Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN6490
2003-10-09 12:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON TURKISH FORCES TO IRAQ

Tags:  KMDR JO 
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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