ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000914 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, FEBRUARY 5, 2003 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEALS Cheney to Gul: Hurry up! - Vatan Brits planning to divide Iraq into three - Milliyet `War cabinet' of 10 ministers - Aksam Early response from Saddam: No Al-Qaeda connection - Turkiye Erdogan asks AKP deputies to approve war - Sabah Erdogan, Gul say `War' - Vatan U.S. to send AWACS, Patriots - Hurriyet OPINION MAKERS Cheney calls Gul: Direct pressure from White House - Cumhuriyet Cheney: Time is short - Radikal Erdogan the warmonger - Cumhuriyet Surprise Northern Iraqi meeting in Ankara - Radikal Erdogan: Iraq crisis at critical level - Zaman 40 Nobel prize holder Americans against Iraq war - Zaman Those deciding war will bear responsibility - Yeni Safak Cyprus envoy brings new maps - Cumhuriyet FINANCIAL JOURNALS Lion's share in U.S. budget goes to fight against terror - Dunya Powell's upcoming UNSC address rockets gold prices - Finansal Forum BRIEFING Iraq: Dailies give extensive front-page coverage to the phone conversation between Vice President Cheney and Prime Minister Gul on Tuesday. Cheney urged Gul to secure swift parliamentary approval for the deployment of U.S. troops in Turkey. Gul said that the issue would be discussed in parliament on February 18. Gul told Cheney that the issue of modernization of Turkish bases and ports would be approved by the parliament before February 11, the Sacrifice Holiday. "Radikal" believes that U.S. and Turkish officials are about to reach an agreement on the legal framework of cooperation regarding Iraq. Meanwhile, President Bush's Iraq advisor, Zalmay Khalilzad, arrived in Ankara for talks with Northern Iraqi Kurdish groups and Turkoman representatives on Thursday. MFA officials will also attend the meetings to explain Turkey's expectations concerning regional ethnic groups. Secretary Powell's address to the UNSC on Wednesday might speed Ankara's Iraq decision, according to press reports. Prime Minister Gul is expected to address AKP deputies right after Powell's speech to urge them to approve the drafts for cooperation with the U.S. Gul will also explain to cabinet members at the council of ministers meeting today the necessity to cooperate with the U.S.-led international effort in order to protect Turkey's interests. Speaking to his party group on Tuesday, AKP leader Erdogan said that a parliamentary decision approving Turkey's involvement in a war could contribute to peace. `We might not be allowed to influence developments later if we stay out of the calculations in the beginning,' Erdogan said. "Zaman" estimates that about 50 AKP deputies will vote against the bill to allow modernization of Turkish bases. The paper expects the bill to be approved with the votes of at least 300 AKP deputies. A "Yeni Safak" commentary carries a January public opinion poll by the ANAR company which shows 94 percent of Turks opposed to U.S. intervention in Iraq. 78 percent of respondents are against Turkey's involvement in a war either by sending troops or opening Turkish bases to the United States. "Hurriyet" claims that the U.S. will send early warning AWACS planes and Patriot defense missile systems to Turkey from U.S. bases in the Netherlands next week. Parliamentary Speaker on by-elections: Commenting on the Siirt elections on March 9 in which AKP leader Erdogan will have an opportunity to run for parliament, Parliamentary Speaker Arinc noted that the Constitution has a clause which authorizes parliament to postpone elections for up to a year. EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq "Being emotional is not helpful when war is inevitable" Mehmet Barlas commented in mass appeal Aksam (2/5): "Turkey is clearly under US pressure for a clear decision on Iraq. Reports also note that the US has already formulated a `Plan B' in the absence of Turkey's permission for the deployment of US troops for a northern front. . The latest comment by AKP leader Erdogan was realistic, as he was defending Turkey's involvement in what has become an inevitable war. This message was especially meant for the AKP deputies. They better think about the cost of being left out in the post-war period. That requires a cool-headed thinking, an analysis free from anger and emotionalism. Belated decisions are sometimes regarded as if they never existed." "Bush should ask for Congressional authorization for Turkey" Sedat Ergin wrote in mass appeal Hurriyet (2/5): "The most critical part of the ongoing US-Turkey bargaining is about the nature of the US commitment to address Turkey's losses during the coming war. The issue centers on whether US promises will turn into binding commitments. It remains to be seen whether President Bush will seek Congressional approval for compensation plan for Turkey. . The Egypt case stands as a good example. During the Gulf war, the US administration obtained an authorization from Congress to eliminate Egypt's FMS debt in order to entice the Egyptians to participate in the international coalition against Iraq." "The northern front issue" Sami Kohen wrote in mass appeal Milliyet (2/5): "Turkey should take into account US plans to open the northern front at all costs. By permitting the transit movement of US troops from Turkey, Ankara will actually have a chance to control northern Iraq together with Washington. Refusal to cooperate, on the other hand, will create huge troubles for Turkey. .A military source from Washington says that the operation could be launched at the beginning of March, and that the US needs two or three weeks for site preparations. The Turkish government will fall short of US expectations by delaying its decision until the end of the holiday. .A source close to the government says that the government wanted to exhaust all peaceful means before sending to parliament a decision for the deployment of US troops in Turkey." PEARSON