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 003201
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,
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2004
THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER
THREE THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
HEADLINES
MASS APPEALS
Turkey at the table of giants - Hurriyet
Turks abducted in Iraq for `serving Americans' - Sabah
Turkish-Israeli crisis growing - Milliyet
UN decides to end Iraq occupation by January 2006 - Milliyet
US Attorney General's report: Torture may be legitimate -
Aksam
DEP lawmakers appeal for release - Hurriyet
Spain, Belgium, Italy launch joint Al-Qaeda operation -
Aksam
OPINION MAKERS
G-8 gives Turkey leading role for regional reforms - Zaman
Al-Qaeda crackdown in Europe - Radikal
Qaeda hunt in Europe - Cumhuriyet
NATO Summit detentions in Istanbul - Cumhuriyet
UNSC denies autonomy for Iraqi Kurds - Zaman
Turks become new target of Iraq resistance - Cumhuriyet
OIC Istanbul summit to discuss Cyprus, Iraq, Palestine -
Yeni Safak
Heavy toll in Iraq: 15 killed - Yeni Safak
Resisters intensify attacks in Iraq - Radikal
BRIEFING
PM Erdogan to G-8 Summit: Before setting off to attend the
G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia, PM Erdogan said on
Tuesday that reform efforts in the Middle East are doomed to
fail if they are imposed from the outside and if the Arab-
Israeli conflict and the Iraq problem are not resolved. On
Wednesday, Erdogan will join the G-8 discussions on the
Greater Middle East initiative as a `democratic partner.'
President Bush is planning to make Turkey the co-chair of
the `democratic assistance dialogue group' within the
framework of the Broader Middle East and North Africa
Initiative, "Hurriyet" reports. The G-8 will give Turkey a
pioneering role in the regional reform process, "Zaman"
comments.
Ankara summons diplomats from Israel: Turkey has summoned
its ambassador from Tel Aviv and consul general from
Jerusalem to Ankara for consultations with regard to recent
developments in the Middle East. The Israeli press regards
the move as a protest over Israel's Palestine policy.
However, diplomatic sources from both countries deny press
reports about a deterioration of relations between the two
countries. The MFA said the diplomats are returning to
Ankara for `routine discussions.' "Cumhuriyet" regards the
move as Ankara's message to Arab countries that Turkey will
pursue balanced policies in the Middle East. Israeli
Ambassador to Ankara, Pinhas Avivi, acknowledged some
`minor' problems, but voiced no doubt about the friendship
between the two countries.
Turks kidnapped in Iraq: Iraqi insurgents abducted seven
more Turks for `serving the US in Iraq,' papers report. The
Iraqi hostage-takers threatened to kill the Turks unless
Ankara denounces the occupation of Iraq. Analysts told
"Cumhuriyet" that Turks in Iraq were kidnapped following
some recent Turkish government statements in support of the
US Greater Middle East initiative. A civil war is looming
in Iraq, and Western businessmen are leaving the country,
according to "Cumhuriyet."
Increased security for NATO Summit: Police detained 25
journalists from pro-Kurdish media on Tuesday, as Turkey
stepped up security for the Istanbul NATO summit in late
June, which will be attended by President Bush and other
world leaders. Police raided the Istanbul offices of the
pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency and "Ozgur Halk" magazine,
seizing computers and other records on the grounds that the
media groups belong to an illegal organization. Police also
raided an undisclosed number of other media outlets,
associations and private homes.
EDITORIAL OPINION: G-8 at Sea Island
"Is Turkey the Trojan Horse?"
Semih Idiz commented in the mass appeal Aksam (6/9): "It is
obvious that the general opinion in the Arab world for the
Greater Middle East Project first, and then for the Broader
Great Middle East and Northern Africa Region Project, is
rather negative. People who follow the Arab press, are well
aware of this opinion. Washington's efforts to include
Turkey to this initiative as the `Democratic Partner',
caused Arab world to consider Turkey as the `Trojan
Horse'(During 2002 Copenhagen summit, US' support for
Turkey's EU entrance, had made the EU to believe that the US
was pushing the Trojan Horse through the gates of Europe!).
In another way, Arab officials who don't trust Turkey fully
because of its close relations with Israel, now, consider
Turkey as the US' tool in the region. In short, it should
be discussed, how much Turkey benefits from the US
presentation of it as the `Strategic Partner' to the EU and
the `Democratic Partner' to the Arab world. But, it should
always be remembered that Turkey has a strategic importance
for the west. And with its parliamentary democracy, Turkey
is the model for the region. Therefore, whoever calls
Turkey as the US' Trojan Horse, they either try to keep
Turkey itself, or the political paradigm it represents, in a
certain distance."
EDELMAN