ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT, WEDNESDAY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001276 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 MARCH 3, 2004 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION HEADLINES MASS APPEAL British FM Straw: Reforms in Turkey cannot be reversed - Hurriyet Erdogan acknowledges exploitation of religion was wrong - Hurriyet Shiite celebrations in Iraq overshadowed by bombs - Hurriyet Ashura disaster in Karbala - Sabah Al-Qaida in Karbala: 182 Dead - Milliyet Speaker of EU Parliament: Time to implement reforms - Turkiye Cox: Europe views Leyla Zana as a symbol - Aksam Grossman shows Turkey as a model - Turkiye OPINION MAKERS Bloody day in Iraq: 182 Dead - Radikal Weston remarks on referenda upset Denktas - Radikal Bloody attacks in Iraq's Shiite region - Cumhuriyet Civil war brewing in Iraq -Yeni Safak BRIEFING Grossman continues tour on Greater Middle East: Dailies report that State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman, during his visit to Egypt, said that Turkey could be an important model for the Arab world. Grossman stressed the democratic and Muslim characteristics of Turkey, and drew attention to Turkey's strong ties with the West and the rest of the world. "Zaman" reports, however, that Grossman failed to get from the Egyptians the support he had sought for the U.S. Greater Middle East initiative. MFA U/S Ziyal due in Israel: MFA Undersecretary Ambassador Ugur Ziyal will be in Israel today and tomorrow for regular political consultations. Papers speculate that Turkey's prospective role as mediator between Israel and Syria will be discussed. "Radikal" notes the "coincidence" that Ziyal is going to Israel on the eve of Grossman's visit to Ankara. Cyprus: The Cypriot sides continued discussions about a bi- zonal political structure during Tuesday's Cyprus talks, papers report, but the sides once again failed to reach agreement. TRNC leader Denktas complained that the Greek Cypriots have rejected all proposals made by the Turkish side, claiming that the proposed changes are inconsistent with the Annan Plan. Denktas criticized US Special Cyprus Coordinator Weston for warning Cypriots that those who would reject the plan in a referendum will "pay a heavy price." Denktas characterized Weston's comments as "unacceptable pressure and a threat." Meanwhile, TRNC leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Serdar Denktas were `summoned' to Ankara by the MFA on Tuesday. Talat said that the Turkish side aimed at filling in all the blanks so that there are no issues left to be decided after Turkey and Greece join the negotiations on March 21. Foreign Minister Gul said the people of Cyprus would make the final decision regarding the future of the island. :Hurriyet" reports that the Turkish Cypriot side is working to disrupt Greek Cypriot `maneuvers' to stall the Cyprus talks until Greek Cyprus joins the EU on May 1. Meanwhile, "Sabah" claims that Prime Minister Erdogan is planning a `surprise' visit to Greece in the coming days. EDITORIALS Greater Middle East Initiative; Cyprus "Turkey and GME project" Cuneyt Ulsever opined in the mass appeal "Hurriyet" (3/3): "I don't think Turkey will be the most important part of the Greater Middle East initiative. . It is true that Turkey is the most powerful country in the region, and that it stands close to the West, particularly to the US. . Turkey is neither the center, nor a significant element of the GME project - an initiative which has been developed without the inclusion of Turkey. The GME is a project launched for the Arab world. That said, however, Turkey may contribute to some specific projects within the GME framework." "Turkey in the GME" Dr. Husnu Mahalli wrote in the pro-Islamic/opinion-maker "Yeni Safak" (3/3): "FM Gul said on TV last Sunday that Turkey would neither be a tool, nor a contractor of the US Greater Middle East project. He added that the GME initiative does not stand a chance unless the Palestine problem is resolved. . PM Erdogan has recently said that the GME should be perceived as a project of cultures and civilizations, not merely a geographical initiative. If not approved by countries in the region, the GME initiative has no chance, Erdogan stressed. Erdogan strongly denounced the `Wall of Shame' put up by Israel. . Despite efforts by Washington to make Turkey, together with Israel, the most important element of the GME project, Erdogan and Gul have not changed their well-known attitudes. Those who think that the AK Party will turn a blind eye to the sufferings of the people of Palestine are wrong. Ankara's attitude regarding the issue is more honorable than many Arab administrations. . Turkey has a responsibility toward the people of Palestine. . Turkey took a significant decision by rejecting the March 1 troops decree, and in doing so, Turkey has become the leader of its own GME initiative. Americans are aware of this fact, which is why they are anxious to make Turkey a player in the US GME project." "Greater Middle East" Hasan Cemal observed in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (3/3): "In 1997, a `Project for a New American Century' was launched in coordination with the Israeli lobby in Washington. Written by Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Perle and the chief ideologue of the Neo-Cons, Bernard Lewis, the project was seeking an answer to the question of how the US could rule the world. This group in the US Administration `pushed the button' on the project following the election of George Bush and the painful events of 9/11. . Saddam was toppled and has been captured, but Iraq is still far from being stable. There is no even a light at the end of the tunnel regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. How can the Greater Middle East project become a reality as long as these two problems exist? How can the region's regimes and leaders, who regard regime changes, freedom and democracy as the biggest threats to their existence, ever accept the GME project while the situation in Iraq and Palestine remains the same? . The project looks good on paper. However, too many question marks rise if you delve more deeply into the issue." EDELMAN