This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
280410Z Aug 03
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005456
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
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2003
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- -
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Turkish Delegation to Iraq: "Woman Soldiers Needed for Iraq"
-Hurriyet
General Ozkok on Military Reform - Hurriyet
US Conditions Loans on Turkish Troop Deployment - Sabah
Confusing Calculations - Milliyet
General Ozkok Wants Changes in the Military - Milliyet
US Condition for Credit: "Pass the Troop Decision First" -
Turkiye
Taylor: "Military and Economic Cooperation Part of Loan
Agreement" - Milliyet
OPINION MAKERS
Government Delays Decision on Troop Deployment - Cumhuriyet
NSC Has Huge Authority - Radikal
Iraqis to Turkey: "Don't Come With US Troops" -Zaman
BRIEFING
Turkish Troop Deployment: "Cumhuriyet" reports that the
government has decided to delay the troop deployment
decision until after next month's NSC meeting. Ankara wants
to see all the reports compiled by Turkish delegations to
Iraq, as well as the results of the NSC meeting and
discussions with the US, before taking a decision.
"Milliyet" reports on contradictory statements of government
officials with regard to the deployment decision. PM
Erdogan said yesterday that parliament will hold a meeting
on October 1, as scheduled, and will not call an emergency
session in September. However, FM Gul announced that an
emergency session is still a possibility.
US Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor's Statement:
"Milliyet" reports that US Treasury Undersecretary John
Taylor announced that the US might give approval to $1
billion in assistance for Turkey in September. Asked if the
timing of the Turkish decision on troops would have an
impact on the timing of the US decision on loans, Taylor
noted that `military and economic cooperation have always
been part of the loan package.' "Sabah" notes that Turkey
has responded with a `wait and see' policy on its troop
decision in light of the US effort attempt to link the loan
to military cooperation. (More complete media reaction to
U/S Taylor's comments being sent septel).
NSC Authorities: "Radikal" gives extensive front page
coverage to what it claims is the `huge' power of the
National Security Council General Secretariat, and draws
attention to a secret regulation outlining the
organization's responsibilities. Under the regulation, the
NSC is authorized to carry out all necessary psychological
measures for ensuring national unity and integrity, to
coordinate its activities with intelligence organs, and to
prepare directives for the prime ministry and other
ministries in connection with the implementation of NSC
recommendations. However, a new regulation in line with
reforms contained in the seventh package will be adopted in
November.
General Ozkok's Message: "Hurriyet" writes about the
`message of change' issued by TGS Chief General Ozkok.
Ozkok made his statement after the hand-over ceremonies for
retiring generals. General Ozkok said that military
officials must be ready to adjust themselves to a changing
security environment. The depth and scope of security has
increased, and Turkey needs a high-quality intellectual
component among its personnel to cope with this changing
environment.
EDITORIAL OPINION
"America report"
Hasan Bulent Kahraman observed in the intellectual/opinion
maker Radikal (8/27): "An American friend of mine, a most
notable Republican involved in U.S. foreign policy, recently
complained to me in New York that the U.S. Administration is
confused and acting in a `frantic' way. "Two hundred years
of U.S. values have been wasted in the last two years," he
lamented. He said he had witnessed a growing fury against
the U.S. Administration during an extended international
tour he had taken recently. . Newspapers and TV channels
have become outlets of a kind of U.S. `Politburo,'he
remarked. `You can get the `real' news about America from
the European press, but not from the U.S. media,' he added.
For the first time in modern American history, Americans are
facing a world of illusions at home, which is at odds with
the most fundamental of all American values -- the truth. .
`The Administration has come to an impasse in its attempt to
solve problems through military means,' he emphasized. .
The U.S. can emerge from the Iraq swamp only through
cooperation with the rest of the world. `Regional
cooperation such as that contemplated with Turkey will not
solve the problem,' he said, `but will only hurt our
allies.'
EDELMAN