ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000417 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, JANUARY 16, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS U.S. asks for NATO support against Iraq - Sabah Gul: War will hurt all regional countries- Hurriyet Gul: U.S. happy with my meetings in Mideast - Milliyet Ankara denies U.S. access to Erhac base - Aksam IMF begins discussions - Vatan MFA: Denktas must take a lesson from Lefkosa rally - Milliyet Enktas: Will meet Clerides for changes to UN plan - Turkiye OPINION MAKERS U.S. to NATO: Protect Turkey against Iraq - Radikal Following Gul's Mideast tour, Turkey drafts peace plan - Yeni Safak TIME survey: Peace threatened by U.S. - Cumhuriyet 12th anniversary of Gulf War: Same movie, different actors - Cumhuriyet IMF will take into account Turkey's war losses - Zaman MFA: Lefkosa rally expression of democratic preferences - Radikal FINANCIAL JOURNALS Krueger: Came to see the situation - Dunya IMF passes the ball to U.S. about Turkey's war losses - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Iraq: "Radikal" reports that the U.S. has asked NATO for military assistance regarding use of allies' airports, ports, and airspace. The U.S. also wants early warning aircraft (AWACS) and air defense systems deployed in Turkey in the event of war with Iraq, Radikal reports. The paper also says that the U.S. Embassy in Ankara was notified by the MFA about the regional peace initiative launched by Prime Minister Gul. MFA has said that Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia agree that Iraq must fully cooperate with the UN and follow the timetable on implementation of UNSC resolutions. The six countries believe that a military operation launched by the U.S., UK and Australia with Kuwaiti support could upset regional balances. Dailies report that Egyptian President Mubarak said that Turkey and the Arab countries are working on a formula acceptable to both the U.S. and Iraq. Some Arab diplomats said that the peace initiative envisions convincing Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq. General Myers: Papers speculate that the Myers visit is a last chance for Turkey to clarify its position on US demands regarding Iraq. The northern front option and deployment of ground troops are the two major concerns of Washington requiring an immediate answer from Ankara. Meanwhile, all papers highlight the U.S. survey teams' continuing inspections at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport and the port of Mersin. Dailies say that Ankara has canceled permission for inspections at Malatya's Erhac Airbase. Papers expect the details of U.S.-Turkey military cooperation to be discussed during the upcoming visit of General Myers. The U.S. is reportedly not happy with Ankara's restrictions on deployment of large numbers of U.S. troops in Turkey, which will eventually make Turkey the focus of criticism for causing an unnecessarily long military operation with significant casualties. Cyprus: The MFA Spokesman said on Wednesday that Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas should draw some conclusions from the rally in Lefkosa on Tuesday in support of the UN Cyprus plan. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a democratic state, the spokesman said, and in democracies it is natural that the public express preferences through democratic means. Dailies claim that Turkey has asked for U.S. support for some changes to the Annan plan. Papers report that Parliamentary Speaker Arinc voiced support to Denktas on his return to Ankara after meetings in the TRNC. Arinc said in a press conference on Wednesday that insulting Denktas would mean betrayal. Denktas' supporters told the Turkish parliamentary delegation that the EU and the U.S. have extended financial support to proponents of the UN peace plan, and blamed Turkish Cypriot NGOs for being in close ties with the Greek Cypriots. Prime Minister denies claims of U.S. funds for media: Prime Minister Abdullah Gul denied on Wednesday press reports claiming that the U.S. was using clandestine payoffs to increase media support in Turkey for a war with Iraq. Gul noted that such speculation aimed to damage U.S.-Turkey ties. Some papers claimed earlier this week that the U.S. was planning to give the leading media groups in Turkey $200 million to buy support for Washington's Iraq policy. The U.S. Embassy in Ankara also released a statement denying the accusations. EDITORIAL OPINION: a) Iraq b) Cyprus "Pressure mounts and time shortens" Sami Kohen warned in mass appeal Milliyet (1/16): "Turkey is under increasing pressure and a fast-approaching deadline on the Iraq issue. Ankara needs some time to continue its peace efforts via diplomacy, yet it does not have time left to answer the US about the second front in the north and deployment of American ground troops on Turkish soil. . January 19, the visit of General Myers, will be the most critical deadline for Ankara's response. The US has already sent messages via diplomatic channels urging Turkey to define clearly its political decision during this visit. A preliminary decision to make the northern front issue open for discussion will also be acceptable to the US. . US sources confirm that they are awaiting for Ankara's decision as soon as possible so that the issues related with northern Iraq, both the operational details and the terms of the economic support package, can be negotiated." "The Betrayal on the Cyprus issue" Altemur Kilic argued in sensationalist Haberturk (1/16): "The demonstrations in Nicosia present a clear picture of betrayal and treason. It was interesting enough to see EU flags, while neither the Turkish flag nor the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus flag were carried by the demonstrators. It is sad that there are certain figures in Turkey who justify these treasonous scenes. . Finding a fair and just solution to the Cyprus issue and protecting Turkey's interests cannot be achieved through the Annan plan or EU formulas. The solution goes through a rather belated radical step: Northern Cyprus should be annexed to Turkey." PEARSON