ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 008879 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, DECEMBER 10, 2002 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL Erdogan Trades Cyprus for EU accession date - Milliyet Copenhagen Summit-Civilization Test - Hurriyet Harsh Warning from Erdogan to EU: You must put up with the consequences-Turkiye KADEK is on US Terrorist Organizations List - Hurriyet Patriot Summit - Hurriyet OPINION MAKERS US Senators in Ankara - Cumhuriyet US Officials Visit Ankara Constantly - Radikal Erdogan Will Bargain for Iraq and EU in Washington-Zaman BRIEFING US Senators: "Cumhuriyet" and "Radikal" report on Senator Biden and Hagel's visit yesterday to Ankara. Responding to journalists' questions following an hour-long meeting with PM Gul, Biden said that the US Administration and the congress agree on Iraq's territorial integrity, and that he and Senator Hagel had stressed that point during meetings with Kurdish leaders in Northern Iraq. Responding to a question, Senator Biden said that progress on a solution in Cyprus will be an important factor in the U.S. Congress' consideration of economic assistance to Turkey. EU: Today's papers give extensive front-page coverage to the harsh warnings made by AKP leader Erdogan in Copenhagen. In his speech, Erdogan urged the EU to abandon its `double standards,' and warned that the EU should be ready to face the consequences if it refuses to give a date to Turkey. Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen rejected the charge of a double standard, and said that EU criteria should be met in practice, not only on paper. "Hurriyet" says in a banner front-page headline that the Copenhagen decision would be a test for EU civilization. "Milliyet" reports that AKP leader Erdogan presented a letter of intent to the EU term president yesterday. In the letter, Turkey pledges to help convince TRNC president Denktas to seek a solution in Cyprus if Turkey is given negotiation date. "Hurriyet" reports that President Sezer announced that he will not go to Copenhagen to protest the EU decision not to set a date for Turkey. Iraq: "Hurriyet" reports that a delegation of Turkish air force officials went to Germany for talks with US officials about the US demands for using Turkish airspace and air bases in a possible operation against Iraq. During the meetings, the Turkish delegation will reportedly demand the deployment of Patriot air defense systems, satellite connection with the air bases, and installation of new equipment at the bases. "Hurriyet" also reports that EUCOM Deputy Commander Charles Wald `secretly' arrived in Ankara for important contacts. General Wald had meetings with Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit and Air Force Commander General Cumhur Asparuk. AKP Leader Erdogan's Visit to US: "Zaman" reports that Erdogan will meet with President Bush today at the White House. The meeting will focus on Turkish support for a possible operation against Iraq, the Cyprus issue, and Turkey's EU accession. "Hurriyet" says that if the meeting with Erdogan is successful, President Bush might launch a new diplomatic campaign in support of Turkey by calling EU leaders. "Sabah" reports that Erdogan will face a leadership test in Washington, and adds that the US will ask for Turkish support in a possible operation against Iraq. However, the US will not change its plan if Turkey refuses to give support. In that event, however, the US would feel obliged to compensate Turkey for its potential losses. EDITORIAL OPINION: "The critical week in Turkey's relations with the West" Sedat Ergin draws a parallel between EU membership and an Iraq operation in mass appeal Hurriyet (12/10): "The current situation vis--vis Turkey and the EU creates an equilibrium regarding relations with the West, and it will be interesting to watch Turkish public opinion on both the Cyprus and Iraq issues. . The Cyprus issue is the weakest link, because overall public opinion is very much concerned. It is because the EU asks Turkey for serious concessions on Cyprus and hints that it would be helpful for Turkey's efforts to be given a membership date. Yet Turkey is worried that it could lose all of its trump cards and be left empty-handed. . The second link in this equilibrium is the Iraq issue. Today, the US President will most likely call on the EU to give a date for Turkey after his meeting with AKP leader Erdogan. One of the reasons for the Bush administration's staunch support for Turkey's EU membership is Iraq. A disappointing decision from the Copenhagen summit will create a very negative atmosphere in Turkish public opinion, to the point at which it would be very difficult for the Turkish government to be persuasive for a military operation in Iraq. In this case, the Turkish public, given their general anger with the West, would be seriously opposed to a war in Iraq and would refuse to serve to western interests." "Iraq and EU" Yilmaz Oztuna editorialized in mass appeal-conservative Turkiye (12/10): "US preparations are clearly underway, and Washington is determined to topple Saddam at all costs. Following the recent visit to the Kurdish parliament by two distinguished US senators, we might draw the conclusion that once Saddam is gone, the Kurdish-controlled region will be given autonomy. After all, the Gulf regimes are disturbed by the fact that Saddam's regime has weapons of mass destruction, so they have started to cooperate with Washington. . AKP leader Erdogan meanwhile is going to discuss Iraq, the EU, and Cyprus with President Bush. All three issues are interrelated, and should be handled with great care and attention. Based on the decisions made on these issues, Turkish foreign policy will be shaped for years to come."