ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004950

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, AUGUST 6, 2003

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


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


MASS APPEALS
Turkey Decides to Send Troops to Iraq - Hurriyet
Troop Motion to Parliament in September - Milliyet
Turkey to Send Team to Iraq to `Take the Pulse' of Iraqi
Tribes - Sabah
Unexpected Iraq Summit in Ankara - Turkiye
A Blow to Uzans, This Time From Switzerland - Sabah
Babacan: Turkish Delegation to Washington for talks on $8.5
billion - Sabah
Uzan Family in Shock - Milliyet
Babacan: Don't Take Any Risks for Foreign Exchange


OPINION MAKERS
Four Conditions for Troop Deployment in Iraq - Cumhuriyet
Ankara: Troop Deployment Difficult Without a UN Decision -
Radikal
Military Risk Assessment At the Summit - Yeni Safak
Five Conditions for Deployment of Turkish Troops in Iraq -
Zaman
High Court in Switzerland Reject's Uzans' Appeals - Zaman
Uzan Family in Collapse - Yeni Safak
Interest Rates Dropped, Eyes Turned to Central Bank - Yeni
Safak




BRIEFING
Iraq Summit: All papers and TV channels report on
yesterday's `Iraq summit' at the Prime Ministry. "Hurriyet"
reports that Prime Minister Erdogan, Chief of General Staff
General Ozkok, Interior Minister Aksu, Defense Minister
Gonul, Foreign Minister Gul, FM Under Secretary Ziyal, and
Intelligence Undersecretary Atasagun attended the two-hour
meeting. In a written statement released after the meeting,
officials said they had made preliminary assessments about
Iraq. "Milliyet" reports that officials agreed in principle
at the meeting that a new motion is needed for troop
deployment in Iraq. Parliament is expected to convene in an
extraordinary session in September to address the troop
issue. The motion will be presented to the Parliament as a
way `to contribute to Iraq's peace and stability.' "Zaman"
reports that officials analyzed the political and military
risks of a possible deployment. All participants agreed
that Turkey cannot send troops to Iraq while Northern Iraq
remains a threat to Turkish security. According to "Zaman,"
Turkey will lay down five conditions for the sending of
Turkish troops: Turkey will not be involved only in security
matters but in political issues and the reconstruction of
Iraq as well; Turkey will not send troops to Iraq before the
PKK/KADEK threat in Northern Iraq is eliminated by the US;
Turkey must convince regional and EU countries to support
the deployment; an invitation is needed from members of the
interim Iraqi Council including Barzani and Talabani;
finally, the US must meet the expenses of the Turkish
deployment. While "Hurriyet" and "Milliyet" report that
Turkey will send troops to Iraq, "Radikal" remains cautious,
arguing that Ankara will insist on a UN decision first.


Economic News: Turkey's papers continue to report on
positive developments in the financial markets. Economy
Minister Babacan said that there are `no obstacles' standing
in the way of the $8.5 billion credit freom the US. A
Turkish delegation will go to Washington August 18 to
determine the conditions for the loans.' Babacan added that
the credit was not vital for Turkey, but noted that it would
ease pressure on interest rates. "Yeni Safak" reports that
within one week interest rates on Treasury Bond has declined
by 4.5 points. Now it is expected that the Central Bank
will respond to the positive mood in the markets by making
further cuts in interest rates.


The Uzan Family: Today's papers report on a Swiss court
decision to freeze the Uzans' $800 million in assets held by
Swiss Banks. Papers note that the decision came as a second
blow to the Uzans, following a US court ruling against the
family earlier this week. Genc Party Leader Cem Uzan
cancelled a planned meeting with party leaders, and the
Isparta Genc Party provincial chairman and 62 party members
resigned from the Party "Vatan" reports that the Uzans'
application to the Swiss Court revealed that the family had
transferred much of its wealth abroad. The Uzans have $800
million in assets in Switzerland and $125 million in the US
and Britain.




EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq


"A new Vietnam syndrome"
Zafer Atay commented in the economic-political Dunya (8/6):
"The current situation in Iraq for the US is reminiscent of
the `Vietnam syndrome' in the 1960s. Yet the problems in
Vietnam began after some years of a US presence there. In
Iraq, the problems started immediately after the US
operation. . The initial planning for a post-war Iraq does
not seem to be working. The US was hoping to see a smooth
transition period after the war, but now must deal with
attacks against American soldiers. . It is interesting to
read the comments of US soldiers serving in Iraq, who openly
argue with the reasons for their presence there. The US is
seeking military support from its allies, but has yet to
receive an answer. In the meantime, families in the US are
marching to protest the loss of lives. Moreover, the war
budget for Iraq has become inadequate as monthly spending
has jumped to 4 billion dollars. These are all signals that
the Vietnam syndrome has returned for the US."


"Sending Turkish troops to Iraq"
Kamuran Ozbir noted in the nationalist Ortadogu (8/6):
"Before discussing whether or not to send Turkish troops to
Iraq, we better analyze the situation there. The Iraq case
has proven the argument that the establishment of peace is
more difficult than winning a war. Washington has found
itself in a serious deadlock, and the foreseeable future
does not give much hope for democracy, peace, and stability.
Under these circumstances, Turkey should not be in a hurry
to send its troops to Iraq. The decision process should
weigh all the pros and cons. Moreover, the US does not seem
to be pushing Turkey for a quick decision."


DEUTSCH