ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 009161 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 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2002 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL Grossman, Taylor Bring $20 billion package - Milliyet Tough $28 billion bargaining with U.S. - Hurriyet Taylor, Grossman in Ankara for persuasion - Turkiye 30,000 Turkish Cypriots rally for EU - Sabah Turkish Cypriots rally, want Denktas out - Turkiye U.S. to deploy JTAGS radar system in Turkey - Vatan OPINION MAKERS Grossman, Taylor: Reparation visit by U.S. - Cumhuriyet AKP's war ordeal - Radikal U.S. demands immediate response on Iraq - Radikal Peace front expanding: 90 percent of Turks against war - Cumhuriyet NGOs, business world, parliamentary human rights commission against war - Yeni Safak Deputy PM Sener: Markets will regain stability within ten days of a war - Zaman FINANCIAL JOURNALS Ankara invites Taylor, Grossman: "Cost bargaining with the U.S. - Dunya Public procurement law turned into Swiss cheese - Dunya S&P: Turkey's rating might increase even in war - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Taylor-Grossman Visit & Iraq: All papers report the visit of Treasury U/S John Taylor and State U/S for Political Affairs Marc Grossman to Ankara. The emphasis of the extensive, front-page coverage is on reports that the US has come to the stage of discussing a compensation plan for Turkey. "Yeni Safak" writes that the US has offered Turkey 20 billion dollars, but points out that the amount was short of Turkey's expectation, which was 28 billion dollars. Although "Sabah" talks about a 100 billion dollar plan, the general consensus in the press is that Ankara will argue to Grossman and Taylor that the possible impact of the war on the Turkish economy is 28 billion dollars. This figure, however covers only the economic losses, but does not take into account defense and security-related costs. Several papers also mention that Ankara wants the money directly from the US Treasury as opposed to via IMF and World Bank. FM Yakis at Parliament: Foreign Minister Yakis briefed the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee about the Iraq situation. MPs are very interested in the US demands from Turkey, and Minister Yakis outlined for them the proposed deployment of 40,000 US soldiers in Turkey as well as permission for a 150-member team of experts to inspect bases and ports. Papers gave conflicting news about the base inspections. "Hurriyet" quotes Yakis as saying "the permission for the site inspection has not yet been given," while "Radikal" quotes him as saying "the only permission given so far is for the site inspection." Meanwhile, Parliament decided to go on recess until January 2, and the Iraq issue has been scheduled for parliamentary discussion on January 6. "Radikal" reports on the potential problem within the AKP government over the Iraq issue following a statement from Parliament's Human Right Commission Chairman Mehmet Elkatmis calling on Ankara to work toward peace and to say "no" to a war in the region. NSC Meeting: The National Security Council meeting will be not only the last meeting of 2002, but the most crucial one, papers speculate. The agenda is predominantly Iraq, and Turkey's answer to Washington's demands will be discussed in detail. According to "Radikal" writer Murat Yetkin, the NSC decision will be as follows: - Deployment of US troops in Turkey on a permanent basis is unacceptable, but Turkey can offer the use of Turkish territory for the transit of some troops. - Site inspection at the airbases and ports can be done. - The final decision belongs to the Turkish Parliament, and Turkey will continue to seek an international consensus under the auspices of the UN. EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq "Hawks, Doves and Owls" Hasan Cemal opined in mass appeal Milliyet (12/27): "The US goal is to topple Saddam and pave the way for democracy in Iraq. Once this goal is achieved, it will be followed by efforts for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine and to eliminate fundamentalist roots from the region. Yet the question is how these goals can be achieved. It seems that Washington officials are putting their plans on paper, and it all looks fine from a theoretical point of view. . The reality, however, might bring unexpected developments and risks, including a global crisis in case US plans fail. ... Turkey's stance seems to favor the argument of the owls: Saddam Hussein should go, but the US should not conduct this operation alone. Turkey, on the other hand, does not have the luxury of saying to US that `I will not be a part of your plan.' Thus the ongoing bargain between the US and Turkey is about defining the extent of Turkey's role." PEARSON