ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 008622 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 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2002 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL Heavy diplomacy traffic expected next week - Sabah Denktas: No acceptance of the plan, but evaluation only - Hurriyet From Hannay to both sides on Cyprus: Yes or No - Milliyet One million postcards to EU leaders - Hurriyet Foreign Investors await Copenhagen Summit - Milliyet Bulent Arinc: I will not support mistakes - Milliyet PM Gul: Worship in Hilton was not smart - Hurriyet OPINION MAKERS Grossman and Wolfowitz are coming to Ankara - Zaman Denktas sounds convinced - Radikal Pressure on Turkey about Cyprus increases - Cumhuriyet Portugal's PM Barroso: EU has kept Turkey waiting for too long - Radikal Headscarf finds its way to Prime Ministry - Cumhuriyet BRIEFING Diplomacy Traffic: "Sabah" reports about next week's expected heavy diplomatic traffic in Ankara. British FM Jack Straw, UN envoy Alvaro De Soto, Danish FM and EU term President Per Stig Moller, Grossman and Wolfowitz are among the list of visitors expected next week. "Zaman" reports that A/S Marc Grossman and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz are coming to Ankara at the beginning of December to discuss Iraq, the EU, and Cyprus. Cyprus: "Hurriyet" reports that TRNC President Denktas is under heavy pressure by Ankara, Washington, the UN and the TRNC opposition to accept the UN plan. However, during his interview with Bayrak TV, Denktas was said that `We asked for extra time from the General-Secretary. To accept the plan is different from evaluating and amending it.' "Radikal" reports that FM Yasar Yakis was successful in convincing Denktas to sit at the table for discussions. Tomorrow Denktas is expected to announce his decision to discuss the UN plan. EU: All papers cover AKP Leader Tayyip Erdogan's successful meeting with Portugal's PM Barroso. "Radikal" reports that the meeting in Lisbon boosted Erdogan's morale. Barroso reportedly gave Erdogan full support and said that the EU should give a concrete answer, either `Yes' or `No', to ;Turkey. To have a country wait this long for an answer is completely wrong, he said. Barroso promised to support Turkey in Copenhagen. "Hurriyet" and "Radikal" report that 300 students from 45 universities have launched a new campaign to send one million postcards to EU leaders asking for their support for Turkey at the Copenhagen Summit. Domestic Politics: The headscarf issue continues to be at the top of the agenda. "Sabah" reports that AKP leader Erdogan was upset by the emphasis given to the headscarf issue. "Milliyet" reports that the Turkish General Staff is preparing a report citing `fundamentalism' as Turkey's number one security threat. The report will be presented to the NSC at their November 29 meeting. Moreover, Land Forces commander General Yalman will reportedly voice concerns about the negative impact of politicians' wives wearing headscarves. "Cumhuriyet" reports that the headscarf has penetrated the Prime Ministry despite the warning of the President that the headscarf must not be worn in public places. One of the Prime Ministry's secretaries went to work yesterday wearing a headscarf. Umut Oran: "Hurriyet" reports that Turkish Apparel Industry Association (TGSD) Leader Umut Oran will take over the leadership of the International Ready-wear Apparel Federation (IAF) on December 2 in Miami. 130,000 organizations from 27 different countries will be represented at IAF. IAF's 2003 congress will be held in Istanbul. EDITORIAL OPINION: a) NATO Summit b) UN Cyprus Plan "After the NATO Summit" Haluk Ulman wrote in economic/political Dunya (11/26): "The demise of communism left the NATO alliance without an enemy. The lack of a common enemy led many to ask whether European members of NATO should seek more independent policies by loosening their military ties with the US. The continuation of NATO is a very important issue for the US. NATO remains the most appropriate tool for the US to preserve its influence and control over the European continent. . The search for a good justification for NATO's existence has ended for the benefit of the US following the 9/11 events. The new enemy is international terrorism, and the Prague summit signified that new era. What both the old and the new members of NATO accepted, in fact, either reluctantly or enthusiastically, was the American view on how to cope with the common enemy, i.e. international terrorism." "What should be done about the Cyprus Plan?" Sedat Ergin wrote in mass appeal Hurriyet (11/26): "Two conclusions can be made about the plan. First of all, although portions of the language may be inadequate, the plan envisions sovereignty and equality for the Turkish Cypriot side. . Secondly, the territorial concessions call for very serious analysis and revision. However, this can be done at the negotiating table and, whether we like it or not, we have to prepare ourselves mentally for territorial concessions. . It would be very wrong to impose the EU summit as a deadline for this plan. The document requires a negotiation process, which will inevitably take place early next year. Therefore, it cannot be signed in its present form."