ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000358 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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Turkey to Saddam: Disarm to keep Iraq intact - Milliyet Amb. Pearson promises to meet Turkey's damages from war - Turkiye Gul's formula for peace with Iraq - Sabah B-2s to strike Baghdad from Istanbul S. Gokcen Airport - Haberturk Demonstrators to Denktas: Accept UN plan, or resign! - Hurriyet (Turkish Cypriot) demonstrators boo Ecevit - Vatan OPINION MAKERS Amb. Pearson: U.S., GOT in harmony - Zaman HRW calls for pressure on Turkey for war refugees - Cumhuriyet U.S. wants `crisis' in Ankara - Yeni Safak 60,000 call for peace - Radikal Denktas: Rally weakens my hand - Zaman FINANCIAL JOURNALS S&P: Iraq war might downgrade Turkey's rating - Finansal Forum Foreign investors doubtful about AKP privatization goals - Finansal Forum NOTE: A separate Turkish Press Summary on the events in Northern Cyprus will follow. BRIEFING Ambassador Pearson meets business community: Papers reports on U.S. Ambassador Pearson's meeting with prominent Turkish businessmen at a luncheon in Istanbul. Pearson discussed with business leaders the negative effects of a possible war with Iraq on Turkey's economy, and made clear the U.S. determination to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Amb. Pearson told the press after the meeting that there was no crisis between the U.S. and Turkey, adding that he believed the GOT would do its best on the Iraq issue. Some businessmen voiced the expectation that the U.S. would cover Turkey's losses from the war. Pearson promised to encourage American companies to invest in Turkey, and said he hoped for passage of QIZ legislation once the textile dispute is worked out, the businessmen said. Pearson told the businessmen that projected losses from an Iraq operation amounting to $100- 140 billion as reported by the media are exaggerated. Iraq: "Milliyet" reports that Prime Minister Gul, on behalf of Iran, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, has conveyed a message to Saddam Hussein urging him to decrease tensions before January 27 and cooperate with UN inspectors. "Sabah" says that Gul, in coordination with the U.S. and some international bodies, has drafted a plan for peace: Baghdad must present a complete list of Iraqi WMD, and replace Saddam's rule with a democratic regime in exchange for security guarantees for Saddam and his family if they leave Iraq. Optimistic that a compromise can be reached before January 27, Gul is planning to visit London and Washington next week, Sabah reports. Dailies report that U.S. experts have begun site surveys at Mersin port and at airports in Batman, Diyarbakir, Malatya, Mardin, Mus, Corlu, Afyon, Istanbul and Gaziantep. Experts will consider necessary upgrades for deployment of military aircraft. The work of the survey teams will continue until January 23. Citing "Newsweek," "Yeni Safak" claimed that during his visit to Ankara next week, General Myers will ask the TGS to convince the GOT to accept U.S. demands on Iraq. U.S. funds for warmongering: The tabloid "Star" accused the USG of allocating $200 million to incite the media in Turkey to promote war with Iraq. Star points the finger at former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, saying that Parris was entrusted with the task. Parris allegedly tried to use contacts among prominent journalists to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Gul, but was denied an appointment, the paper reports. Parris' meetings with the media were organized by a consultant company in Ankara, `AK Group Consultancy.,'. Star notes that the company is owned by Ms. Aydan Kodaloglu, the former TAA board member who was expelled for financial irregularities, and has a court case pending against her. EDITORIAL OPINION a) Iraq b) Cyprus "Iraq" Yilmaz Oztuna wrote in mass appeal-conservative Turkiye (1/15): "There are other factors, besides Ankara's reluctance, which might delay the operation process. In the case of the extension of the UN inspection task and the possibility of a meeting between Russian leader Putin and Saddam Hussein will delay the start of a military strike. However, the US cannot afford to wait until the end of May. Due to weather conditions the operation should start before the end of May. . Turkey is still trying to shape its policy. PM Gul notes that Turkey's interests will be taken with utmost care, which sounds fine. Yet this does not justify playing with time, making evasive remarks policy. Time is running against our interests. Turkey should pursue an Iraq with territorial integrity yet without Saddam. Giving any signal as if Turkey is protecting Saddam will only bring us a high cost." "Cyprus/Civil disobedience" Guneri Civaoglu wrote in mass appeal Milliyet (1/15): "The mass demonstration on the Turkish Cypriot side shows that even the most conservative elements of Turkish Cypriot society stand against the `no solution' approach. It is interesting to note one detail: President Denktas's grandson made a noteworthy comment as he was watching the demonstrations. He said that in the young generation of Turkish Cypriots - those under the age of 25 -- the gap between people's views and official policy is deepening. . If the Turkish Cypriot leadership fails to reach a settlement by February 28, the Turkish Cypriots are preparing a campaign of civil disobedience, to include a general strike. For the leadership, it would be very wise to initiate a settlement process, to discuss the Annan plan, and to abandon `no settlement' as an option." PEARSON