ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000581 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, JANUARY 22, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Turkey wants security belt in Northern Iraq - Milliyet Gul convinces Assad to join Iraq summit - Aksam Buildup continues: 37,000 U.S. troops to Gulf - Turkiye Bush: Saddam playing hide-and-seek - Vatan Iraq splits nation: Divided States of America - Sabah Ankara asks U.S. about alleged talks w/PKK - Milliyet Clerides: Denktas must stay- Hurriyet OPINION MAKERS Gen. Myers: Iraq operation after Sacrifice Holiday - Cumhuriyet U.S., Turkish military bargaining over size of troop deployment - Radikal Yakis: TGS authorized for military bargaining with U.S. - Zaman UNSC foreign ministers: Inspections must continue - Cumhuriyet Diplomatic war: Germany, France, Russia, China vs. U.S., UK - Yeni Safak FINANCIAL JOURNALS Turkey Davos Summit's main topic - Dunya Businessmen: Turkey's trade w/Iraq might amount to $2 billion - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Iraq: Foreign ministers of Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria will meet at a `peace summit' on January 23 in Istanbul. The Syrian head of state, Bashar Assad, has decided to join the Istanbul meetings after receiving assurances from Prime Minister Gul that a second summit would be held in Damascus next week, papers report. "Milliyet" reports that the U.S., failing to secure full Turkish support for military action against Iraq, has decided to plan the most intense portion of the operation from the South of Iraq, and use the Northern front as a support and logistics center. Turkish officials have notified the U.S. of plans for setting up a buffer zone 12 km from the border into Northern Iraq, Milliyet adds. Turkey aims to control the PKK, prevent attempts to establish a Kurdish state, and halt a possible wave of refugees. Milliyet also claims that Ankara has given the nod to deployment of 15,000 special U.S. troops in Turkey. "Cumhuriyet" claims that Gen. Myers told TGS Chief Gen. Ozkok that late February would be the most suitable time for an operation against Iraq. Myers said that the U.S., afraid of inciting Muslims' sensitivities, preferred to strike Iraq after the Muslim Sacrifice Holiday. Turkey and the U.S. are working on the details of a Northern front plan, according to Cumhuriyet. Meanwhile, papers report that U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson will brief the parliamentary foreign relations, human rights, budget, and defense committees at the Parliament on January 27. U.S. officials, PKK meeting allegations: The U.S. Embassy in Ankara has denied a January 21 report by "Milliyet" claiming that U.S. officials have held several meetings with PKK/KADEK representatives. Wednesday's papers report that Ankara asked Gen. Myers about the allegations, stressing that such activities are against the spirit of the global fight against terrorism. The U.S. Embassy statement underlined the fact that the PKK and KADEK are in the U.S. list of terrorist organizations. Cyprus: Greek Cypriot leader Clerides hosted a group of "Hurriyet" columnists in Nicosia, Cyprus. Hurriyet reports that Clerides said he wanted to continue peace talks with Denktas, for he believes that with a new negotiator, the bargaining will never end. Clerides described as `positive' AKP leader Erdogan's call for a solution in Cyprus. `Erdogan says that the policies followed thus far are wrong. However, we need to know about his notion of policies to be followed in the future,' Clerides stressed. On the other hand, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Cassoulides is quoted by the foreign press as saying that Denktas and the Turkish military presence on the island are the main hurdles to Cyprus' accession to the EU as a unified island. Cassoulides finds Denktas to be obsessed with the past, saying an agreement is unlikely under his leadership. Erdogan acquitted of irregularity: AKP leader Erdogan was acquitted on Tuesday of allegations of illegal acquisition of property and wealth, papers report. The court case concerned an alleged TL256 billion increase in Erdogan's wealth between 1998-2001. On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to restrict Erdogan's authority as AKP chairman. EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq "The Iraq situation" Yilmaz Oztuna wrote in conservative-mass appeal Turkiye (1/22): "Saddam is aware of the fact that he has absolutely no chance to withstand an American attack. Instead, he will most likely resist US and UK troops until Iraq is demolished and thousands die. In this way, he will be the `winner' in terms of inciting hatred against the Americans and British among the people of Iraq. . On the other hand, the US apparently has various game plans for Iraq and the choice among them will be shaped according to conditions. Yet whatever the scenario might be, it is going to be a major source of concern in the region. The countries in the region are already very disturbed about the massive military build-up. . Ankara finds itself rather puzzled and in a very difficult position. Turkey is trying to support its strategic allies while at the same time tempering their war- mongering acts." "US tactics" Nazli Ilicak argued in conservative Tercuman (1/22): "What is the US plan for Iraq exactly? Will Saudi Arabia be next on the list? It should be if the US is sincere enough about its Iraq arguments. Unless the real intention is to control oil fields, the US should take Saudi Arabia onto the list in order to prevent the financing of terrorism. Let's not ignore the fact that terrorists are predominantly of Saudi origin. Those who live in Saudi Arabia are full of hatred against the Saudi authoritarian regime as well as the US, which supports it. In other words, injustice in the Islamic world has become the main motive for terrorism. The US should be as determined as it is for the Iraqi regime by making the case against the Saudis as well." PEARSON