ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003084 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, JUNE 1, 2005 THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- -------------- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL Erdogan Thanks US Delegation for Efforts for Turkish Cyprus - Hurriyet US Delegation's Cyprus Visit a Gesture for Turkish Cypriots - Sabah New Penal Code Endangers Press Freedom in Turkey - Aksam Iran Tests New Missile - Aksam Cheney: War in Iraq May End in 2009 - Sabah Watergate Scandal's `Deep Throat' Former FBI Official - Sabah World Trade Organization to Handle Boeing-Airbus Dispute - Hurriyet New French PM Villepin a Friend of Turkey - Milliyet OPINION MAKERS `TRNC PM': US Delegation's Visit a `Kiss of Life' for Turkish Cyprus - Radikal Erdogan: US Delegation's Visit to `TRNC' Very Significant - Zaman Whitfield Urges Papadopoulos to End Sanctions on North Cyprus - Yeni Safak Whitfield: Papadopoulos Reluctant to Reunite Cyprus - Cumhuriyet Nicosia Fumes As Americans Visit North Cyprus - Radikal 60 Percent of Dutch Likely to Reject EU Constitution - Cumhuriyet Two Centuries of Russian Presence to End in Georgia - Zaman Israel to Demolish 88 Palestinian Settlements in East Jerusalem - Cumhuriyet Bush Finds Amnesty International Report `Absurd' - Yeni Safak BRIEFING Erdogan Receives Whitfield Delegation: Turkish dailies give extensive coverage to meetings of US Congressmen in Ankara following their visit to north Cyprus on Monday. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Erdogan received Ed Whitfield, co- chairman of the Turkey Caucus in the US House of Representatives, and his accompanying delegation. Robert Wexler, the other co-chair of the Caucus, joined the delegation for the meeting with Erdogan. `The visit of the US Congressmen to Turkish Cyprus will have a positive impact on the Cyprus peace process,' Erdogan said, adding that Turkey wanted a `lasting and fair' solution on Cyprus. Erdogan also thanked the US delegation for making a `significant' trip to northern Cyprus directly from Turkey. Whitfield said the delegation's visit to north Cyprus was a symbolic step toward the removal of the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Responding to a question, Erdogan said he viewed the US Congressional delegation's visit to northern Cyprus as an indication of new `openings' to Turkish Cyprus by Washington. Asked about his upcoming state visit to the United States next week, Erdogan said that Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the fight against international terrorism will be discussed during his meetings with the Americans. Erdogan later told his ruling AK Party group that Turkey-US relations continued as before within the scope of a strategic partnership. Ankara Reiterates Support for `Proliferation Security Initiative': The Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) released a statement Tuesday to mark the second anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),which was put into practice by 11 countries in May 2003. Turkey joined the PSI in December 2003. The MFA said that Turkey will continue supporting activities under the security initiative against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). `Turkey is aware of the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and will continue its efforts on this issue,' the MFA said. The PSI is a response to the growing challenge posed by the proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide, "Milliyet" reports, adding that Turkey plans to lead a military exercise related to PSI in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2006. The paper regards the MFA statement as an effort by Turkey to please Washington on the eve of Prime Minister Erdogan's upcoming visit to the US. Turkey Soon to Expand Customs Union Agreement With EU: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Turkey will expand its customs union (CU) agreement with the European Union (EU) before an EU summit on June 16 in a way that will include new member states, including Cyprus. Analysts expect Turkey to add to the protocol a political declaration saying that the inclusion of the Republic of Cyprus in the CU agreement does not imply official recognition of Nicosia by Ankara. The EU has made clear that Turkey must sign the protocol in order to begin accession talks on October 3, 2005. Controversial Penal Code Takes Effect: Turkey's new penal code, a controversial bill that includes restrictions on the press and enhanced prison sentences for journalists, took effect on June 1, papers report. The new code brings restrictions on the reporting of organized criminal activities and news stories that contradict official policies. Reports claim that the law provides increased prison terms for individuals who openly criticize the state, the parliament, the judiciary, or the military. The new code also eases penalties on those who open or manage illegal Koran courses, though that controversial provision may face a veto by President Sezer. The law increases penalties for `honor killings,' rape, torture, and street theft. Erdogan to Visit Lebanon: Prime Minister Erdogan plans to visit Lebanon June 15 as the official guest of Prime Minister Najip Mikati following an earlier visit to the United States, "Yeni Safak" reports. Erdogan will attend the `Arab Economic Summit' in Beirut during his visit, which is seen as a contribution to the Middle East peace process. Rabbani Claims Former Afghan Warlord Massoud Killed by US: Former Afghan President Burhaneddin Rabbani said in an interview with the Islamist-oriented "Yeni Safak" that the September 11 attacks were not organized by Osama bin Ladin, and that the United States might have engineered the killing of Afghan warlordAhmad Shah Massoud, leader of the Northern Alliance. Rabbani claimed that the Taliban was established by former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto with support from `the US and its partners.' General Buyukanit Due in Greece: Turkish Land Forces Commander General Yasar Buyukanit is to visit Athens on June 22, papers report. Buyukanit will address Greek military students at the War Academy in Athens, where a Turkish flag was found desecrated in a room where Turkish officers were being hosted as part of an exchange program in April. The visit will be the first ever by a Turkish Land forces Commander to Greece. Pakistan's Aziz in Ankara: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan arrived in Ankara on Tuesday on a state visit. Aziz is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Erdogan, President Sezer, Parliament Speaker Arinc, and Foreign Minister Gul on Wednesday. EDITORIAL OPINION: The EU Constitution "One Threat Has Passed" Erdal Safak commented in the mass appeal "Sabah" (6/1): "With the French `no' vote, the heart of the European Constitution stopped beating. Today's referendum in the Netherlands will render it brain-dead. Some believe that the June 16 EU summit will mark the official end of the European Constitution, while others expect the process to continue until the last referendum is held. The address of the last referendum is of course Britain. British PM Blair is expected to make the most of this time, since Britain is also going to take charge of the EU presidency as of July 1. . A growing number of editorials in the British press seems to agree on one thing: the referendum result marked the failure of French-German leadership and paved the way for the `British model.' The British model basically envisages the EU as an economic union. This makes things a lot easier for Turkey. But there is more good news for Turkey coming from Paris. Chirac has appointed the pro-Turkish Villepin for the Prime Ministry instead of Sarkozy, an advocate of privileged partnership. . We can be calm about France, because Paris is likely pursue a low profile in the period ahead. There seems to be no other option available for France in the EU at this point. As "The Financial Times" has suggested, the main question is not about who will be the new members of the EU, but rather whether France will be allowed to remain as a member." "The Impact of the French Referendum" Melih Asik argued in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (6/1): "While Europe is in chaos after the referendum result in France, the Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister remain calm. They repeatedly emphasize that `the result of the referendum will not affect Turkey's membership process.' If they are thinking that `Europe wouldn't have agreed to Turkey's membership anyway,' then yes, Turkey won't be affected. Otherwise, one has to be very ignorant to believe that Turkey won't be affected. Turkey's prospective membership was one of the five reasons the French people rejected the constitution. The main reason for the rejection was the fear of an increase in unemployment because of cheaper labor being brought in from Turkey. In short, Turkey's membership will affect Europe's decision, and to think that this result is not going to affect Turkey is just insane." EDELMAN