ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 008900 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, DECEMBER 11, 2002 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Bush to Erdogan: We are shoulder to shoulder with you - Milliyet EU Support from Bush - Hurriyet President Bush: Operator, connect me to Berlin - Sabah Turkish People Deserve EU entry - Hurriyet EU Stubbornness-Turkiye Top Level summit at Cankaya - Milliyet Annan offers new Cyprus plan - Hurriyet Parliament Clears Obstacles in front of Erdogan - Milliyet OPINION MAKERS Cooperation for Iraq - Cumhuriyet Bush: Shoulder to shoulder for EU entry - Radikal BRIEFING Erdogan-Bush Meeting/EU: Today's papers give extensive, front-page coverage to AKP leader Erdogan's US visit and to the Erdogan-Bush meeting at the White House. Erdogan was welcomed by President Bush with the words `Welcome to the home of Turkey's closest friend and ally'. All papers report that the US President has extended support to Turkey's EU entry by saying that `we are shoulder to shoulder with Turkey in their struggle to enter the EU'. "Aksam" reports that Erdogan was briefed for 2 hours by DepSecDef Wolfowitz and U/S Grossman prior to his meeting with President Bush. "Hurriyet" reports that top-level US officials, including SecState Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Wolfowitz and US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, attended the meeting at the White House. "Sabah" reports that President Bush promised to call EU capitals to lobby for an early accession date for Turkey. "Turkiye" reports that despite all the efforts exerted by Turkey, EU countries stubbornly insist on delaying the start of accession talks until 2005. Britain, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, and Belgium want to begin the accession talks in 2003. However, 8 countries led by France and Germany insist on 2005. In a banner front-page headline, "Hurriyet" says that the Turkish people deserve EU entry because Turkey has carried out reforms to meet EU standards. "Milliyet" reports that Ankara is planning responses to a possible negative outcome in Copenhagen. Options under consideration include rejecting Annan's Cyprus �0A;plan, imposing economic sanctions on selected EU countries, and rejecting automatic EU access to NATO resources. Cankaya Summit: "Milliyet" reports that a `security summit' was held at the Presidential Palace yesterday with the participation of President Sezer, PM Abdullah Gul, and chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok. EU accession, Cyprus, and Iraq were the top issues of yesterday's meeting, and three decisions were taken : 1. The 2005 proposal for EU accession talks is unacceptable, 2. The EU demand for evaluating the Turkish government's performance over the next six months is acceptable, 3. A deal on Cyprus cannot be signed before or during the EU summit. General Ozkok reportedly submitted an evaluation report on the Annan plan. PM Gul will present the report to EU leaders in Copenhagen. Cyprus: All papers report that Annan has presented the new Cyprus plan. "Hurriyet" reports that Annan's revised Cyprus Plan does not differ very much from the initial plan, and does not meet Turkish demands for equality and sovereignty. Constitutional Amendments: "Milliyet" reports that the parliament amended article 76 of the constitution to clear the way for the premiership of AKP leader Erdogan. CHP reportedly tried to keep the obstacles in front of Erdogan, but to no avail. In the end, most CHP deputies voted in favor of the amendments. EDITORIAL OPINION: Turkey-EU and Erdogan's Washington visit "Plan A: 2003; Plan B: 2004" Zeynep Gurcanli wrote in tabloid Star (12/11): "The worst- case-scenario in Ankara's mind is to be given a negotiation date in 2004. This date seems to be the upper `acceptable' limit for Turkey. . AKP leader Erdogan underlined the EU issue as the major topic to discuss with President Bush prior to his meeting at the White House. He believes that Turkey's chances to get a negotiation date within the acceptable parameters will increase at least 50 percent more after meeting with Bush. Erdogan hints that he expects President Bush to exert even more pressure on European leaders. This support, of course, comes with a price. Erdogan and his staffers believe that the price will be Turkey's support for the Iraq operation. However, there might be another bill attached to it: Cyprus. . It is very likely that President Bush will promise to increase pressure on the EU but also exert pressure on the Turkish side on the Cyprus issue. The revised Annan plan on Cyprus will most likely be presented to Erdogan while he is in the United States. Turkey is rapidly moving toward a `take-it-or-leave- it' position on the Cyprus issue. The visit of Erdogan to the US might be a breakthrough in Turkish foreign policy." "The last 24 hours" Zafer Atay wrote in economic-political Dunya (12/11): "It seems there are two main scenarios for Turkey's membership procedures. First is the positive scenario, i.e. giving Turkey a negotiation date as early as 2003, or setting a time in 2004 for giving a date. The so-called French-German formula regarding a 2005 plan is the worst scenario. The approval of this formula has the potential to undermine Turkish-EU relations dramatically. It would provide the anti-EU lobby in Turkey clear and undeniable arguments. . Time is running out, and in only a few days we will see the outcome. Yet whatever the decision may be, we should never think about giving up our efforts to meet the Copenhagen criteria. These are indispensable elements for Turkey and Turkish society, and we better continue these reforms whether or not we are admitted to the EU." DEUTSCH, ACTING