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 006113
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, SEPTEMBER 29, 2003
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- ---------
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Gul defends U.S. loan for Turkey - Hurriyet 9/28
Bremer: 19 Al-Qaida members caught in Iraq- - Millliyet 9/28
Barzani: Our democracy a model for all of Iraq - Hurriyet
Washington urges Iraqi interim government to draft
constitution - Aksam 9/28
Heir to Iraqi throne: Turkey should help us - Turkiye
Grandson of Khomeini urges democracy for Iran - Sabah 9/28
Grandson of Khomeini calls on US to support reformers in
Iran - Aksam 9/28
Landmines on Turkey-Greece border to be removed - Milliyet
9/27
OPINION MAKERS
Bush Administration's Iraq impasse - Radikal 9/28
U.S. to send 10,000 in reinforcements to Iraq - Cumhuriyet
9/28
Laura Bush on Europe tour - Radikal
`Bush Boulevard' in Tikrit - Radikal
Putin wants UN resolution for Iraqi peacekeeping - Zaman
9/28
Saddam hiding out in Azerbaijan - Yeni safak
Putin won't send troops to Iraq - Cumhuriyet
BRIEFING
U.S., Turkey disagree over Iraq: Dailies claim that U.S.
hopes for a contribution from Turkey to the Iraq
stabilization mission are diminishing, and that the U.S. is
preparing to deploy an additional 15,000 American troops in
Iraq. Ankara's demands for the elimination of the PKK/KADEK
before deploying peacekeepers in Iraq have caused concern in
Washington. U.S. diplomatic sources are quoted as saying
that talks between the U.S. and Turkey on Iraq are
deadlocked.
FM Gul on $8.5 bln U.S. loan: Foreign Minister Gul said in
a press conference in New York that the $8.5 billion U.S.
loan for Turkey is not tied to a possible deployment of
Turkish peacekeepers in Iraq. Gul added that the loan will
not affect Turkey's struggle against the PKK/KADEK in
Northern Iraq. Gul also said that the parliament would not
reject a motion for deploying Turkish troops in Iraq if such
a motion were to be submitted by the government.
Iraqi heir apparent criticizes U.S.: The leading member of
the Iraqi royal family, heir apparent Sharif Ali bin
Hussein, who the U.S. is considering for Iraqi leadership,
said to "Turkiye" that Turkey should deploy troops in Iraq.
`Turkey should not allow Iraq to disintegrate. Iraq needs
soldiers from Turkey, not from the U.S. or other countries,'
bin Hussein said. He complained that the U.S. has not
fulfilled its promises to the Iraqi people, and that the
situation in Iraq is deteriorating.
Gul, Papandreou agree on projects: The Turkish and Greek
foreign ministers opened a new chapter in bilateral
friendship during their meeting in New York. The two
ministers signed a deal for sweeping landmines, and reached
verbal agreement on cooperation at the 2004 Olympic Games in
Athens. Turkish companies will be allowed to win contracts
for Olympic-related infrastructure projects. Gul and
Papandreou also agreed to facilitate transport for tourists
to visit the Aegean coasts of both countries.
EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq/US-Turkey
"The Cost of the US Loan"
Sedat Ergin wrote in mass appeal Hurriyet (9/28): "Turkey
has apparently accepted a US condition that Turkish troops
not be sent unilaterally into northern Iraq in order to
receive the $ 8.5 billion credit. In fact, northern Iraq is
not the only condition on the loan. The loan will be
suspended if Turkey does not cooperate with the US in Iraq,
and does not share efforts for the stabilization of the
country. . The timing of the deal was also very interesting:
the loan was signed two days following the expiration of the
Turkish parliament's authorization providing a mandate to
the Turkish government to deploy troops in northern Iraq as
needed. . Economy Minister Babacan, who signed the
agreement on Turkey's behalf, has also made some strange
remarks, including a call to the government to `be careful'
about this deal. Babacan added that the responsibility for
this risky deal belongs to the MFA. . We need clarification
from the Turkish Foreign Ministry about these allegations,
and the reasons for its green light for signing the deal."
"The Northern Iraq Condition"
Fikret Bila wrote in mass appeal Milliyet (9/28): "The
financial deal between Turkey and the US is conditioned to
keep Turkey out of northern Iraq. This shows once again
that the interests of the two Kurdish groups, PUK and KDP,
are a higher priority for the US than Turkey's interests.
The agreement clearly indicates that US policy is not to
allow Turkey to use unilateral force in northern Iraq. In
fact, this condition is going to serve not only the interest
of the PUK and KDP, but also the PKK/KADEK's interests as
well. . Turkey should develop new policies for both northern
Iraq and Iraq as a whole. The current Turkish policy is
based on a rhetoric that suggests Turkey will use force in
Northern Iraq as needed. But this approach is no longer
valid under the current circumstances. The fact of the
matter is that Ankara is incapable of shaping policies free
of US influence, and thus it should stop deceiving Turkish
public opinion."
EDELMAN