This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001481
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, MARCH 11, 2004
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
HEADLINES
MASS APPEALS
MFA urges US to meet promise on the PKK - Hurriyet
Verheugen: Denktas responsible for delay in Cyprus solution
- Milliyet
New Greek FM: Cyprus talks timetable must not change -
Milliyet
TGS acknowledges collecting information on civilians - Aksam
Kirkuk a powder keg - Turkiye
PLO: Abu Abbas killed by the Americans - Sabah
A/S William Burns: Sanctions for Syria on the Way - Aksam
Fener Patriarchate Synod convenes - Milliyet
OPINION MAKERS
DeSoto admits UN expects disorder in Cyprus - Cumhuriyet
Ankara criticizes Greek Cypriots for May 1 complacency -
Cumhuriyet
Weston: No deadlock in Cyprus talks - Zaman
Constitution paves way for return of Shiites, Jews to Iraq -
Zaman
Kuwait joins countries opposing GME project - Yeni Safak
Jordanian king to visit Ankara March 16-17 - Cumhuriyet
South African, Serbian mercenaries in Baghdad - Yeni Safak
BRIEFING
Ambassador Neumann in Ankara: Ambassador Ronald Neumann
from CPA and an accompanying Iraqi delegation briefed MFA
officials on Wednesday in detail regarding developments in
Iraq and economic issues. `We have outlined fields for
cooperation between Turkey and Iraq,' Neumann said, and he
voiced hope for a bright economic future for the two
countries. After meeting with Neumann, the MFA issued a
statement urging the Bush Administration to fulfill its
earlier pledges to remove the PKK threat from the region.
"Sabah" reports that the Turkish side was disappointed by
the Iraq-Turkey economic talks. The paper claims that the
U.S. rejected Turkish proposals to establish a civilian air
link between Istanbul and Baghdad, end illegal taxation on
the Iraqi side of the border, and open a second border
crossing at Ovakoy for transit to Mosul.
Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas said the UN would
deploy 7,000 peacekeepers on the island following an
agreement between the two Cypriot sides. UN Special Cyprus
envoy Alvaro DeSoto said the high number of peacekeepers was
necessary to deal with possible disturbances that might
arise after a settlement. US Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom
Weston confirmed Turkey's demand for guarantees that an
agreement will not be annulled in the future because it is
not part of the EU Primary Law. Weston denied claims that
the talks are at a standstill. `TRNC' officials Mehmet Ali
Talat and Serdar Denktas arrived in Ankara Wednesday evening
for consultations with the MFA. `TRNC Prime Minister' Talat
said that give-and-take bargaining would begin soon, and
noted that a news blackout could be declared in order to
avoid public tension.
Military monitors `dangerous' individuals, groups: Turkey's
military is violating the law by drawing up a list of
organizations and people it wants monitored as a potential
threat to national security, papers report. The TGS has
confirmed that the Land Forces Command sent a directive
through the jandarma to a number of subgovernors asking them
to gather information on groups including artists, adherents
of `marginal' political or religious movements, supporters
of the EU and US, Masons, Satanists, internet groups, and
philosophy clubs. `Advance planning is necessary to take
efficient measures against problems that might arise,' the
TGS said in a statement on Wednesday. Opposition party CHP
has submitted a motion to the parliament claiming that the
TGS action violated freedom of expression. Several
columnists in today's papers criticize the military
directive, arguing that domestic intelligence gathering is
the responsibility of the police and other institutions.
Cuneyt Ulsever argued in "Hurriyet" that `the mentality of
those in Turkey who are opposed to the EU has now been
documented.' Ulsever wrote that the military `sees everyone
except themselves as potential enemies of the state.'
EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq/TAL; Haiti
"Northern Iraq and Northern Cyprus"
Koray Duzgoren draws a parallel in the Islamist Yeni Safak
(3/11): "There are significant parallels between the rights
demanded by the Kurds population in the process of
restructuring Iraq and the rights demanded for the northern
Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots are looking to extend their
sovereignty in northern Cyprus and want to see the central
government kept weak and symbolic. The Turkish Cypriots are
also seeking political equality and administrative equality,
regardless of the demographic balance with the Greek
Cypriots. . Let's look closer at the situation in northern
Iraq: The recently signed TAL granted certain rights to the
Iraqi Kurds which are similar to the rights Turkey is asking
for the northern Cypriots. The Kurds are about to establish
a state in the north by being autonomous on administrative
and defense affairs. The only difference between the two
concerns EU membership for Cyprus. Membership in the EU
will eventually help to eliminate borders and administrative
differences between the two Cypriot communities. . Turkey
should not object to the rights for Kurds in Iraq because it
is working for the same rights for Turkish Cypriots in the
north of Cyprus. Kurds have been living under autonomy in
this area for many years. The new constitution for Iraq is
only putting this de facto reality into law. This means the
Kurds will be `officially' part of Turkey's neighborhood.
The people of Iraq and the international community reached a
consensus on the restructuring in Iraq, and Turkey should
not stand against it. The right approach for Turkey is to
face the reality and abandon its hostile policy. A new Iraq
with a semi-independent Kurdistan is going to pave the way
for a new era in the Middle East. Needless to say, the
formation of a new Cyprus republic is an indispensable part
of this process."
"Democracy For Everyone"
Sami Kohen opined in the mass appeal Milliyet (3/11): It
seems that the US is making an effort to become the
`democracy savior' of the world. It is well known that the
US has long tried to `export' liberal political and economic
systems as well as US cultural values to other countries.
After September 11, however, the Bush administration began
thinking about carrying `order and democracy' to Asia
(Afghanistan) and the Middle East (Iraq) as a kind of `holy
mission.' Washington is also engaged in an effort to impose
its will in other parts of the world such as Haiti and South
America (Venezuela). Developments in Haiti and Venezuela
did not attract much attention in Turkey. In both
countries, leaders were ousted from power as the result of
public protests. There is a direct connection between the
US global democracy campaign and the internal issues of
these two countries. Washington has alternated between
support for dictators like Duvailer and elected leaders
like Aristide, but has shown no hesitation in eliminating
either type depending on the circumstances. In 1991,
Aristide was thrown out with the help of the CIA, and in
1994 he was returned to his position with Clinton's support.
Last weekend, Bush closed his eyes as the democratically
elected Aristide was toppled. Now Washington has sent
troops to the island in an effort to help Haiti to establish
a new administration. This time France is supporting the
US! It wouldn't be a surprise if Hugo Chavez of Venezuela
faces the same fate very soon. Chavez is a despot as well,
and he is both pro-Castro and anti-American.Moreover,
Venezuela supplies a big part of US oil needs. Therefore
Venezuela also needs to be democratized."
EDELMAN