ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002503 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 THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Commander Franks in Baghdad - Hurriyet Bush signs grant for Turkey - Milliyet Talabani wants Diyarbakir - Vatan Barzani: Turkey's nonpresence in N. Iraq a victory for Kurds - Aksam Turkey's EU drive now tougher - Turkiye Verheugen: Chance exists for Cyprus solution - Sabah Sad photo: EU expanding, Ankara missing - Sabah EU expansion takes painful start- Aksam Gul: Greek Cypriots can't block our EU drive - Hurriyet Greek Cypriots in EU; are you happy, Mr. Denktas? - Vatan OPINION MAKERS Ankara warns Talabani: You'll regret entering Kirkuk - Cumhuriyet Ankara launches effort for share of Iraq's reconstruction - Radikal Iraqi people won't accept U.S. invasion - Yeni Safak Arabs want all Mideast countries to disarm - Yeni Safak Turkey missing in EU family photo - Radikal Denktas blocks solution, blames Turkey - Yeni Safak Prodi: Division of Cyprus temporary - Zaman Simitis blames Ankara for division of Cyprus - Cumhuriyet Door still open for Cyprus - Zaman FINANCIAL JOURNALS British Imperial Tobacco investing in Turkey - Dunya Rumsfeld: Iraqi pipeline to Syria will be closed - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Iraq: Ankara criticized Northern Iraqi Kurdish leaders Barzani and Talabani for declaring Turkey's decision of not going into Northern Iraq as a victory for them. Barzani told an Italian daily that the KDP won a victory by keeping Turkish troops out of Northern Iraq. Barzani reiterated Kurdish aspirations for a federal Iraq, and warned that the long-term presence of coalition forces in the country could be interpreted as an invasion. The MFA denounced PUK leader Talabani for threatening to bring Diyarbakir and other Kurdish-majority Turkish cities to the agenda if Turkey continues to pursue its aspirations for Kirkuk. A Turkish diplomat is quoted as tying such controversial statements by Kurdish leaders to the absence of a democratic culture in Iraq. The diplomat noted that Ankara, in an attempt to avoid provocation, is closely following developments, and he warned the Kurds not to try Turkey's patience. He added that Talabani could pay a dear price if he continued opportunist moves such as attempting to assign a governor in Kirkuk. Kurdish representatives in Turkey complained to the press that the Turkomen are constantly misinforming Ankara about developments in Northern Iraq. Meanwhile, papers report that the expected head of the interim Iraq administration, Jay Garner, met with the Turkish envoy to Kuwait to discuss the situation of the Turkomen and Turkey's role in the reconstruction of Iraq. Cyprus/EU: Dailies carry on the front page the `family photograph' of new EU members including the Greek Cypriots after accession documents were signed in Athens. Papers criticize Foreign Minister Gul for boycotting the ceremony, which indicated an `acknowledgement of the biggest diplomatic defeat for Turkey.' Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos attacked Turkey, saying that `artificial walls and borders drawn by violence have prevented the Turkish Cypriots from attending the Athens meeting.' Greek Prime Minister Simitis said Europe has been united for 13 years since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and blamed Turkey for the ongoing disagreement on Cyprus. `The line dividing Nicosia is separating Ankara from Brussels,' Simitis said. Some mainstream papers believe Turkish Cypriots could still join the EU if they work out a compromise with Greek Cypriots before April 2004, but see it as unlikely for the Greeks and Greek Cypriots to give a green light to Turkey's membership. Most papers, including the Islamist "Yeni Safak," regard Denktas as the main obstacle that has deprived Turkish Cypriots of the opportunity to join the EU. Papers cite the Greek Cypriot press as applauding Denktas for rejecting the Annan plan for Cyprus, thus facilitating the Greek Cypriots' EU entry. The MFA and Denktas criticized the signing of the accession protocol between the EU and the Greek Cypriots, charging that it was a violation of international treaties. Denktas also strongly criticized the Turkish Cypriot opposition parties who have accepted an invitation by Greek Prime Minister Simitis for talks in the Greek Cypriot sector. However, Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul are upset with Denktas for attempting to `dictate' to Ankara that Gul should not attend the EU's Athens summit. Erdogan believed that the UN peace plan for Cyprus had a chance for success, but that Denktas blocked the negotiations. EDITORIAL OPINION: Post war scenarios "Who is next?" Soli Ozel noted in mass appeal Sabah (4/17): "Despite the strong warnings, a US military operation against Syria is unlikely. The Bush administration is currently going through the list of measures in an orderly fashion, and at the same time calling on the Damascus regime to `read correctly' the consequences of the Iraq war. Washington clearly is asking the Syrian administration to end support for terrorism and to work for a lasting settlement with Israel. The policies pursued by Syria will shape future developments in the region. .. Another important factor to watch carefully is US policy about the Israel-Palestine issue in the Bush administration's new Middle East plan. . Considering the approaches to the Middle East `road map' from both the US and Israel, we can draw a pessimistic conclusion. The way Washington sees the road map tells us that the Israeli administration will not face any pressure for peace, at least in the near future. In other words, peace and stability in the region are still far in the distance." "Transformation" Hasan Cemal observed in mass appeal Milliyet (4/17): "The situation in the Middle East up to now has not done Turkey any good at all. Thus we have to think rationally and realize the following facts. It is for the Turkey's good and serves Turkey's interests that Iraq becomes a free country with an emerging democracy. It is absolutely the best for Turkey when and if Syria is freed from the Baath dictatorship and its support for terrorist organizations is ended. . A peace between Palestine and Israel can also be made possible if the US exerts enough pressure on Sharon, especially after the normalization process of Iraq and Syria. Such a development might have positive effects for change in Lebanon as well as in Iran. . The current situation in the Middle East is in the process of a transformation. It means a certain amount of instability. Yet the current situation was also inherently unstable. Therefore, Turkey should refrain from siding with the status quo and instead encourage the change which in fact will serve Turkey's own interests." PEARSON