Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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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, DECEMBER 13, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

MASS APPEAL
US-Turkey Cooperation in Counterterrorism - Hurriyet
CIA and MIT Bargain over Counterterrorism - Sabah
CIA Offers Cooperation - Sabah
Technology will be Used Against PKK - Hurriyet
CIA Director Asks Turkey's Support for Al-Qaeda - Milliyet
Turkey Expects Concrete Steps from US on PKK Issue - Turkiye
Shocking PKK File from MIT to CIA - Star
4.5-Hour Long MIT-CIA Summit - Aksam
Cross Border Operation into Northern Iraq Not Until Rice
Visit in January - Aksam
Why Did the CIA Come? - Vatan
Turkish General Staff Does Not Plan Shortened Military
Service - Hurriyet
Anti-Syrian Journalist Assassinated - Hurriyet
Election Precautions in Iraq - Sabah
Critical Elections in Iraq - Turkiye
Khalilzad: "Kurds Support a United Iraq" - Sabah
Nobel Prize Writers Support Orhan Pamuk - Milliyet
Turkey to Train Italian F-16 Pilots - Milliyet

OPINION MAKERS
Minister Cicek: Turkey's Expectation from the US More than
Intelligence - Yeni Safak
Next US Target is Iran - Cumhuriyet
CIA's Agenda: PKK and Al-Qaida - Radikal
CIA Director's Long Meeting with MIT - Zaman
Lebanon in Shock Once Again - Radikal
Turkish General Staff (TGS): Shortened Military Service is
Unfair - Cumhuriyet
Confusion in Orhan Pamuk Case - Radikal
Orhan Pamuk's File Returned to the Justice Ministry - Zaman

BRIEFING

CIA Director Porter Goss Visit: The meetings of CIA
Director Porter Goss continued to dominate the front pages
of the papers. "Hurriyet" reports that the CIA will use
special technology to stop the infiltration of PKK
terrorists into Turkey from Northern Iraq. The system will
be able to alert Turkey of movements at the border so that
security officials can take necessary steps against the
terrorists. "Milliyet' says Goss asked for Turkey's close
cooperation against Al-Qaeda. "Vatan" says the reason for
the Goss visit was to ask for more cooperation against
Syria, Iran and Al-Qaeda. "Aksam" reports that the CIA
director's responded positively to Turkey's request for a
cross-border operation against PKK. The cross-border
operation will be discussed during Secretary Rice's visit to
Turkey at the end of January. "Sabah" says that Goss had
two requests from Turkish officials: the first was for
cooperation in intelligence service activities against
Islamic terror; and the second was that CIA agents going to
work in Islamic countries be trained by Turkey. Turkish
officials, in return, reminded the director of the PKK issue
and reiterated Turkey's expectation for concrete steps
against the PKK. All papers report that the CIA director
met with Emre Taner, the head of the National Intelligence
Organization (MIT) yesterday and would meet with PM Erdogan
today. "Cumhuriyet" reports that the CIA director presented

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Turkish officials with three files: one on Iran's nuclear
activities, another on Iran's support for Al-Qaeda and PKK,
and the third on the anti-Turkish activities of Iran. Goss
reportedly warned Turkey of possible air strikes against
Iran and Syria.

Justice Minister Comments on Goss Visit: "Yeni Safak"
highlights Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil
Cicek's remarks that `Turkey has expectations of the US
regarding the PKK. The Goss visit should be evaluated
within this framework."

Khalilzad Remarks on Kurds: "Sabah" cites CNN-TV as a
source to highlight US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad's
remarks on Kurds. Khalilzad was quoted as saying "Barzani,
Talabani and I talked repeatedly and have decided that it is
better for the Kurds to remain a part of Iraq rather than to
go on their own as an independent state, since they'll be
isolated with many enemies around them. Under these
conditions the survival of a mini Kurdish State would not be
possible."

Assassination of Lebanese Journalist/Parliamentarian: All
papers reported on the car bomb in Beirut killing an anti-
Syrian journalist, Gibran Tueni, with most pointing a finger
at Syria.

Shortened (Paid) Military Service: "Hurriyet" and
"Cumhuriyet" report that the Turkish General Staff yesterday
moved to end a debate on shorter military service started by
PM Erdogan on his recent visit to Australia. Opposing the
idea, the TGS stressed that such changes would be unfair
while the country's fight against terrorism continues.

Orhan Pamuk Case: "Radikal" reports that an Istanbul court
has asked the Justice Ministry for permission to try Pamuk
according to the former penal code. The penal code was
amended recently within the framework of EU harmonization
reforms. Justice Minister Cicek's approval is needed for
the trial. Minister Cicek however refuses to comment on the
issue.

EDITORIAL OPINION: US-Turkey Relations; Iraq

"New Understanding with the US"
Sami Kohen observed in the mainstream "Milliyet" (12/13):
"Given the recent visitor traffic and increased number of
contacts, the relationship between Turkey and the US has
reached a new level of understanding. The basis of this
understanding is to focus on the problem areas in bilateral
ties and turn them into areas of cooperation. A constant
and constructive dialogue is needed to achieve this goal,
which is the reason for the busy visitor traffic to and from
the United States. As Ambassador Ross Wilson pointed out
very recently, as far as Turkish-American relations are
concerned, the US goal is to eliminate both people's
concerns rather than simply maintain good relations.
Obviously Iraq is the main issue of concern. The PKK in
northern Iraq seems to be the main issue between Washington
and Ankara. It looks like the US officials have understood
well that the relationship will not stay on track unless the
current differences related to the PKK have been eliminated.
On the other hand, it would be unrealistic to expect the US
forces to wipe out the PKK with a military operation.
Nevertheless it seems possible that the US will start taking
steps toward breaking down PKK influence. Turkey and the US
are searching for ways to change their disputes into
cooperation. If the new understanding continues, the search
will be successful."

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"Looting Iraqi Oil"
Haluk Ulman commented in the economic-politic "Dunya"
(12/13): "One of the reasons for the Iraq war, as far as the
Bush administration is concerned, was to control the future
of oil reserves by positioning itself in Iraq. The US plans
to give these reserves over to American multi-national
companies and to have a strong say in fixing oil prices in
OPEC. Steps have already been taken in this regard. The
occupiers have it made possible for foreign oil companies to
operate in Iraq. In the first nine months of 2006, Iraqi
oil reserve operations will be contracted out to western oil
companies. In other words, foreign companies will be able
to re-enter the Iraqi oil business for the first time since
1972 when Iraqi oil reserves were nationalized."

"The Exit Strategy"
Mehmet Barlas wrote in the mass appeal "Sabah" (12/13): "In
Iraq, the exit strategy, rather than the victory, has become
the major priority for the US. This is about leaving Iraq
before being defeated. The US avoided international
cooperation when it started the Iraq operation. However, as
former Secretary of State Kissinger warned recently, the US
should have cooperated with Iraq's neighbors which were
likely to be affected by Iraq's instability. The success of
the exit strategy will depend on whether or not Iraqi
security forces manage to gain full control over the
country. In the aftermath of the December 15 elections, it
is crucially important for the region as well as for
countries with Muslim populations and for the world oil
resources that Iraq has a legitimate government with
territorial integrity."

WILSON

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