Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA4777
2003-07-29 12:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

Tags:  OPRC KMDR TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004777

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, JULY 29, 2003

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


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


MASS APPEAL
The Third Formula - Milliyet
Pentagon Has Asked Ankara for a Division for Iraq - Sabah
Troop Formula for Iraq: "Has to be a State Decision"
Turkish Presence in Northern Iraq Depends on Barzani-Turkiye
Kurdish Army in Northern Iraq - Aksam
US State Department: 30 Countries Will Send Troops To Iraq -
Sabah
`US and Kurdish Troops have Joint Exercises in Northern Iraq
- Milliyet
Standard & Poors Raises Turkey's Credit Rating - Hurriyet


OPINION MAKERS
FM Gul: `The US Wants Us'-Radikal
15,000 Troops to Iraq-Cumhuriyet
FM Gul: A New Motion is Necessary for Troop Deployment-Yeni
Safak




BRIEFING


Turkish troops for Iraqi peacekeeping: All papers report
that at yesterday's Council of Ministers meeting reviewed
FM Gul's US visit and the troop request by the US for Iraq.
At the meeting, the council agreed that the troop deployment
issue should be a State decision. The consultation process
will begin with a three-way `summit' including the PM, the
Chief of General Staff and the President. "Hurriyet"
reports that FM Gul stressed the necessity of a
parliamentary motion for the troop deployment, and said that
the government has decided to send a motion to parliament
`without rushing' and after informing the public about the
issue. "Milliyet" Washington Correspondent Yasemin Congar
draws attention to three formulas considered by the US to
facilitate a Turkish decision for sending troops to Iraq.
One alternative is to ensure NATO support for the
stabilization force. A second alternative is based on the
`Polish formula,' which guarantees NATO logistical support
for Turkish troops. A third formula is an invitation to
Turkish troops by the interim Iraqi council. "Sabah"
reports the US State Department announcement listing the 30
countries that have agreed to send troops to Iraq.


Joint Exercise Confusion: "Milliyet" cites conflicting
reports regarding joint exercises by the US and Turkey near
the Turkish-Iraqi border. Although no denial has come from
FM Gul or the TGS, Barzani's special forces commander Aziz
Veysi stated that the joint exercises in Northern Iraq were
in fact carried out by US and Kurdish troops. Veysi
insisted that the conflicting reports stemmed from the AP
correspondent's mixing up of the words `Turkish' and
`Kurdish.' According to Veysi, no Turkish troops
participated in the exercises.


Standard & Poors: "Hurriyet" reports that the international
credit rating institution Standard & Poors has upgraded
Turkey's credit rating from `B minus' to `B.' While
upgrading Turkey's rating, S&P sent a message to the AKP
urging the Government not to engage in an `election economy'
that could increase Turkey's debt problem.


EDITORIAL OPINION


"Democratic messages"
Cengiz Candar argued in the mass appeal DB-Tercuman (7/29):
"Gul's message for `civilianizing' politics in Turkey will
undoubtedly find support in the Pentagon, the main
administrative institution of U.S. politics. . Gul has made
it clear that Turkish troops will leave Northern Iraq if the
PKK/KADEK presence is eliminated. He also stressed that the
Northern Iraq issue will be taken away from the TGS and put
under the authority of the civilian government. . Adopting
Gul's pledges in Washington as a government policy will
serve the democratization agenda of the AKP. . It is ironic
that the leadership of the `social democratic' CHP is
opposing this attempt to civilianize politics in Turkey. .
CHP is increasingly going back to the days when it was
defined as a `party of the state.' . Not only the
Americans, but those with a democratic sensitivity in
Turkey, are increasingly adopting a negative view of the
CHP."


"What's changed in the view of the Americans?"
Sedat Ergin wrote in the mass appeal Hurriyet (7/29): "U.S.
officials are gradually realizing that staying at odds with
Turkey will not serve their interest. Hawks like Rumsfeld
have started moving closer to Powell, who has made a
considerable effort to prevent a break in ties. The United
States, determined to wipe out the terrorist threat after
9/11, cannot push Turkey aside. . Although a bit too late,
the Washington Administration realized that it had gone too
far in the Suleymaniye event. Washington had to open its
eyes to the growing anti-American sentiment in Turkey. The
Gul visit has shown that the U.S. has acknowledged that its
long-term interests will not allow the break in ties with
Turkey to continue. The same is true from the AKP view of
Washington. Despite all the negativity that has been
experienced, the sides saw that they have no other option
but to hold each other's hand and move forward."


DEUTSCH