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 003911
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, JUNE 17, 2003
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
-----------------
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Demonstrations spreading in Iran - Hurriyet
EU approves use of force against Iran, North Korea -
Milliyet
Turkey, U.S. healing wounds - Aksam
Desert Scorpion hunts Saddam's men - Aksam
`Desert Scorpion' against Iraqi resistance - Hurriyet
Clinton to become NY mayor - Turkiye
New reform package to reduce military members in NSC -
Milliyet
President strikes a blow against Uzan family - Sabah
OPINION MAKERS
UN: Iran violates nuclear non-proliferation treaty -
Cumhuriyet
Nuclear pressure on Tehran - Radikal
Grossman's `strategic ally' gesture - Zaman
Baath militia ambushes U.S. troops - Radikal
U.S. striving to win hearts of Iraqis in Fallujah -
Cumhuriyet
BBC survey: 57 percent worldwide have negative opinion of
Bush - Cumhuriyet
Denktas unconvinced: Neither Annan Plan nor EU - Cumhuriyet
Denktas: Weston did not propose a solution - Yeni Safak
Israel against temporary cease-fire - Yeni Safak
U.S. seeks cooperation with Taliban - Yeni Safak
FINANCIAL JOURNALS
Public Procurement Law to be enacted this summer - Dunya
Gul: Turkey won't need IMF after 2004 - Finansal Forum
BRIEFING
MFA delegation in U.S.: MFA U/S Ambassador Ziyal told the
press after meeting with Richard Armitage, Marc Grossman and
Paul Wolfowitz that Turkey and the U.S. have agreed to
continue cooperating as `strategic partners.' Grossman said
that the two `strategic partners' reviewed all aspects of
their bilateral relationship. The Turkish side presented
the U.S. a comprehensive package on the rebuilding of Iraq,
and Ankara reportedly offered to spend part of the $1
billion U.S. assistance grant for Turkey for the
reconstruction effort. The package also considered a
possible Turkish contribution to the peacekeeping force in
Iraq.
Weston in Northern Cyprus: After meeting with Greek Cypriot
President Papadopoulos over the weekend, U.S. Special Cyprus
Coordinator Tomas Weston met with Turkish Cypriot leader
Denktas on Monday. The Greek Cypriot side is ready to
resume the UN-sponsored talks in September, Weston told
Denktas. Denktas declined the offer, however, saying that
it is no longer possible to revive the Annan plan. Denktas
noted that the Turkish Cypriots would join the EU only once
Turkey's full membership is secured.
New EU adjustment reforms: Papers report on a new government
effort to increase civilian control over military
expenditures. According to proposals in the `seventh' EU
reform package, military procurement will become more
transparent, and military spending will be included in the
general budget. Civilians will be assigned to the post of
National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general, and force
commanders will be excluded from the NSC. The new package
also restricts the authority of the president. Papers
speculate that the new package will also expand freedom for
conducting political propaganda in Kurdish.
President approves takeover of Uzan companies: President
Sezer approved a Council of Ministers decree ordering the
takeover of energy plants owned by the Uzan Group. The
president's approval of the decree without any delay is seen
as open support for the government's decision to seize ten
energy companies and dams belonging to the Uzan family for
ongoing violations of contract provisions with the Energy
Ministry.
Commander warns against fundamentalism: On the 164th
anniversary of the establishment of gendarme forces, General
Sener Eruygur drew attention to intensified activity by
radical religious organizations, saying that 4,346 students
were being given fundamentalist training in a single
province. The Gendarme Commander said that secularism must
be defended in the face of the growing fundamentalist
threat.
EDITORIAL OPINION:
a) Middle East
b) Iran
"Future of the US and Palestine state"
Erhan Basyurt wrote in the Islamist-intellectual Zaman
(6/17): "If the roadmap fails, it will negatively affect not
only Israel and Palestine, but also the US and particularly
the prestige of President Bush. The US is well aware of the
fact that the gist of anti-American radicalism stems from
the Palestinian issue. In the eyes of the US, a democratic
Palestinian state is to be the core of a democratic
restructuring of the Middle East. To prevent failure, the
US must be willing to exert its political, economic and
political clout on both sides in an impartial manner. Yet
this balancing act may prove as difficult as finding a
settlement."
"Iran and who is doing what?"
Sami Kohen wrote in mass appeal Milliyet (6/17): "Iran,
under both internal and external pressure, is experiencing
its most critical period since the Islamic revolution.
Iran's future is uncertain. . At this stage, we don't see a
move by the masses against the regime. Yet recent events
indicate that the people of Iran, for the first time, are
raising their voices against the system and the regime's
current policies. It is important to see what action the
regime will take and how much it will heed the voices of the
people. . As for the US, its goal is not exactly clear, but
it goes without saying that the Bush administration wants
the Tehran regime to end. . If Washington is determined to
`deal with' Iran now, it means that the region will go
through a very intense period."
PEARSON