MEDIA REACTION ON TURKISH FORCES TO IRAQ

UNCLAS AMMAN 006490 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN USAID/ANE/MEA LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR O'FRIEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR JO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON TURKISH FORCES TO IRAQ Summary -- Lead story in all papers today, October 10, continues to highlight the official royal visit to Sweden, focusing on King Abdullah's address before the Swedish Institute for International Affairs, as well as the King and Queen's other activities. Another lead story reports on the U.S.' first steps "towards punishing Syria", focusing on the House International Relations Committee's vote in favor of imposing sanctions on Syria. Doubt and suspicion over Turkey's decision to send troops into Iraq are the topics of several editorials and a news item in all papers. Editorial Commentary -- "Turkish forces in Iraq!!" Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back-page of independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (10/09): "Turkey's decision to send troops to Iraq is very serious and deserves a joint Arab response that constitutes nothing less than a firm warning. The involvement of Turkish forces is different from that of forces of other foreign countries, like Poland and Australia, who have decided to respond positively to the American request. It will complicate matters indefinitely.. The Kurdish parties in the interim governing council have declared their opposition and their resentment of the Turkish decision, and the Iraqis in general are suspicious of and distressed at the involvement of Turkish forces. The issue between the two neighbors is a difference, and we can never view the entry of Turkish forces into Iraq as just a contribution." -- "A Turkish decision that no one approves of" Daily columnist Mahmoud Rimawi writes on the op-ed page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/10): "The Turkish parliament's vote in favor of sending Turkish troops into Iraq is an important development in how Turkey is addressing the Iraqi issue.. Most likely, this step by Turkey aims at establishing a foothold on Iraqi territories, and participating, by the force of a de facto situation, in the process of determining Iraq's fate.. What underscores fears about this Turkish move is the fact that Turkish forces have crossed Iraqi borders hundreds of times over the past two decades, which suggests that this move is a resumption of the violation of borders and sovereignty and the establishment of a relationship based on flagrant and crude intervention, which forewarns problematic relations in the future." GNEHM