ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001161 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, FEBRUARY 21, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL U.S. irritated over Turkish demands for immediate money - Hurriyet NYT warns Bush: Iraq war a catastrophe without Turkey - Turkiye Bush, Erdogan poker - Vatan Turkey will pay dearly again in second U.S. Gulf War venture -Aksam Ankara warns Barzani to stay away from Kirkuk - Milliyet Erdogan asks U.S. guarantees for Turkomen - Sabah OPINION MAKERS Bargaining with U.S. locked - Radikal Turkey's Second Army in northern Iraq - Cumhuriyet Gul: Turkey cannot prevent war alone -- Yeni Safak TUSIAD praises government's peace efforts - Zaman FINANCIAL JOURNALS Central Bank: Short-term war won't bring lasting pressure on economy - Dunya U.S. wants IMF to control $3 billion grant - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Iraq: AKP leader Erdogan responded to President Bush's call for a decision about deployment of U.S. troops in Turkey by saying that the issue would be taken to the parliament Tuesday, dailies report. Papers comment that U.S. has the IMF `trump card' in hand against Turkey. U.S. might go further and bar Turks from entering northern Iraq, and cooperate with the Kurds in the region, papers say. U.S. might also withdraw support from Turkey on crucial issues like the EU, Cyprus, and Armenian genocide, papers indicate. However, closing of northern front will claim more money and lives on the U.S. side, comments note. U.S. cannot afford to break the U.S., Israel, Turkey triangle or let Turkey join the Germany, France axis in Europe, papers add. "Hurriyet" says the visiting U.S. House of Representatives delegation did not attend a scheduled meeting with Turks at the MFA on Thursday as a reaction to Turkey's demands for more economic aid. Prime Minister Gul is expected to make a statement about Turkey's position after talks with the Americans today. Observers expect the parliament to approve soon deployment of U.S. troops in Turkey. Papers agree that the U.S. has presented an ultimatum to Turkey, but then chose to tone down. "Hurriyet" quotes a `senior AKP official' as saying Turkey could not wait for the Congressional approval of aid, and that the money should be transferred to Turkey via private banks. "Aksam" claims that in talks, the U.S. was putting the emphasis on the status of U.S. troops to be deployed in Turkey, exemption of troops from VAT, and the cost of ID cards for American soldiers. Meanwhile, following reports about Iran deploying 5,000 special troops in northern Iraq, Turkey sent 7,000 soldiers to control strategic points in the region, "Cumhuriyet" reports. Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas strongly criticized the UN Cyprus envoy De Soto for presenting the third Annan plan to Ankara before submitting it to the Turkish Cypriots, say papers. Denktas said the revised plan has increased the number of Greek Cypriots to be settled in the Turkish sector to 85,000 from the previous 60,000. Under the new plan, Turkish Cypriots will be given the status of `protected minority,' Denktas reportedly said. U.S. Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom Weston is expected in Ankara over the weekend before proceeding to the island next week, papers say. Erdogan eligible to run in by-elections: High Election Board (YSK) has rejected objections to AKP leader Erdogan's participation in Siirt by-elections on March 9, and announced that Erdogan was eligible to run for parliament. Siirt elections might clear the path for Erdogan to the post of the Prime Minister. EDITORIAL OPINION: Standoff with Iraq "Ankara's stance" Murat Yetkin noted in liberal-intellectual Radikal (2/21): "Ankara refrains from giving an image as if declaring a war to its neighbor in the absence of a UNSC resolution. The Turkish decision experiences delay also due to both NATO and the EU's failure to reach a unanimous stance on the Iraq issue. On the other hand, keeping up the good relations with the US is a major concern for Ankara. Turkey does not want to see bilateral relations get hurt. It looks like there is a formula to be applied in order to break the current deadlock. The government might prepare the authorization request for the movement of US troops in Turkey, and send it to the parliament. Due to the parliamentary calendar, the Parliament will reconvene on the 25th, which practically provides an extra four days for both the ongoing negotiations between Turkey and the US and the ongoing efforts for a peaceful settlement with Iraq. As it seems, Washington is not going to decline such a formula." "If Turkey says `yes'" Sami Kohen wrote in mass appeal Milliyet (2/21): "Regardless of whether Turkey stays in or out, the war will present Turkey with a series of serious economic losses. Cooperation with the US is the only way to be able to compensate the loss to a certain degree. In the case of a `no' answer, Turkey will have to deal with this issue alone. What the government is doing right now is actually a neck-to- neck bargaining to provide the best possible compensation plan for Turkey. . Yet it is very important not to be eccentric or excessive with the demands and not to push the other side's limits of tolerance. Despite some tactical mistakes along the way, Ankara pursued a good negotiation process with the US on military, political and economic issues. . Once Turkey comes up with a clear `yes' answer, it will also help Turkey for the implementation of a policy on northern Iraq and the whole Iraq based on Turkey's interests and security concerns. . To be able to have an active say in the regional reshaping, Turkey should be able to act under the requirements of its geo-strategic importance." PEARSON