ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002198 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, APRIL 4, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL U.S. troops enter Saddam's palace - Milliyet Powell: UN must have a role in Iraq - Aksam President Sezer: Powell visit timely, productive - Vatan Iraqi troops withdrawing inside Baghdad - Vatan Allied forces besiege Mosul - Sabah Pentagon's `Mogadishu fear' - Sabah Pentagon sends 65,000 body bags to front - Turkiye King Abdullah: U.S. an invader - Aksam Annan: All sides will lose - Turkiye Missile in marketplace: 8 killed - Hurriyet Iraq deports Al-Jazeera correspondent - Hurriyet OPINION MAKERS Allies readying for Baghdad onslaught - Radikal Death pouring down Baghdad streets - Radikal Council of Europe to U.S., UK: Stop this crime against humanity - Cumhuriyet Coalition troops turn war into massacre - Yeni Safak Desert heat worries coalition troops - Zaman U.S. hits marketplace a third time - Zaman FINANCIAL JOURNALS UN permits Turkish firms to transfer goods to Iraq - Dunya Lion's share in Iraqi contracts to Halliburton, Brown&Root - Finansal Forum BRIEFING War on Iraq: Secretary Powell has asked Ankara for permission to deploy special U.S. forces for search and rescue purposes. As such a permit would require parliamentary approval, however, the Turks were forced to deny the request, "Hurriyet" reports. Worried that humanitarian aid could go to terrorist organizations in the region, Ankara has insisted on maintaining tight control over such supplies. "Yeni Safak" strongly criticizes the transfer of Hummer jeeps to Northern Iraq, saying that sophisticated missile systems might be mounted on them. "Radikal" reports on a disagreement between Americans and Turks on the location of the coordination center for representatives of the U.S., Turkey, KDP, PUK, and Turkomen representatives. The Americans say that security considerations require the center to be in Diyarbakir or Silopi, while Turks believe it should be set up in Northern Iraq to enable monitoring of developments in the region. The information received by the center regarding PKK/KADEK and Al-Ansar organizations and mass movement of displaced persons will determine the scope of a Turkish military presence in Northern Iraq. Special Iraq Envoy Khalilzad is expected in Ankara on Tuesday to finalize discussions, according to reports. "Aksam" claims that during his meetings in Ankara, Secretary Powell agreed to give the Turks written guarantees on regional issues of concern such as Mosul and Kirkuk, security of the Turkomen, and the terrorist threat. Turkey is reconsidering a U.S. demand for expelling Iraqi diplomats allegedly linked to terror groups. Thus far, Ankara had turned down the U.S. demand. "Cumhuriyet" reports that during his meeting with Secretary Powell, TGS Chief General Ozkok warned of Turkish military action if American promises on Northern Iraq's stability are not kept. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gul elaborated on his remark that Turkey is part of the coalition against Iraq by saying that Turkey is not a combatant country, but still a member of the U.S.-led coalition. Parliamentary Speaker Arinc strongly criticized the U.S. and UK for acting insensitively not only regarding cultural heritage and monuments, but also with respect to human life. Dailies report that the Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers will visit Ankara next week for meetings about Kurdish activities in Northern Iraq. The visit is taking place amidst speculation that Iran and Syria, alleged developers of WMD, could be the next targets of the United States. Positive Images of Coalition Forces: For the first time since the opening of hostilities, there have been photos in Turkish newspapers and film clips on Turkish television showing positive interaction between coalition forces and Iraqis. Today's "Aksam" carries an article/photo of Iraqis and UK troops playing soccer. (The Iraqis won the match.) In today's "Sabah," there is a photo of a British soldier playing pattycake with a little Iraqi girl, with a caption explaining how UK forces are trying to reach out to children. "Vatan" had a full page of photos including U.S. troops giving medical aid to an Iraqi civilian, and British and UK troops playing with Iraqi children. The soccer game and video of U.S. soldiers singing for Iraqi kids while standing on their vehicle have been replayed on NTV, national network TRT, and CNN-Turk. It is a beginning. EDITORIAL OPINION: Post war scenarios / Powell visit "The US is in need of allies" Ferai Tinc commented in mass appeal Hurriyet (4/4): "Secretary Powell's next stop after Ankara was Belgrade, where he found a city of never-ending crime and corruption. He was in a country, Yugoslavia, where a lasting peace has yet to be established. Belgrade represents a striking example of why we cannot talk about peace and democracy in the post-Saddam era in Iraq. . The US does not appear willing to leave Iraq to anyone in the post-Saddam period. It is interesting to observe that the US has left all Iraqi opposition elements out of the game, with the exception of the Kurds. Things in Iraq are getting messy, and the visit by Secretary Powell to Ankara shows that the US feels the need for allies at this stage." "After Powell" Yilmaz Oztuna wrote in the conservative/mass appeal Turkiye (4/4): "US-Turkish relations were nearing an irrational stage, and Turkish foreign policy was headed for a serious crash. Meanwhile, that kind of atmosphere has become a very good opportunity for anti-Turkey groups to intensify their efforts. The sudden visit of Secretary Powell is an attempt to heal bilateral relations. We should thank Foreign Minister Gul for doing the right thing by declaring that Turkey is `in the coalition' even before Russia and France. . Secretary Powell's visit helped a great deal to prevent Turkey from becoming isolated or alienated. It was also very important to note US remarks about not allowing an economic crisis in Turkey." PEARSON