Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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 003084

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 1, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- -----
HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Erdogan Thanks US Delegation for Efforts for Turkish Cyprus
- Hurriyet
US Delegation's Cyprus Visit a Gesture for Turkish Cypriots
- Sabah
New Penal Code Endangers Press Freedom in Turkey - Aksam
Iran Tests New Missile - Aksam
Cheney: War in Iraq May End in 2009 - Sabah
Watergate Scandal's `Deep Throat' Former FBI Official -
Sabah
World Trade Organization to Handle Boeing-Airbus Dispute -
Hurriyet
New French PM Villepin a Friend of Turkey - Milliyet

OPINION MAKERS
`TRNC PM': US Delegation's Visit a `Kiss of Life' for
Turkish Cyprus - Radikal
Erdogan: US Delegation's Visit to `TRNC' Very Significant -
Zaman
Whitfield Urges Papadopoulos to End Sanctions on North
Cyprus - Yeni Safak
Whitfield: Papadopoulos Reluctant to Reunite Cyprus -
Cumhuriyet
Nicosia Fumes As Americans Visit North Cyprus - Radikal
60 Percent of Dutch Likely to Reject EU Constitution -
Cumhuriyet
Two Centuries of Russian Presence to End in Georgia - Zaman
Israel to Demolish 88 Palestinian Settlements in East
Jerusalem - Cumhuriyet
Bush Finds Amnesty International Report `Absurd' - Yeni
Safak

BRIEFING

Erdogan Receives Whitfield Delegation: Turkish dailies give
extensive coverage to meetings of US Congressmen in Ankara
following their visit to north Cyprus on Monday. On
Tuesday, Prime Minister Erdogan received Ed Whitfield, co-
chairman of the Turkey Caucus in the US House of
Representatives, and his accompanying delegation. Robert
Wexler, the other co-chair of the Caucus, joined the
delegation for the meeting with Erdogan. `The visit of the
US Congressmen to Turkish Cyprus will have a positive impact
on the Cyprus peace process,' Erdogan said, adding that
Turkey wanted a `lasting and fair' solution on Cyprus.
Erdogan also thanked the US delegation for making a
`significant' trip to northern Cyprus directly from Turkey.
Whitfield said the delegation's visit to north Cyprus was a
symbolic step toward the removal of the international
isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Responding to a
question, Erdogan said he viewed the US Congressional
delegation's visit to northern Cyprus as an indication of
new `openings' to Turkish Cyprus by Washington. Asked about
his upcoming state visit to the United States next week,
Erdogan said that Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan, the Middle East
and the fight against international terrorism will be
discussed during his meetings with the Americans. Erdogan
later told his ruling AK Party group that Turkey-US
relations continued as before within the scope of a
strategic partnership.

Ankara Reiterates Support for `Proliferation Security
Initiative': The Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) released a
statement Tuesday to mark the second anniversary of the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which was put into
practice by 11 countries in May 2003. Turkey joined the PSI
in December 2003. The MFA said that Turkey will continue
supporting activities under the security initiative against
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
`Turkey is aware of the importance of international
cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and will
continue its efforts on this issue,' the MFA said. The PSI
is a response to the growing challenge posed by the
proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems, and related
materials worldwide, "Milliyet" reports, adding that Turkey
plans to lead a military exercise related to PSI in the
Eastern Mediterranean in 2006. The paper regards the MFA
statement as an effort by Turkey to please Washington on the
eve of Prime Minister Erdogan's upcoming visit to the US.

Turkey Soon to Expand Customs Union Agreement With EU:
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Turkey
will expand its customs union (CU) agreement with the
European Union (EU) before an EU summit on June 16 in a way
that will include new member states, including Cyprus.
Analysts expect Turkey to add to the protocol a political
declaration saying that the inclusion of the Republic of
Cyprus in the CU agreement does not imply official
recognition of Nicosia by Ankara. The EU has made clear
that Turkey must sign the protocol in order to begin
accession talks on October 3, 2005.

Controversial Penal Code Takes Effect: Turkey's new penal
code, a controversial bill that includes restrictions on the
press and enhanced prison sentences for journalists, took
effect on June 1, papers report. The new code brings
restrictions on the reporting of organized criminal
activities and news stories that contradict official
policies. Reports claim that the law provides increased
prison terms for individuals who openly criticize the state,
the parliament, the judiciary, or the military. The new
code also eases penalties on those who open or manage
illegal Koran courses, though that controversial provision
may face a veto by President Sezer. The law increases
penalties for `honor killings,' rape, torture, and street
theft.

Erdogan to Visit Lebanon: Prime Minister Erdogan plans to
visit Lebanon June 15 as the official guest of Prime
Minister Najip Mikati following an earlier visit to the
United States, "Yeni Safak" reports. Erdogan will attend
the `Arab Economic Summit' in Beirut during his visit, which
is seen as a contribution to the Middle East peace process.

Rabbani Claims Former Afghan Warlord Massoud Killed by US:
Former Afghan President Burhaneddin Rabbani said in an
interview with the Islamist-oriented "Yeni Safak" that the
September 11 attacks were not organized by Osama bin Ladin,
and that the United States might have engineered the killing
of Afghan warlordAhmad Shah Massoud, leader of the Northern
Alliance. Rabbani claimed that the Taliban was established
by former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto with
support from `the US and its partners.'

General Buyukanit Due in Greece: Turkish Land Forces
Commander General Yasar Buyukanit is to visit Athens on June
22, papers report. Buyukanit will address Greek military
students at the War Academy in Athens, where a Turkish flag
was found desecrated in a room where Turkish officers were
being hosted as part of an exchange program in April. The
visit will be the first ever by a Turkish Land forces
Commander to Greece.

Pakistan's Aziz in Ankara: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of
Pakistan arrived in Ankara on Tuesday on a state visit.
Aziz is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Erdogan,
President Sezer, Parliament Speaker Arinc, and Foreign
Minister Gul on Wednesday.

EDITORIAL OPINION: The EU Constitution

"One Threat Has Passed"
Erdal Safak commented in the mass appeal "Sabah" (6/1):
"With the French `no' vote, the heart of the European
Constitution stopped beating. Today's referendum in the
Netherlands will render it brain-dead. Some believe that
the June 16 EU summit will mark the official end of the
European Constitution, while others expect the process to
continue until the last referendum is held. The address of
the last referendum is of course Britain. British PM Blair
is expected to make the most of this time, since Britain is
also going to take charge of the EU presidency as of July 1.
. A growing number of editorials in the British press seems
to agree on one thing: the referendum result marked the
failure of French-German leadership and paved the way for
the `British model.' The British model basically envisages
the EU as an economic union. This makes things a lot easier
for Turkey. But there is more good news for Turkey coming
from Paris. Chirac has appointed the pro-Turkish Villepin
for the Prime Ministry instead of Sarkozy, an advocate of
privileged partnership. . We can be calm about France,
because Paris is likely pursue a low profile in the period
ahead. There seems to be no other option available for
France in the EU at this point. As "The Financial Times"
has suggested, the main question is not about who will be
the new members of the EU, but rather whether France will be
allowed to remain as a member."

"The Impact of the French Referendum"
Melih Asik argued in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (6/1):
"While Europe is in chaos after the referendum result in
France, the Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
remain calm. They repeatedly emphasize that `the result of
the referendum will not affect Turkey's membership process.'
If they are thinking that `Europe wouldn't have agreed to
Turkey's membership anyway,' then yes, Turkey won't be
affected. Otherwise, one has to be very ignorant to believe
that Turkey won't be affected. Turkey's prospective
membership was one of the five reasons the French people
rejected the constitution. The main reason for the
rejection was the fear of an increase in unemployment
because of cheaper labor being brought in from Turkey. In
short, Turkey's membership will affect Europe's decision,
and to think that this result is not going to affect Turkey
is just insane."

EDELMAN

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