This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005628
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
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- -
HEADLINES
MASS APPEALS
General Jones: A UN Peacekeeping Force Under US Command -
Sabah
Bush Seeks UN Support - Milliyet
CHP Leader Baykal Criticizes Government for Troop Deployment
- Milliyet
PM Erdogan: "Turks Free Movement in Europe Could Be Limited"
- Milliyet
Poland Resumes Duty South of Baghdat - Milliyet
US Promises to Eliminate PKK in Northern Iraq - Turkiye
Turkey's Five Conditions For Iraq - Hurriyet
New Iraqi Government Resumes Duty - Hurriyet
PM Erdogan: Turkey Wants to be Part of a Secular Europe"
-Hurriyet
Powell: Must Wait for the Democratic Process on Turkey's
Troop Decision" - Hurriyet
OPINION MAKERS
Turkish General Staff Supports Troops for Iraq" - Radikal
Good News On Inflation - Radikal
NATO Formula for Iraq From General Jones - Yeni Safak
Inflation Numbers Lowest in 20 Years - Zaman
Babacan Says Credit Agreement With US to be Signed Soon -
Zaman
BRIEFING
PM Erdogan's Remarks on EU Accession: In remarks to Italy's
`La Repubblica' newspaper, PM Erdogan emphasized the
importance of secularism in Europe. "Sabah" notes that
Erdogan tried to ease fears in European countries about the
possible consequences if Turkish workers are allowed free
movement throughout the EU. The PM stressed that Turkey
could accept some restrictions regarding the free movement
of labor even after it becomes a full member of the Union.
In Italy this weekend, PM Erdogan will give details of
Turkey's EU harmonization reforms and will have a working
dinner with his Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi.
General Jones' Visits Turkey: "Hurriyet" reports that in
his contacts in Ankara, General Jones focused on the transit
of a possible Turkish troop deployment to Iraq and the need
to neutralize the PKK/KADEK. In a statement released by the
Turkish General Staff following the meeting, the TGS noted
that military delegations from the US and Turkey would begin
meeting today to discuss military and technical issues
related to the deployment. "Hurriyet" predicts that during
these meetings, Turkey will present five conditions to US:
Turkey wants full authority in the sector that will be given
to Turkish troops; Turkey must head the command structure
for troops in its sector; Turkey and the US will undertake
serious steps to eliminate the PKK/KADEK in northern Iraq;
Turkish forces in Northern Iraq will give logistic support
for the transport of forces toward Baghdad; Turkey should be
given financial support for the deployment, based on the
Polish example.
US State Department Statement on PKK/KADEK: "Turkiye" gives
extensive front-page coverage to the statement of US State
Department Spokesman Richard Boucher regarding the
announcement of the end of the PKK/KADEK cease-fire.
Boucher said that all terror groups in Northern Iraq must be
neutralized, including the PKK -- a terrorist organization.
He noted that the United States and Turkey will hold close
contacts to allay Turkish concerns on this issue.
EDITORIAL OPINION
"Troop deployment and KADEK"
Koray Duzgoren commented in Islamic intellectual/opinion
maker Yeni Safak (9/4): "The U.S. has demanded that Turkish
troops be deployed in zones of Iraq which are causing
trouble for the Americans. . The PKK/KADEK has announced an
end to its cease-fire with Turkey. This decision might
negatively affect American efforts to see Turkish troops in
Iraq. Turkey, on the pretext of deploying troops to central
Iraq, is considering keeping a certain number of troops in
the North to maintain pressure on Iraqi Kurdish groups and
KADEK. . Although the AKP government does not seem
concerned, renewed clashes with the PKK/KADEK are possible.
. The U.S. wants stability in the region. Turkey also
needs regional peace and stability to improve its economy.
The AKP government must swiftly change its position of
ignoring the Kurdish problem. The AKP must understand that
KADEK is not merely a terror organization, but is closely
related to the Kurdish problem. The government must abandon
its posture of seeing the troop deployment issue through the
lens provided by the military and the elite rulers of the
state structure."
"Towards the finale"
Okay Gonensin noted in the mass appeal Vatan (9/4):
"Islamist terror and the war in Iraq have shown that an EU
with Turkey will be in a stronger position to address the
new balances in the Middle East. . If a solution is not
reached in Cyprus by May 2004, Turkey will become an
occupier of the land of an EU member country. . The Greek
Cypriot Administration will naturally use its advantageous
position in the EU to push for a settlement in Cyprus. .
Leading EU members have shown that Turkey will not be
blocked in its EU drive, but they have also made clear that
they expect Ankara to make progress on the Cyprus issue.
There is no sense in allowing the possibility of failure now
that Turkey has come this close to reaching its goal of EU
membership."
EDELMAN