ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 008007 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, NOVEMBER 7, 2002 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Bush's Republicans make history - Hurriyet Saddam emerges from U.S. ballot box - Sabah Erdogan steps back on `Belgian model' - Aksam Erdogan promises Europe to end torture - Milliyet Erdogan to Die Welt: We are conservative democrats -- Turkiye Bush's Ramadan message: Islam a religion of peace - Turkiye OPINION MAKERS Erdogan: Did not propose Belgian model for Cyprus - Radikal MFA `fine tunes' Erdogan on Cyprus - Cumhuriyet Ecevit cabinet's sad farewell meeting - Cumhuriyet Gen. Ozkok: Iraq resolution without war - Yeni Safak Bush takes control of Congress - Zaman FINANCIAL JOURNALS AKP to diminish number of cabinet ministers - Dunya IMF delegation awaits invitation for program negotiations - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Erdogan: AKP leader Erdogan said he would not present President Sezer with a list of party candidates for Prime Minister during their meeting today. Sezer will wait for the official announcement of poll results and for the oath ceremony to decide about a new Prime Minister, papers say. The two are expected to discuss the Cyprus problem, and President Sezer will ask Erdogan and CHP leader Baykal to make a joint statement about Cyprus, reports claim. Dailies note AKP officials were busy drafting formulas for constitutional changes that would lift the political ban on Erdogan. If AKP fails to do so, Abdullah Gul will become the Prime Minister, and Erdogan will become a super minister with wide authority, "Cumhuriyet" claims. Papers also report an `action plan' by AKP, which will reduce the number of state ministries from 17 to 3, with a total of 23 ministers in the cabinet. Erdogan, EU, Cyprus: Papers report that EU accession is the top issue on the AKP agenda. After receiving a briefing from MFA on key international issues, Erdogan met with the ambassadors of 15 EU countries on Wednesday evening. Erdogan outlined for the EU envoys AKP priorities: ending torture, ensuring freedom of expression, scrapping investigations against religious foundations, and implemention of regulations on Kurdish language broadcasts and education. The EU ambassadors voiced optimism after meeting Erdogan, and EU Turkey representative Ambassador Kretschmer issued a statement of cooperation, papers say. Erdogan is expected to visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on November 15 before going to Athens on November 18. After the MFA briefed Erdogan and his staff on Wednesday, the AKP official for foreign relations, retired ambassador Yasar Yakis, said the Belgian model could not be applied in Cyprus. "Radikal" believes AKP was forced by the MFA to make `adjustments' to its earlier remarks on Cyprus. MFA Spokesman Buluc said on Wednesday that Turkey was against the Belgian model for Cyprus, and that Ankara supported the views of Denktas. MFA officials will accompany Erdogan on his visit to Greece, even tough MFA Spokesman Buluc has said Erdogan would go there as party leader, not as a representative of Turkey, "Radikal" adds. General Ozkok in U.S.: Dailies report that TGS Chief General Ozkok has started a tour of U.S. military facilities after meeting with Vive President Cheney, National Security Advisor Rice and Secreatary Powell the other day. A senior U.S. official is quoted as saying that the Americans were impressed by Gen. Ozkok's determination regarding Turkey's integration with the EU and Turkey's place in the West. The official reportedly said the U.S. has not yet made a decision on Iraq. Papers claim the U.S. has prepared a financial support package for Turkey, and is confident that Ankara will support a possible action against Iraq. U.S. wraps up aid package for Turkey: Papers and broadcasters report the U.S. Congress was busy preparing a package of direct and indirect military and economic aid for Turkey. Sources close to the Washington Administration reportedly said the package would amount to $4-6 billion. Reuters reported that the U.S. Eximbank might extend a $4.2 billion military loan to Turkey. However, legal obstacles must be lifted to enable Eximbank to extend credit for military sales, reports note. EDITORIAL OPINION: Turkish Elections "The West and the AKP" Hadi Uluengin wrote in mass appeal Hurriyet (11/7): "The AKP has an enormous chance because its government is going to take charge with significant support from the Western, Christian if you will, world. . The Copenhagen summit is likely to set a date for Turkey unless AKP makes a crucial mistake. The EU, contrary to common opinion, will not pursue a completely negative attitude against the AKP. On the contrary, Turkey will be treated with more care because it might serve as an alternative model to the conflict of civilizations. Therefore, the results of November 3 provide a historic chance to the AKP which could benefit both Turkey and all of humanity." "Cast Aside the Old Molds" Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in mass appeal/sensational Posta (11/7): "The AKP will not be able to change the secular system. If and when they attempt any such thing, we would confront them, defending the system. . We should act with self-confidence and try not to live in fear. If these guys have bad intentions, if they want to deceive us, we will find that out soon enough. . As ANAP did in 1993, AKP will now start drawing the line it is going to follow. This is because they know that the pro-Islamic votes do not amount to more than 10 to 15 percent, that a large part of the votes they received came from different directions. Will they want to be a party of the center and rule the country for years? Or will they take a radical stance, unable to withstand the pro-Islamic pressure exerted by a minority that forms part of their grassroots? If they choose the second path, they will end up as losers."