Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA3748
2003-06-10 12:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

Tags:  OPRC KMDR TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003748

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
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2003


THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:


HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------
HEADLINES


MASS APPEAL
Incirlik air base to become history - Sabah
Turkey not included in new U.S. `airbase strategy' - Vatan
U.S. shifts to new bases for swifter action - Aksam
Perle to Ankara: Don't be myopic - Hurriyet
Threat-like warning from Perle - Turkiye
17 House members denounce Wolfowitz - Turkiye
Abbas says dialogue with radical groups will continue -
Milliyet
Gul: EU must remove sanctions on TRNC - Milliyet
Al-Qaida denies allegation of cooperation with Iraq - Sabah


OPINION MAKERS
U.S. to close bases in Turkey - Cumhuriyet
U.S. wants a global network of smaller, flexible bases -
Radikal
Perle: Catastrophe if Turkey doesn't support U.S. against
Iran, Syria - Zaman
EU Cyprus envoy: Annan plan sole opportunity for Cyprus -
Cumhuriyet
Gul: EU adjustment package will be enacted before July -
Radikal
TGS gives green light to EU reform package - Zaman
Sharon freezes road map, declares victory - Yeni Safak


FINANCIAL JOURNALS
Central Bank intervenes for third time, buys dollars - Dunya
Boeing's eye on Turkish Airlines privatization - Finansal
Forum


BRIEFING


U.S. wants `smaller' bases: Pentagon is planning to use
smaller bases in the Gulf countries instead of those in
Saudi Arabia, and will shift its bases in Turkey and Germany
to Poland, Romania and Bulgaria for future overseas
operations, "Milliyet" reports. The paper expects Incirlik
air base to lose its importance.


CFR's Ankara meetings: The Council on Foreign Relations
(CFR) paid a `meaningful' visit to Turkey to examine the
`fault line' in U.S.-Turkey relations. The CFR delegation
is particularly interested in the `new' direction of Turkish
foreign policy following the war in Iraq, according to
"Aksam." The CFR wants to `understand' Turkey's view of
Iran and Syria, and wants to evaluate Turkish-Israeli ties
as well.


Ambassador Pearson on U.S.-Turkey relations: U.S. Ambassador
Robert Pearson told "Hurriyet" that the U.S. and Turkey,
having cooperated for 50 years, should now make a new
beginning. `I have never lost hope in Turkey,' Pearson
said, adding that bilateral ties have survived even greater

problems, which were not disclosed. Pearson advised Ankara
to be open and balanced in relations with the U.S.


Perle on Turkey: Pentagon advisor Richard Perle warned
Turkey that bilateral relations with the U.S. would suffer a
serious crisis if Ankara refuses to support American policy
regarding Iran and Syria. Speaking at an American
Enterprise Institute (AEI) conference, Perle stressed that
bilateral ties are still strong despite the parliament's
refusal of the March 1 motion on foreign troop deployment in
Turkey. Perle also said that Turkey's participation in the
international peacekeeping force in Iraq would contribute to
regional stability and help U.S.-Turkish cooperation as
well. "Hurriyet" notes that Perle's warning comes on the
eve of Undersecretary Ziyal's trip to Washington on Sunday.
ANCA rejects Turkish call for dialog: The American National
Council of ARMENIAns (ANCA) rejected the Turkish
government's call for a direct dialogue, saying that Ankara
must first recognize the ARMENIAn genocide.


Gul, military on EU reforms package: Foreign Minister Gul
called on TGS Chief General Ozkok on Monday to discuss the
EU reform package, dailies report. Papers believe that the
government and TGS have worked out a compromise on the
package which Gul said will be submitted to parliament on
Tuesday for approval without waiting for the monthly NSC
meeting on June 26. `The EU adjustment package will prove
that Muslim countries can also apply democracy, pluralism,
modernity, and transparency," Gul said.




EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq and US-Turkey


"The US-Turkey Route"
Fatih Cekirge observed in the tabloid Star (6/10): "Ankara
is paying the consequences of its misguided policies.
Despite warnings from the US, Turkey signed trade agreements
with Saddam before the war, and today all of these deals
have tied Ankara's hands. The Kurdish leaders Barzani and
Talabani are no longer taking messages from Turkey
seriously. .By keeping its distance from the US, Ankara
indirectly encouraged Washington and the northern Iraqi
leaders to enhance their cooperation. This cooperation is
now strong enough to lead to the formation of a federal
Kurdish state. . Given these facts, Ankara is trying to make
things up with Washington. Yet it does not seem likely that
bilateral visits will be able to normalize the relationship.
The US seems unable to forget about its disappointment with
respect to Ankara. Turkey should be prepared for some
diplomatic and economic pain due to the ongoing tension on
the Ankara-Washington route."


"In Washington the wounds are still open"
Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in mass appeal-sensational Posta
(6/10): "Has the AKP government managed to draw up its basic
itinerary? What kind of route will that be? Islamist or pro-
third world? Or a route that would be similar to that of
Washington? In Washington too, these questions are being
asked. Washington is looking forward to the messages MFA
Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will be bringing when he arrives
next week. Ziyal has a difficult task. He will be in the
limelight. When a trip takes place in the limelight amid
great expectations, the danger that it will lead to
disappointment is enhanced. There are certain words the US
administration wants to hear in the short run. Pentagon
officials say that the ball is in Ankara's court. The Turks
will play by telling the US where they want to go and how
they will get there."


PEARSON