INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report,

Published: Thu 29 Jul 2004 03:50 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 03 ANKARA 004233
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, JULY 29, 2004
THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Tehran assures Turkey on PKK - Milliyet
Iran gives full support against PKK - Vatan
No freedom for women in Iran - Sabah
Blood bath in Iraq: 114 killed - Sabah
Democrats did not let Bush opponent Moore speak - Hurriyet
Saddam, paralyzed, may die before appearing at court -
Hurriyet
Bernard Lewis: Europe will fall under Islam's influence -
Milliyet
OPINION MAKERS
Ankara-Tehran alliance against PKK/Kongra Gel - Yeni Safak
All is fine with Iran - Radikal
Tehran Times: Zionists wanted to prevent Erdogan's visit -
Yeni Safak
Iranian natural gas to West via Turkey - Yeni Safak
Bakuba turns into hell: 68 dead - Cumhuriyet
Iraqi captive: Gen. Karpinski witnessed torture at Abu
Ghraib - Cumhuriyet
Doctors Without Borders flee Afghanistan - Cumhuriyet
Sharon calls, 200 French Jews migrate to Israel - Zaman
French Jews follow Sharon's call, leave for Israel - Radikal
If elected, Kerry will continue Bush's `GME' project - Zaman
Kerry, too, says `GME' - Birgun
Holbrooke Democrats' candidate for State Secretary - Zaman
Kerry a `warrior,' according to wife - Radikal
Michael Moore to Democrats: Don't go right - Radikal
BRIEFING
PM Erdogan in Iran: Visiting Turkish PM Erdogan held
Wednesday a press conference at Turkey's Embassy in Tehran,
saying both Iran and Turkey had paid heavy costs because of
terror. The two sides have discussed Afghanistan, Iraq,
Israel-Palestine, and Cyprus, and agreed to sign a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) on terrorism on Thursday,
Erdogan said. Responding to a question on the US Greater
Middle East (GME) project, Erdogan said that Turkey, a co-
chairman of the GME, would monitor progress with regard to
democracy, freedom, and economy in the Middle Eastern and
north African countries. Iranians told him they would use
nuclear energy for civilian purposes, Erdogan noted, and
added: "Tehran has signed an agreement with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but the Iranian
parliament did not endorse it. I welcome Tehran's decision
to sign the additional protocol to the nuclear non-
proliferation treaty that would give UN increased authority
for inspection." Erdogan warned Tehran to be `more careful'
in relations with the IAEA. We will be improving relations
not only with Iran, but all neighboring countries as part of
Turkey's efforts towards regional peace, Erdogan stressed.
Erdogan also urged Tehran to support Turkey's candidacy for
a non-permanent member seat at the UNSC. Turkish PM
welcomed a recent opening of Turkish Language and Literature
Department at an Iranian university. Erdogan also
reiterated Turkey's position against the disintegration of
Iraq. On Cyprus, Erdogan recalled US efforts to end the
international isolation of `TRNC,' and asked Tehran to
imporve relations with northern Cyprus. Turkey would take
over the ISAF command from February-August 2005 in
Afghanistan, Erdogan said and underlined Turkish efforts to
improve the infrastructure of the war-torn country. Turkey
will also continue to contribute to peace efforts in
Palestine, he added. Iran's First Vice President Mohamed
Reza Aref said that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons.
Tehran shares Ankara's views on terror, Aref said and
pledged to do their best regarding PKK activities in the
region. Aref suggested the establishment of a free trade
zone between Iran, Turkey and Pakistan, to which Syria and
Lebanon would also join. PM Erdogan will be received by
President Khatami today.
Turkish Cypriots to hold early polls: `TRNC' council of
ministers has decided to hold early elections on November 6,
papers report. Meanwhile, FM Gul said international
sanctions on the `TRNC' would eventually end, and that
international flights to northern Cyprus would soon begin.
We soon expect a rise in international investments in the
`TRNC,' Gul stressed.
Turkey to produce tanks for military: Turkish Defense
Ministry will sign Thursday an agreement with BMC, Otokar
and FNSS for the production of 250 tanks for the Turkish
military, "Milliyet" reports. In May, the Defense Industry
Undersecretariat cancelled an international bid invited by
the Turkish government for purchase of tanks in 1996. The
locally produced tanks will cost below $10 million each, and
will be handed over to Turkish military in 2010. The tanks
will be deployed in Thrace in the face of the threat posed
by Greece, "Milliyet" speculates.
Ankara prefers OIC, not EU on Sudan: The ruling AK Party
government does not agree with the EU's calling for
sanctions on Khartoum for not disarming the Janjaweed
militia, which killed black Africans in Darfur. Instead it
supports the Organization of Islamic Conference's (OIC)
calling for more time for the Sudanese government, writes
"Cumhuriyet." MFA Spokesman Namik Tan said the OIC troika
of Turkey, Iran and Yemen asked the UN on July 15 to give a
chance to the African League's efforts towards a solution.
"Cumhuriyet"s headline says that the AK Party government
asked the UN for time for `the extension' of violence in
Darfur.
EDITORIAL OPINION
"US' Stance and Turkey's Calculations Over the Iranian Gas"
Mustafa Karaalioglu wrote in the Islamist-opinion maker Yeni
Safak (7/29): "After the intense series of meetings in
Iran, I asked PM Erdogan if the meetings were up to his
expectations. He responded that the meetings were good but
nothing was as easy as it seemed. On the commercial side of
the relations Turkey has two requests from Iran. The first
one is reducing of the prices of natural gas, and the second
is changing the `take it or pay for it' principal. Turkey
wants to stop paying for gas which exceeds its needs. The
natural gas purchase from Iran already exceeds the needs.
The most important issue to be resolved is Iran's request to
sell gas to Europe through Turkey. Iran tied this offer,
which causes political worries for Turkey, with Turkey's
requests. That is what PM Erdogan meant with `nothing is
easy as it seems'. This is an area of real tough
bargaining. Energy Minister Guler also stated that nothing
has been finalized yet and the discussions continue. Of
course, we have to remember that the meeting of the two
ministers started in the shadow of US' warnings to Turkey
regarding transferring Iranian gas to Europe. Turkey's
approach to all these warnings is that Europe, which wants
to reduce its reliance on Russian gas, wants to have more
options. European countries will get the Iranian gas
somehow. "But, if you (the US) are against this project,
let us implement the Sahdeniz Project together and sell
Turkoman natural gas to Europe''.If the US cannot bring a
rational suggestion to this issue, as a Turkish official in
the delegation says, `this will be no more than a
provocative initiative for the US, trying to direct the
media and the public."
"Friendly Pictures From Tehran"
Nuray Basaran commented in the mass appeal Aksam (7/29):
"PM Erdogan is realizing one of the most important foreign
trips of the year. The rising tensions in the Middle East
since the Iraq operation also highlight Iran's importance in
the region for Turkey. PM Erdogan's visit became
politically very important, because it has coincided with a
time of rising tensions between the US and Iran over Iran's
nuclear program. AKP government has regularly repeated its
aim to improve relations with neighboring countries. And
this visit is the indication of this. Prior to his visit,
PM Erdogan reiterated Turkey's expectation from Iran on the
PKK/KONGRA-GEL issue. After his meetings, Erdogan implied
that there were positive measures taken on the issue. That
shows, despite the US' warnings, that Turkey is determined
to establish good relations with its neighboring countries.
As PM says, `maintaining good relations is a requirement to
establish peace in the region'. As indicated by the
friendly images emanating from Tehran, we can say that this
visit, which started under the shadow of US warnings, will
be useful to lower the tension in the region and allow
Turkey and Iran to continue their relations in a secure and
stable atmosphere. Of course, the time will tell. PM
Erdogan's aim is to return to Turkey today after signing
many important agreements."
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