ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003798

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, JUNE 11, 2003


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


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


HEADLINES


MASS APPEALS
Powell thanks Gul - Aksam
Powell sends letter of appreciation to Gul - Milliyet
Hamas leader escapes seven missiles - Aksam
White House angered by killing attempt by Israel - Vatan
U.S. insists on Annan plan for Cyprus - Turkiye
TGS tough on Athens: Don't provoke us - Hurriyet
Athens heating up the Aegean - Milliyet
Armenian Diaspora's insurance trick - Hurriyet
NATO plans to carry Naples base to Izmir - Sabah


OPINION MAKERS
U.S. shapes new regimes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine -
Cumhuriyet
UK disagrees with U.S. on Iran - Cumhuriyet
Missiles hit road map - Radikal
Rantisi vows to continue fighting - Yeni Safak
U.S. tells EU to support GOT - Zaman
Bin Hussein, a `king' in Baghdad - Radikal
AP: 3,420 civilian casualties in Iraq - Cumhuriyet
Egypt imposes visa on Turkish visitors - Yeni Safak


FINANCIAL JOURNALS
Central Bank foresees 25 percent inflation in 2003 - Dunya
Italian investors to Turkey in Fall - Finansal Forum




BRIEFING


Powell letter to Gul: Secretary Powell has written a letter
to Foreign Minister Gul, praising him for calling on the
Islamic world to move toward democracy, transparency and
human rights at the Organization for Islamic Conference
(OIC) summit in Tehran last month. Dailies regard the
`warm' letter by Powell as an indication of easing tensions
in U.S.-Turkey relations.


Armenians might demand compensation from Turkey: The
Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) said that
some insurance policies given to Armenians during the
Ottoman period are currently being held by American and
French insurance companies, "Hurriyet" reports. The
Governor of California, Gray Davis, has announced that he
believes the papers are still effective, and ATAA warns that
Turkey might be obliged to pay billions of dollars to
Armenians.


U.S. urges the EU to back Turkey: U.S. Special Cyprus
Coordinator Thomas Weston said at meetings with EU officials
Verheugen and Solana in Brussels on Tuesday that the EU
should extend support to the Turkish government's reform
efforts. Weston also voiced support for the EU financial
aid package for Turkish Cypriots, and urged Ankara to exert
pressure on Denktas to continue with the UN-sponsored peace
plan.


Iraqi business delegation in SE Turkey: Mosul's Turkmen
deputy governor Ibrahim Arafat, accompanied by a 40-strong
delegation of Iraqi businessmen, paid a business visit to
Turkey's southeastern border town of Sirnak. The Iraqi
delegation conveyed to Turkish officials and businessmen a
message of goodwill and cooperation from Mosul's Arab
governor, who has urged Turks to pursue increased levels of
bilateral trade.


TGS rejects `harassment' allegation: Dailies cite Greek
press reports claiming a vast increase in Turkish military
jets' violation of Greek airspace. The Greek defense
minister reportedly complained that dialogue with Turkish
politicians has produced no results because political
control in Turkey remains in the hands of the military. A
TGS statement said on Tuesday that a military jet passing a
passenger plane at a ten kilometer distance cannot be
defined as harassment. Dailies speculate that Athens is
playing a game to ensure that the Aegean dispute is carried
to the EU agenda.




EDITORIAL OPINION:
Middle East/US policy in the post war Iraq


"Where do we stand on the Pax Americana?"
Yilmaz Oztuna warned in the mass appeal-conservative Turkiye
(6/11): "Sometimes it is very hard for nations to comprehend
the realities of international politics, even though these
realities present themselves very clearly. The `Pax
Americana' is a reality of this century that will continue
to increase in importance because it has not yet been
concluded. Take Syria, for example, which used to be
strongly anti-American. Today, however, the Damascus regime
has completely changed its tune. . Eventually, both Saudi
Arabia and Syria will bow to US policies without the need
for a war. There will inevitably be, however, a military
operation against Iran. Yet Iran too will eventually
reconcile with the US. After Iran, the US focus will be on
the Asian continent in an effort to expand the Pax
Americana. It is worrying to see that many in Turkey keep
their heads under the sand and remain blind to world
realities."


"Yet another test for US-Turkey relations"
Cuneyt Ulsever stated in mass appeal Hurriyet (6/11):
"Turkish-American relations are on the eve of another test.
The US will give Turkey a litmus test, especially on Iran,
Syria, and the Israel-Palestinian dispute in connection with
the American plan to reshape the Middle East region. . In
the US view, Iran and Syria have anti-American regimes that
incite terrorism. There is still a chance to change both
regimes without the need for a military operation. A new
order for the Middle East requires a lasting solution to the
Israel-Palestine issue. . Thus the visit of Undersecretary
Ziyal to Washington will take place at a very critical time,
especially for the future of Turkish-American relations.
The US is looking for a clear and precise stance from Turkey
with regard to Iran and Syria. . Turkey failed to pass the
credibility test before, and it remains to be seen what the
result will be this time."


PEARSON