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Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

Published: Tue 20 Jan 2004 04:32 PM
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 000355
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, JANUARY 20, 2004
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Barzani Threatens - Milliyet (1/19)
Erdogan Calls Arab World to Reform - Sabah (1/19)
Mrs. Erdogan Accompanies PM to US - Sabah (1/19)
Erdogan Issues a "Reform" Message in Jeddah - Hurriyet
(1/19)
Barzani Warns US on Kirkuk - Hurriyet (1/19)
Pakistan President Musarraf in Ankara - Sabah
Clinton Gives Democracy Lesson in Jeddah - Milliyet
Erdogan: "We Must Renew Ourselves" - Turkiye
OPINION MAKERS
Critical Week for Cyprus - Radikal
Cyprus Threat from Athens - Cumhuriyet
Kirkuk Ultimatum from Barzani - Cumhuriyet
BRIEFING
Iraq: "Cumhuriyet" reports that KDP leader Barzani's
threats to US over Kirkuk are becoming harsher. Barzani
wants the control of Kirkuk to be given to his group and
warns that if the Iraqi Interim Government does not give the
control to them by March 1, they'll solve the issue
themselves. "Zaman" reports that during his meeting with
Bush, PM Erdogan will stress Turkish sensitivity on ethnic-
based federation attempts in Iraq. Erdogan will also
highlight the Turkish worries over the conflict between
Washington rhetoric and their action in Iraq on the issue of
equal group representation there. "Radikal" notes that
Erdogan will stress that the US support for the Kurds fuels
the ethnic conflict there and the US is responsible for the
chaos in Iraq. "Cumhuriyet" notes that not only Turkey and
the regional countries but the UN also is disturbed by the
developments in Iraq.
Cyprus: "Hurriyet" reports that PM Erdogan will meet with
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for 45 minutes on January 24
at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In the meeting
Erdogan will convey to Annan the new Cyprus positions of
Ankara as well as the views of TRNC president Denktas and
the new PM Talat. "Zaman" highlights Turkish FM Abdullah
Gul's comments saying that the EU became aware of Turkey's
importance after the September 11 attacks and the Iraqi war.
However, Greek PM Simitis responded to this statement saying
that Turkey's EU entry would not be possible without a
settlement in Cyprus.
EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq; Jeddah Economic Forum
"The US makes mistake, too"
Haluk Ulman argued in the economic-politic Dunya (1/20):
"Current developments in Iraq demonstrate the fallacy of the
preconceived notion that a superpower like the US will never
be mistaken. In fact, as the history reminds us in both the
Vietnam and Somalia examples, the US has made plenty of
mistakes. The Iraq issue has turned into a quagmire for the
US. The invasion of Iraq was concluded quickly, yet the
rest remains a puzzle because of US miscalculations. . The
Bush administration is now planning to leave Iraq, but it
will not be easy given the risks. The US will lose its
credibility if it leaves Iraq without establishing a
functioning regime. This could even lead to a civil war.
On the other hand, staying in Iraq might bring the US higher
casualties due to the growing resistance. It is amazing to
see the US superpower is right in the middle of this
dilemma."
"Messages for Change"
Sami Kohen noted in the mass appeal Milliyet (1/20): "The
statement by Turkish PM Erdogan at the Jeddah Economic Forum
contains some very important messages. The most important
message is his call for the Islamic world to participate in
change. The world is divided into two, as Erdogan put it:
those who are willing to change, and those who become
spectators to change. Turkey has become part of the former,
and Erdogan urged the latter to take urgent action to
reform. . Turkish officials have given similar messages to
the Islamic world in other platforms as well, such as in
Iran and Malaysia. Erdogan's appeal at the Jeddah forum
again shows that Turkey is capable of presenting itself as a
model to the Islamic world. Turkey can also play a bridge
role between the Western world and the Islamic world, a fact
that is as important as Turkey's geo-strategic
significance."
EDELMAN
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