Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA6994
2003-11-07 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

Tags:  OPRC KMDR TU 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006994

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
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2003

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


HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION


HEADLINES


MASS APPEAL
February 28 Messages from US Embassy - Hurriyet
US Gives Up Plans for Turkish Troop Deployment - Hurriyet
US Plans to Deploy 100,000 Additional Troops in Iraq -
Milliyet
The Times: "Europe Should Recognize the Value of Turkey" -
Milliyet
Kurdish Minority `Gaffe' From Norwegian Prime Minister -
Milliyet
No Place for Turkey in US' 6-Month Iraq Plan - Turkiye
EU Starts Blackmailing: "No Membership without Cyprus" -
Turkiye
Erdogan to Visit Cyprus November 15 - Turkiye
38 People Injured in Protests Against YOK in Ankara -Sabah


OPINION MAKERS


Ankara at a Critical Threshold - Cumhuriyet
9 New Air Corridors in the Aegean - Cumhuriyet
Investigation Against Headscarf at Kayseri Military
Reception- Cumhuriyet
Headscarf Not Accepted in the Courtroom - Radikal
Thank-You Letter from Powell to Gul - Radikal
Erdogan: "Cyprus is not a Part of EU Criteria" - Yeni Safak


BRIEFING


Reactions to EU Report: "Milliyet" draws attention to
comments in the western press concerning the EU progress
report on Turkey. Most western papers criticized the EU for
being shortsighted, for presenting Turkey with new
obstacles, and for treating Turkey differently from other EU
candidate countries. "Turkiye" writes that the EU is trying
to `blackmail' Turkey on the Cyprus issue. "Milliyet"
reports that Prime Minister Erdogan said yesterday that
Cyprus is not part of EU accession criteria. "Turkiye"
reports that Erdogan will go to Cyprus November 15 to stress
the importance of a democratic election process.


Turkish Troop Deployment in Iraq: "Hurriyet" says that the
Pentagon has released US plans for upcoming troop
deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reportedly, the US is
planning to send 43,000 new troops to Iraq in January 2004
and to withdraw one division and one brigade. "Hurriyet"
notes that Turkish troops had not been included in the US
plans for Iraq. The paper speculates that the US has
abandoned the idea to send Turkish troops to Iraq.


Aegean Air Corridors: "Radikal" reports that Turkey and
Greece have reached an agreement on the Aegean air corridor.

With the agreement, the number of air corridors will
increase to 11 from 2. Paper notes that the agreement will
result in considerable economic advantages for Turkey in the
form of overflight revenues.


Headscarf Issue: "Radikal" reports that a suspect wearing a
headscarf was asked by the presiding judge to leave the
courtroom of the Court of Appeals in Ankara. Papers note
that this incident launches a new chapter in the headscarf
debate. Defense lawyers complained that the ruling could
lead to significant numbers of defendants being left without
the means to defend themselves in Turkish courts. "Vatan"
reports that the Turkish General Staff has started an
investigation into the claim that two guests at the Republic
Day reception at a Kayseri military club attended the event
wearing headscarves.
Higher Education Board(YOK) Protests: Students clashed with
police yesterday during protests against the Higher
Education Board (YOK). Demonstrators called for the
abolishment of YOK and attacked police trying to stop the
demonstration. Fierce clashes between police and the
demonstrators resulted in injury to 30 demonstrators and 10
police. 10 people were detained for their role in the
demonstration.




EDITORIAL OPINION:


"From now on."
Sami Kohen commented in the mass appeal Milliyet (11/7):
"Nothing much will change even if the opposition wins the
elections in the Turkish Cypriot sector in December, because
a solution without Denktas will not be possible. Therefore,
Ankara must act now to do whatever is necessary for a
solution. . It is time for the Turkish side to launch a
diplomatic attack. The Turkish initiative must go beyond
confidence-building measures and must include a new
negotiation process and the presentation of creative and
realistic proposals. . Turkey should not be expected to
launch an initiative contrary to the interests of the
Turkish Cypriots just to rid itself of the Cyprus problem.
A solution is necessary because the Turkish side, too, will
benefit from such a settlement."


"Cyprus an obstacle on Turkey's path"
Mehmet Ali Birand observed in the mass appeal Posta (11/7):
"The EU Commission for the first time openly said that
Turkey will be blocked on its way to EU accession unless the
Cyprus problem is resolved. . We will have nothing to say
if Turkey addresses the deficiencies that are highlighted in
the EU Commission report, the Belgian Prime Minister. The
message is clear: If Turkey really wants to get a date for
membership negotiations, it must do whatever is necessary. .
Turkey has taken significant steps forward. However, the EU
Commission refrained from further encouraging Ankara,
because the Europeans do not want to tip their hand
regarding the November 2004 progress report. The real fight
will be in 2004."


EDELMAN