ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 009052 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, DECEMBER 19, 2002 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Deep Assassination - Hurriyet An academic assassinated in Ankara - Sabah Deep Murder - Milliyet Ankara concerned about Mosul and Kirkuk - Milliyet Foreign Ministry: EU's Cyprus decision unacceptable - Milliyet OPINION MAKERS Bloody plot in Ankara - Cumhuriyet Security bargaining in Northern Iraq - Yeni Safak Denktas urged to seek solution - Radikal BRIEFING Assassination: All papers report on the assassination of an academic outside his house in Ankara. Necip Hablemitoglu, an associate professor at Ankara university known for his investigations about Fethullah Gulen and foreign foundations, reportedly had been receiving death threats for some time, but had not requested protection. "Sabah" implies that the murder was reminiscent of political killings in the recent past. Iraq: "Milliyet" reports that Turkey is concerned about the future of Mosul and Kirkuk, and is afraid that after the deployment of US and British troops in Northern Iraq, foreign troops could control the Mosul-Kirkuk region. "Yeni Safak" reports that there has been a great deal of bargaining over Northern Iraq. Turkey reportedly wants to send its own troops into Northern Iraq, and is against the deployment of British troops in the region. However, the US has rejected the Turkish proposal. The sensationalist "Star" newspaper also covers the issue on its front page. "Star claims that `in order to stop the refugee influx, Turkey wants to enter Northern Iraq. But the US will prevent this move because it has promised the Pehmerges to invade Northern Iraq and establish a Kurdish State there. "Hurriyet" reports that the Turkish General Staff has denied press reports that the Turkish army is deploying extra troops to the border, and that foreign troops had crossed Turkish territory on their way to Northern Iraq. The TGS stressed that only routine preparations for a possible operation were taking place. Cyprus: All papers report that the Foreign Ministry has released a harsh statement to the EU yesterday on the Cyprus issue. "Milliyet" reports that the Foreign Ministry has accused the EU of violating international agreements and making unilateral decisions about the future of the island. All papers report that during the summit at the Presidential Palace yesterday, TRNC president Denktas was urged by Turkish officials to continue the negotiations and to seek a settlement on Cyprus. Turkey-Armenia: "Cumhuriyet" reports a gesture from Turkey to Armenia. Turkey has been imposing sanctions to Armenia by not allowing its airspace to be used for civilian flights, and preventing Armenia from becoming a member of Eurocontrol. The veto on the Eurocontrol membership was lifted, even though Azerbaijan had not yet joined the organization. Kurdish Broadcasting: The new regulation which allows broadcasts in languages other than Turkish, including broadcasts in Kurdish, was issued in the Official Gazette. TRT will begin limited broadcasts in Kurdish on both television and radio. EDITORIAL OPINION: a) Iraq b) Cyprus "Wrong move and Baghdad" Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamic-intellectual Yeni Safak (12/19): "There is a paradox on the Iraq issue. The more reasons there are to make an operation illegitimate, the more the chances for a US operation increase. Despite the lack of convincing evidence about an Iraqi link with terrorism as well as Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, Washington has not changed its policy. The determination to strike Iraq at all costs continues. . One has to be blind to not see this fact: The US plan for Afghanistan in the post- September 11 period will be implemented in Iraq as well. Following the Iraq operation, the US will militarily expand toward a vast geography, from the Philippines to Georgia under the pretext of an Al-Qaeda link. . In the absence of a second UN resolution, the AKP government cannot support a US military operation against Iraq. Washington should not take Ankara's support for granted. Instead, efforts for a peaceful solution should be pushed even harder." "Last tango in Cyprus" Sami Kohen emphasized in mass appeal Milliyet (12/19): "It appears impossible that the two leaders of Cyprus will not come to the negotiating table. There is simply no option for them in the midst of an immense push from the EU and the UN. . For the Greek Cypriot side, there is a deadline for a settlement by February 28. The EU does not want to see a divided island, and the Greek Cypriot administration cannot ignore a settlement just because it has been assured of EU membership. . As for the Turkish Cypriots, there are some factors which work in favor of a solution as well. The Turkish Cypriots are fed up with the `unsettled' Cyprus issue. In the case of a continuation of no-settlement situation, we might see some migration from the Turkish side to the Greek side. If that happens, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue to be isolated and alienated from the international community, not to mention the challenges that Ankara will have to face vis--vis the EU, the UN, and the US. . A long-lasting and good solution can be found as long as the two leaders of Cyprus act with common sense. Both Denktas and Clerides are senior figures, and the current process is probably their last chance for peace." PEARSON