ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002234 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 MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL Ankara gives Mosul, Kirkuk note to U.S. - Hurriyet `Friendly fire' massacre in N. Iraq: 18 peshmerge killed - Milliyet Powell asked for action, three Iraqi diplomats expelled - Hurriyet 4/6 U.S. troops in Baghdad - Milliyet 4/6 Saddam on Baghdad streets - Sabah 4/5 Enraged Shiites attack Saddam statue - Sabah First U.S. plane lands at Baghdad airport - Vatan Gul, Kharrazi discuss the `new' Middle East - Turkiye Kharrazi: If Turkey enters N. Iraq, we'll do the same - Aksam Baghdad lies - Aksam 4/5 Tough decision awaits AKP on `Milli Gorus' - Hurriyet OPINION MAKERS Northern Front opens with `friendly fire' - Radikal `Friendly fire' on Barzani - Yeni Safak Baghdad siege tightening - Cumhuriyet Civilian convoys flee Baghdad - Radikal 4/6 Bush: Iraqi people run to freedom - Zaman 4/6 Post-Iraq scenarios deepen rift between Powell and hawks - Radikal 4/6 Invaders encounter fierce resistance in Baghdad - Cumhuriyet 4/6 Baghdad resists - Yeni Safak A defiant Saddam on Baghdad streets - Cumhuriyet 4/5 Allies knock on Baghdad's door - Radikal 4/5 Peshmerges advance on Mosul, Kirkuk - Radikal 4/5 Bush: Northern Front opened - Zaman Iran, Turkey share concern on Iraq's future - Zaman Death, smoke on Baghdad streets - Zaman 4/6 BRIEFING Iraq: Worried about the Kurds' advance on Mosul and Kirkuk, Ankara presented a note of protest to Washington, saying that Turkey would not hesitate to intervene if peshmerges attempt to seize the oil-rich Northern Iraqi towns, "Hurriyet" reports. Iranian Foerign Minister Kharrazi, in Ankara for meetings on Northern Iraq and the Kurdish issue, said that tripartite consultation on Iraq between Turkey, Iran and Syria should be reactivated. Kharrazi stressed at a joint press conference with FM Gul on Sunday that Iran is against a separate state in northern or southern Iraq. He also voiced objection to any third country intervention in Northern Iraq, and warned that Iran would follow suit if Turkey sends troops to the region. A high-level Iranian delegation is expected in Ankara in the coming weeks. Ankara declared three Iraqi diplomats persona non grata for activities beyond their diplomatic authority. Iraqi Embassy First and Second Secretaries Mohamad Hikmat Ibrahim and Sabah Al-Duri, and deputy Commercial Counselor Ahmad Matloub were notified to leave Turkey by April 9. Dailies agree that the Iraqis are being expelled in line with the demand of Secretary Powell, who was in Ankara last week. Mainstream papers over the weekend see the allies' taking over the Baghdad airport as a strategic victory for coalition forces, and a psychological defeat for the Iraqi army. Monday's "Sabah" reports that Shiite residents of Kerbela took down a five-meter bronze statue of Saddam after U.S. and UK troops took control of the city. The Shiites gave water and food to U.S. troops. Saturday's papers report a circular by the Turkish police, warning that Al- Qaida has been preparing since November 2002 for attacks against U.S. and Israeli targets in Turkey through an Iranian-origin terror organization. Meanwhile, 50,000 demonstrators from NGOs, unions, pro-Kurdish, and leftist parties rallied against the war in Istanbul. Germany, Turkey agreement on `Milli Gorus': "Hurriyet" expects a heated debate in the parliament on the German- Turkish agreement which labeled the Islamist `Milli Gorus' (National View) organization as a terror network. The agreement was sent by the MFA to the parliament for approval. The justification signed by Foreign Minister Gul says that `Milli Gorus' should be outlawed. `Milli Gorus' is a German-based, financially powerful Islamist organization which is strongly affiliated to Necmettin Erbakan and his Virtue Party (SP),and has been under tight scrutiny for years by the German police for alleged ties to international terror organizations and illicit fundraising activities in Germany. AKP deputies coming from the `Milli Gorus' movement voiced strong criticism of the agreement and said labeling the group a `terrorist' organization is unacceptable. Pro-Islamic papers see the attempt as `treason,' and believe the agreement will not be approved by the parliament. EDITORIAL OPINION: Post war scenarios / Turkey-Iran "Questions about Iraq's future" Intellectual-social democrat Cumhuriyet carried this front- page editorial opinion (4/7): "What is going to happen after the war? It remains to be seen if the US, as an occupying force, will be able to establish a stable order not only in Iraq, but also in the region. Otherwise, a wave of terror throughout the region is a high probability. . It is no longer a secret that the US intention is actually not limited to Iraq, and many commentators are speculating about Iran, Syria, and some other Islamic countries on the list. This scenario recognizes the presence of a colossal American empire in the region, and Turkey better think clearly about its stance and policies, without excluding any possible development." "Iranian FM visit is a dangerous development" Ufuk Guldemir opined in sensational Haberturk (4/7): "From the very beginning of the Iraq issue, Ankara has mishandled the crisis. Yet recent developments also bring the question to one's mind if this mishandling is deliberate, and whether the government's real purpose is to change Turkey's western orientation and direct Turkey's face toward the Middle East. . The sudden visit by the Iranian Foreign Minister to Ankara is an alarming negative development. Giving the appearance of an alliance with Iran clearly puts Turkey in the anti- western league. The praise from the Iranian FM about Turkish foreign policy is also something that should worry us. What is the purpose of Ankara policy-makers? Are they going to form an anti-western alliance with Syria and Iran? Let's not forget that both of them are on the US target list. . The current policy being pursued by Ankara alienates Turkey from western ideals and orientation." PEARSON