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 007448
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, DECEMBER 4, 2003
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
HEADLINES
MASS APPEALS
NATO's terror forum shifted to Berlin from Istanbul -
Hurriyet
Minister Cicek: Islam does not approve terror - Turkiye
US, Turkey bargain on troops to Kabul - Aksam
US Senate denounces Istanbul bombings - Milliyet
Denktas: Verheugen's remarks unfair - Hurriyet
Ankara reacts, Verheugen steps back - Sabah
Inflation below 20 percent - Milliyet
OPINION MAKERS
Gen. Pace discusses with Turks measures against the PKK -
Cumhuriyet
Istanbul bombings target stability in Turkey - Yeni Safak
Simitis: EU urged Turkey to resolve Cyprus problem in 2004 -
Radikal
Denktas: Verheugen must be dreaming - Cumhuriyet
Verheugen: Negotiations unlikely while Turkish troops in
Cyprus - Zaman
Greek press believes Turkey won the Loizidou case - Radikal
Arabs to take Israeli security fence to The Hague - Yeni
Safak
BRIEFING
General Peter Pace in Ankara: Vice Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, reportedly said during
meetings at the TGS in Ankara on Wednesday that the US is
waiting for the deadline of the amnesty offered by Turkey
for terror organization members before taking military
action against the PKK/KADEK. The US has also asked Turkey
for logistical and intelligence support for a new army
headquarters in Afghanistan, papers report. Ankara is
generally positive on the US request, but in exchange the
Turks are demanding extensive military operations against
the PKK in Northern Iraq.
Justice Minister Cicek in US: Justice Minister and
government spokesman Cemil Cicek met with Deputy Secretary
of Defense Wolfowitz, U/S of State Grossman, and State
Department Coordinator for Counter-terrorism Ambassador
Black during his official visit to Washington. Cicek said
US officials expressed willingness for close cooperation
with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. Responding to a
question, Cicek said that such cooperation also covers
military interventions against the PKK/KADEK in Northern
Iraq. "Yeni Safak" expects Cicek to discuss with Attorney-
General Aschroft the situation of the remaining Turkish
detainees in Guantanamo.
Alan Larson with Ambassador Ziyal: At a joint press
conference with MFA U/S Ugur Ziyal following a meeting of
the Turkish-US Economic Policy Council in Washington, US
Assistant Secretary Alan Larson said the recent bombings in
Istanbul would not affect foreign investment in Turkey.
Larson added that Turkey could become a country to attract
$10 billion foreign capital annually. Larson drew attention
to the strategic partnership between US and Turkey, and
voiced confidence that Turkey had the potential to playing a
key role in Iraq's rebuilding. "Sabah" highlights that the
US side urged Turkey to resolve outstanding problems faced
by US companies and to improve the climate for foreign
investors in Turkey.
Turkish officials denounce Verheugen: Prime Minister
Erdogan urged the EU to acknowledge the existence of two
states on Cyprus, and noted that Turkey's EU membership
drive would continue. Foreign Minister Gul rebuffed
criticism by EU expansion commissioner Verheugen, and said
that Turkish troops are kept on Cyprus in line with
international agreements. Gul characterized Verheugen's
remarks regarding the role of the Turkish military in
politics as "unacceptable." Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas
blamed Verheugen for attempting to damage the ground for
compromise in Cyprus, and referred to Verheugen as "an
elephant in a china shop." Meanwhile, Verheugen voiced hope
that the Cyprus talks could be resumed if the opposition
wins the Turkish Cypriot elections.
EDITORIAL OPINION: Turkey-US-EU
"Healing the wounds with the US"
Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in the mass appeal Posta (12/4):
"Bilateral relations between Turkey and the US are rapidly
on the way to being healed. There are many things that can
be attributed to the failure of the ruling AKP, but the
government is also capable of realizing its mistakes and
making efforts to correct them. The government is doing its
best to put relations with the US back on track after they
were derailed on March 1. For instance, Turkey has started
thinking about sending troops to Afghanistan following the
decision not to push for sending them to Iraq. The AKP is
very attentive toward requests coming from the White House
or Pentagon these days. The upcoming prime ministerial
visit from Turkey to the US in January will help cap the
recovery in bilateral relations."
"Turkey Under Pressure"
Tuncay Ozkan argued in the mass appeal Aksam (12/4): "The EU
is asking us to sell out on Cyprus. The US is working for
the establishment of a Kurdish state. Yet Turkey is blind
to these efforts because of its internal political debates.
We should wake up and see the reality that the EU and the US
are working in harmony when it comes to their interests in
Turkey. . The EU's Verheugen made some insane remarks about
the Turkish Cypriot side. If similar remarks had come from
Turkey about the EU, we would have been castigated. But
thanks to our stumbling, confused politicians, the EU is
working to determine the results of the Turkish Cypriot
elections before our very eyes. . The US and the EU have the
same goal on the Cyprus issue, and the EU is also supportive
of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq just like the US. That
is the main reason for the EU's silence about US rhetoric
and actions in the region. We should also realize that both
the EU and the US have reached an undisclosed agreement for
the establishment of a Kurdish state under US supervision,
and the establishment of a Cypriot state under EU
supervision."
EDELMAN