims: `A census should be held in Kirkuk
to see the actual numbers of Turkomen in the region and to
make healthier projections about Iraq's future,' Gul
emphasized.
EDITORIAL OPINION
a) Middle East
b) Iraq and US-Turkey
"It's time for Mahmoud Abbas"
Yasemin Congar wrote from Washington in mass appeal Milliyet
(6/9): "Mahmoud Abbas managed to portray a Palestinian
leadership which rules out acting with the `victim'
psychology and does not try to find a justification for
terrorism. . Recent statements from both Sharon and Abbas
have provided hope. Yet the realization of this hope
requires Abbas to disarm the Islamic Jihad, and requires
Sharon to resettle the illegal residents in the West Bank.
In any case, we should be prepared for actions to undermine
the peace effort from terrorist organizations as well as the
Israeli right wing. Ankara, like any capital in the world
that believes in the necessity of a Palestinian state as
well as Israel's security needs, should be pleased with
President Bush's involvement in the peace process. Ankara
should also search for ways to contribute to this process.
Establishing a dialogue with Abbas and his cabinet, for
example, is one way to make such a contribution."
"Turkey sees the realities of northern Iraq"
Ilnur Cevik wrote in the English language Turkish Daily News
(6/9): "At last Ankara decided to set aside its prejudices
and fears and send a Foreign Ministry delegation comprised
of prominent ambassadors on a fact-finding mission to
northern Iraq. The delegation came back with important
findings that confirm what we have been saying for the past
decade. Ankara has reportedly decided to ease some of its
`red lines' on Iraq, to take a softer line toward the Kurds,
and to treat all groups in Iraq equally, without showing
favoritism toward the Turkmen. That is welcome news for the
Iraqi Kurds who, like the Turkmen, regard themselves as our
relatives. Let us hope that the powerful military in Turkey
shares the views of the government regarding the
conciliatory mood toward the Kurds and the change of heart
on Iraq."
PEARSON