ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000231 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 TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2004 THIS REPORT WILL PRESENT A TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION HEADLINES MASS APPEAL Denktas Approves New TRNC Government - Hurriyet Erdogan: "No Need for New Decree on Incirlik" - Hurriyet No Defense Minister in New TRNC Cabinet - Sabah US: "Rotation Through Incirlik is Legal" -Aksam Al-Hakim: Kurdish State Can Not be Established - Turkiye OPINION MAKERS Erdogan to be Briefed by TGS on Cyprus - Cumhuriyet Weston: "Annan Plan can be Changed if Both Sides Agree" - Zaman FM Gul's Explanation for Incirlik Unsatisfactory - Cumhuriyet Color-coded Security Measure from the US - Cumhuriyet Erdogan: "Cyprus To be Discussed at NSC Meeting - Radikal US is After A Blanket Clearance - Radikal BRIEFING Incirlik: Controversy continues about the use of Incirlik air base by the United States for troop rotations from Iraq. CHP leader Deniz Baykal claimed that the Government had been "caught red-handed" by granting permission for the US operation without establishing a sound legal basis. Baykal and other CHP deputies insisted that parliamentary approval is necessary to place the operation on a sound legal footing. They also criticized the Government for excessive secrecy surrounding the operation and for not revealing the details of a June 2003 Council of Ministers decision that opened Turkey's bases and ports for the use of allied countries. The opposition claims that the Government portrayed the decision as a move to facilitate humanitarian operations only - not to support the occupation of Iraq. Two AKP deputies also called for a new parliamentary motion before the operation continues. Parliament speaker Bulent Arinc said that his advisors are continuing to study the matter to determine if parliamentary action is required. PM Erdogan defended the Government's cooperation in the troop rotations, arguing that the decision was made within the framework of UNSC Resolution 1483 and therefore did not require parliamentary approval. Cyprus: All papers report that TRNC President Denktas approved the new coalition Government in Turkish Cyprus. The Turkish PM and FM sent messages to congratulate the leaders of the new governing coalition. In his message, Erdogan stressed that Turkey will cooperate for a Cyprus settlement and that the current deadlock is not a permanent solution in Cyprus. "Sabah" notes that there is no Defense Minister in the new cabinet. All papers and TV channels report that PM Erdogan will be briefed today by TGS on the Cyprus issue. "Zaman" reports that during his visit to Brussels, US Cyprus envoy Weston said that changes could be made in the UN plan if both sides agree. EDITORIAL OPINION: ¶1. Iraq ¶2. Cyprus Can't We be More Transparent? Sami Kohen observed in the mass appeal Milliyet (1/14): "There is no meaning and no benefit in equating the use of Incirlik air base for the US troop rotation with the March 1 decree. The TGS and the Government already announced that the June decree and UN resolution 1483 are sufficient for the US troop rotation, and there is no need to ask for a new decree for such a technical agreement. At this critical stage, taking into account only the political side of the issue and calling into question the legal basis for the operation will bring unwanted results. Especially given the timing, a wrong move just before PM Erdogan's visit to Washington will affect the meetings there. Turkey always mentions its geo-strategic importance. Events in Iraq have brought this importance to the top of the US agenda (mainly because of Incirlik). This importance is valuable only if it is used at the right time. Turkey's position on this latest event increases the possibility that Turkey will be more influential in defending its interests in Northern Iraq. Let's wait and see how the PM will use this trump card during his Washington meetings. Cyprus Efforts Surprised the EU Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in the mass appeal Posta(1/14): "I can almost hear the questions you are now asking. I am sure you are asking "why should the Greek Cypriots agree to any plan now? They can delay the process as long as they want and let the May 1 deadline pass." Would you act differently, if you were a Greek Cypriot? However, the situation is not that simple.If the Turkish side plays its cards right by not asking for exaggerated concessions, the atmosphere in Brussels shows that the Greek Cypriots will be put under significant pressure. The EU is beginning to act. It will attend the negotiations with a very different mindset. It does not want to leave the Greek Cypriots free to do whatever they want. Their biggest fear is Denktas being the negotiator. Everyone is waiting to see whether Denktas will follow Ankara's line or will continue to push his own policies. The news of the firing of Mumtaz Soysal as his advisor was received with interest in Brussels. "Mumtaz Soysal is a very professional man but is not living in this day and age" said a top official, stressing that the EU commission would attach special importance to the attitude and statements of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in this process. EDELMAN