ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000489

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
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2005


THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
-------------- --------------

HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Live Broadcast from TGS - Milliyet
US Military Helicopter Crash, 31 Dead - Milliyet
General Basbug: "We Are Concerned About Kirkuk" - Sabah
Kirkuk Ready to Explode - Sabah
Warning From Uniformed Official - Hurriyet
US Senate Approves Rice as Secretary of State - Hurriyet
Kirkuk Will Cause a Civil War - Turkiye
A Last Warning on Kirkuk - Aksam
NYT: "Turkey May Intervene in Iraq" - Aksam

OPINION MAKERS
Kirkuk Boils - Radikal
Harsh Warning from TGS to US and the Kurds - Radikal
The Occupier Loses 35 Lives - Cumhuriyet
Kirkuk to Light the Fire of Ethnic War - Cumhuriyet
Turkey Warns Everyone on Kirkuk Issue - Yeni Safak

BRIEFING

TGS Press Briefing: Today's papers give extensive front
page coverage to yesterday's press briefing by Deputy Chief
of the General Staff Ilker Basbug. Speaking on the Iraq
issue, General Basbug said that `we are following the
election process in Iraq closely. The press has been
reporting that hundreds of thousands of Kurdish refugees
have settled in Kirkuk and have been registered on electoral
lists. Turkey is concerned about this artificial increase
in the Kurdish population in Kirkuk. We have been drawing
attention to this issue since June in our various press
briefings. These developments might threaten Iraq's
territorial and political integrity. Such a development
could also pose a serious security problem for Turkey. The
elections will be an important milestone in transferring
sovereignty to the Iraqis. A high participation in the
elections will contribute greatly to the legitimacy of the
elections.' Commenting next on Turkish-US relations and and
recent high-level contacts with US officials, Basbug noted
that `the Turkish armed forces have always maintained a
close relationship with their American counterparts.
Turkey's relations with the United States are so broad and
comprehensive that they cannot be reduced to any one
specific issue. Having close contacts with our US
counterparts does not mean that we don't have different
opinions on different issues. We can disagree on certain
issues but what is important is that we openly and clearly
discuss our opinions and concerns with each other.' Asked
about Kirkuk, Basbug said `there are a number of fundamental
issues which are vital for us. One is that Kirkuk should
not be attached to any Kurdish region, and that Kirkuk's
special status should be preserved. The second is the
protection of the Turkmen population in Iraq. Turkey cannot
be silent on these matters. But at this stage, we are
engaged in no action other than conveying our opinions and
warnings to the relevant officials through diplomatic
channels. But if, in the end, the situation becomes serious
there, then it could turn into a serious security problem
for Turkey. We are hoping that things will not take such a
turn.' Commenting on the PKK issue, Basbug said that
`Turkey is, in the first instance, responsible for its own
security, but the fight against terrorism also requires
international support. If we look at the issue
realistically, we should not ignore the fact that the US has
given huge support to Turkey in its fight against the PKK.
But it should also be openly stated that the picture has
taken a different shape after the second Iraqi war. In
connection with this period, the US knows perfectly well
what Turkey expects from it regarding the PKK terrorist
organization, especially in Northern Iraq. There is no
sense in repeating these expectations over and over again.
According to our assessment of the present situation, the US
has not reached the necessary political decision and
decisiveness for a military operation against the PKK in
northern Iraq. This is the difference between our view and
that of the US.' Responding to a question about US concerns
over the Iranian nuclear program, Basbug said that Turkey
wants a peaceful and diplomatic solution to this problem.
`But Iran has to work in harmony with the International
Atomic Agency, and should also show the world that it will
use its nuclear program for peaceful purposes,' he added.

EDITORIAL OPINION

"The Danger in Kirkuk"
Sami Kohen observed in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (01/27):
The summary of a report published yesterday by the
International Crisis Group claims that Kirkuk is on the
verge of an explosion. According to the ICG, if the Kurds
try to control Kirkuk after the elections, serious ethnic
clashes will begin and will pose a huge threat to Iraq and
the region's future stability. The report also argues that
if developments unfold in that way, Turkey might intervene.
In order to prevent these negative developments, the UN and
the US should be involved more actively on this issue.
Moreover, Kofi Annan should send a special envoy to Iraq to
deal only with this specific issue. Deputy Chief of General
Staff Basbug's statement yesterday should be evaluated
within this framework. Ignoring the Kurdish population
increase in Kirkuk will only increased the tension there.
Even though there are some exaggerated numbers circulating
about the Kurdish population in Kirkuk, it is a fact that
everything has been done to help facilitate this artificial
population increase. Turkey's concern on the issue lies in
the possibility that a `fait-accompli' in Kirkuk will end in
civil war. In short, the ICG report highlights the concerns
that Turkish political and military officials have expressed
over the issue. These concerns have been noted by
international observers as well. We hope that the Iraqi
Kurds, the IIG, the US and the other relevant actors will
consider these concerns."

"The Election in Iraq and Tension in Kirkuk"
Murat Yetkin commented in the liberal-intellectual "Radikal"
(01/27): "As the elections approach in Iraq, concerns over
security issues are increasing in Ankara. The statement by
General Basbug yesterday about the possibility of Kirkuk
tensions opening the way to civil war is a clear indication
of this. Responding to a question on the Kirkuk issue,
Basbug said that Kirkuk is a serious problem, and that
Turkey is responsible for the Turkmen population there. If
a civil war were to begin in Iraq because of the Kirkuk
issue and the Kurds, it will cause problems for the entire
region and would represent an internal security issue for
Turkey. Basbug said that Turkey's concerns on Kirkuk had
been conveyed to the US by Turkish political and military
officials. On the PKK issue, Basbug said that if we would
be making a mistake to ignore the fact that the US has
always supported Turkey's fight against the PKK. He also
noted that relations between Turkey and the US are too
broad and comprehensive to be reduced to any specific issue.
These comments made me wonder if whether these warnings were
aimed at Turkish politicians who are trying to index the
Turkey-US relationship to the single issue of the PKK in
Iraq."
"EDELMAN