ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 005133

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, SEPTEMBER 01, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

HEADLINES


MASS APPEAL
EU Foreign Ministers to Issue Counter-Declaration - Hurriyet
Bridge of Death on the Tigris - Hurriyet
Reuters' Cameraman in Abu-Ghraib - Hurriyet
No EU Condition for Turkey to Recognize Cyprus - Sabah
Marc Grossman is New Advisor for Ihlas Holding - Sabah
Ankara Warns on Kirkuk Portion of Iraqi Constitution - Sabah
Yerevan's Railway Nightmare - Milliyet
Ambassador Edelman: Erdogan's Approach on Iraq is Right -
Milliyet
Diplomatic Initiative on Roj-TV - Milliyet
Abizaid and Jones to Visit Turkey for PKK Talks - Milliyet
Suicide Bomb Panic in Iraq, 852 Dead - Aksam
US Generals to Visit Turkey to Discuss PKK - Aksam
Turkey Will Not be asked to Recognize Cyprus - Aksam
DEHAP Members Arrested in Nusaybin - Aksam
MFA Spokesman: We Don't Recognize A Region Called Kurdistan
- Star

OPINION MAKERS
Disaster in Baghdad - Cumhuriyet
DEHAP Reacts to General Buyukanit's Remarks - Cumhuriyet
DEHAP Members Arrested at Militant's Funeral - Cumhuriyet
IOC: `Modernization is Only Way Out for Islamic World' -
Zaman
One Rumor, and 1,000 Dead - Yeni Safak
Ankara: We Don't Recognize a Region Called Kurdistan - Yeni
Safak
Turkmen Leaders Unhappy About Kirkuk Provision - Yeni Safak
Occupation in Iraq Costs US More than Vietnam - Yeni Safak
FM Gul to London to Lobby for October 3 - Yeni Safak

BRIEFING

EU Accession: All papers report that at a meeting in
Brussels yesterday, EU Ambassadors agreed to release a
counter-declaration in response to Ankara's declaration
stating that Turkey's signing of the EU accession protocol
does not imply recognition of Cyprus. The foreign ministers
of the EU countries will decide today on the final wordking
of the counter-declaration today at a meeting in Wales.
"Milliyet" reports that Turkey will not be asked by the EU
to recognize Cyprus, but "Cumhuriyet" notes that the
declaration will call on Turkey to fully implement its
customs union agreement with EU countries by opening its
ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes.
"Hurriyet" notes that the Greek Cypriots are not satisfied
by the current draft of the counter-declaration and have
threatened to veto the start of accession talks with Turkey.
Foreign Minister Gul will fly to the UK today to attend the
EU Foreign Ministers' meeting as a special guest, and to
lobby EU foreign ministers on the October 3 accession talks.
"Hurriyet" says that EU countries will make certain demands
of Turkey during this meeting. France and Cyprus will
reportedly urge Turkey to announce a timetable for opening
its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels. Greece will demand that
Aegean territorial violations be mentioned in the EU
framework document. France and Austria will call on the EU
to mention a `privileged partnership' for Turkey as an
alternative to full membership.

Orhan Pamuk Could Face 3-Year Jail Term: Charges have been
filed against Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk for comments he
made to a Swiss newspaper, in which he said that `30,000
Kurds and a million Armenians were killed in Anatolia, but
no can talk about that.' Pamuk is being charged with
`humiliating the Turkish identity.' If convicted, the
writer could face up to 3 years in prison. The first
hearing in Pamuk's case will take place December 16 in
Istanbul.
Ankara Comments on Iraqi Constitution: MFA spokesman Namik
Tan commented on the Iraqi Constitution as part of his
weekly press conference. Tan warned yesterday that `the
struggle to dominate Kirkuk could turn into a clash or
conflict that could spread throughout all of Iraq. If the
UN were to take an active role in the process, that would be
a guarantee for the resolution of competing claims in Kirkuk
and for the prevention of a manipulation of the process.'
Tan noted that the draft constitution could be implemented
successfully only if it were accepted by all segments of the
Iraqi population. Responding to a question regarding Iraq's
federal structure, Tan said `we do not recognize a region
called Kurdistan. Everyone knows that there is no such
region.' Tan aded that, in general, the consitution
satisfactorily protects the rights of the Turkmen minority
in Iraq.

US Generals to Visit Turkey: All papers report that CENTCOM
Commander General John Abizaid and EUCOM Commander General
James Jones visit Ankara September 8-9 to discuss PKK
terrorism with their counterparts in the Turkish military.
Turkish Military officials have said they don't expect a
concrete resolution to the problem to emerge from the
meeting. The military sources said their expectation is to
learn from the US commanders what non-military steps the US
is prepared take to address the PKK threat in Iraq. The
sources stressed that such steps should be tied to a
specific timetable.

Danish PM Spokesman Says He is `Unaware' of PKK-Affiliated
Media: Several papers report that a spokesman for Danish
Prime Minister Anders Fogg Rasmussen, when asked to comment
on claims that Denmark is allowing ROJ-TV, a PKK-affiliated
station, to broadcast from its territory, claimed that he
was `unaware' that the PKK had requested permission to
broadcast in Denmark. `If that is the case, and if the PKK
were to broadcast fom Danish territory, then that would fall
under Denmark's anti-terrorism laws. It would then be a
matter for the police and the Ministry of Justice,' the
spokesman added.

Turkish General Staff Denies General Ozkok Remarks on
Government: The Turkish General Staff (TGS) issued a
written statement yesterday denying press reports that TGS
Chief General Hilmi Ozkok had said he was `very pleased with
the Turkish government's handling of the terrorism issue."
According to the TGS statement, the reports `do not reflect
reality, as the Chief of General Staff scrupulously refrains
from commenting on political issues.'

Air Force Commander Affirms Ties Betwee Turkish State,
Hizbullah: In a front-page story, "Milliyet" reports that
General Faruk Comert, Commander of the Turkish Air Force,
has said that he warned the Governor of Diarbakir back in
the 1990s of the danger of `using another organization, such
as Turkish Hizbullah,' in the struggle against the PKK in
southeast Turkey. The paper claims this is the first time
that the long-rumored ties betwee the Turkish state and the
terrorist Hizbullah have been acknowledged by a senior
Turkish official.

Seven DEHAP Officials Arrested for Attending Funeral of PKK
Terrorist: "Zaman" and "Cumhuriyet" report that seven
officials of pro-Kurdish DEHAP were detained for
participating in the funeral of a Syrian terrorist killed in
clashes with security forces in the Black Sea cities of
Trabzon and Macka on August 21. The suspects were accused
of spreading PKK propaganda and praising PKK terrorist
actions.
Ambassador Edelman Comments: "Milliyet" reports that former
US Ambassador Eric Edelman, who is now the third man at the
Pentagon, attended the Victory Day reception at the Turkish
Embassy in Washington. Edelman praised PM Erdogan's article
that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, saying that the
Prime Minister's approach on the Iraq issue is `the right
one.' Responding to journalists' comments on the apparent
improvement in Turkish-American relations, Edelman joked
that `now that I have left Turkey, things are going better.'

Reuters Cameraman Held At Abu-Ghraib: "Hurriyet" reports
that Reuters cameraman Ali Omer Ibrahim Meshadani, who was
arrested by US forces in Ramadi on August 8, will be kept in
Abu-Ghraib prison for 6 months while he awaits trial. The
US-Iraqi Joint Investigation Office ruled that Meshadani
presents a threat for the Iraqi people, and therefore denied
his release. The cameraman will not be allowed to see his
lawyers or family members during his first 60 days in
prison.

Former US Ambassador Grossman to Work For IHLAS: "Sabah"
reports that former US Ambassador Marc Grossman has signed a
contract for $100,000 to serve as a consultant for the IHLAS
Holding Group. Grossman ended his 29-year diplomatic
carrier when he retired from the State Department earlier
this year.


EDITORIAL OPINION: The Iraq Constitution

"A New Source of Terror"
Sami Kohen commented in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (9/1):
"It is unclear whether the Baghdad bridge disaster occurred
as the result of a pre-planned suicide attack or simply
panic based on rumors. The ongoing tension in Iraq and the
never-ending attacks make the general atmosphere very
suitable for provocations. Regardless of the cause, this
tragedy is likely to deepen the existing gap between the
Sunnis and the Shiites. . The incident also shows that,
given the current feeling of insecurity and the atmosphere
of tension, implementation of the constitution will not be
easy, even if the draft is approved at referendum. The
political system for Iraq as laid out in the constitution
requires a good level of mutual understanding and harmony
between the various religious and ethnic groups. The
current tension between Iraq's Sunnis and Shiites makes it
hard to envision a situation in which the federal structure
can be put into effect. The leaders of the ethnic and
religious groups in Iraq must act with common sense and in a
cold-blooded manner, because they have the responsibility to
lead their followers to the right path."

"Country of Disasters"
Yilmaz Oztuna observed in the conservative "Turkiye" (9/1):
"Iraq has turned into a country of disasters. The tragedy
on the Tigris river bridge has become the latest in this
chain of disasters. . Historically, Iraq has never been a
land of peace and stability. Currently, the Iraqis are
engaged in a struggle over the constitution. But nothing
can possibly heal the wounds of this country. As a matter
of fact, nobody is happy with the new Iraqi constitution,
with the possible exception of President Bush. There is no
way to argue that this constitution represents a step toward
serious democracy. Although the US intention is far from
clear, it might be planning a civil war in Iraq. The Iraqi
Kurds have gained the power to form a state, and Turkey's
decision to deny support for US troops on March 1 paved the
way for this development. The US will probably leave Iraq
after working to ensure that the oil flow from the region is
secured. Arabs will most likely remain aloof to the new
Kurdistan. The same goes for Iran. . The Middle East is on
the verge of new bad surprises. The events in Iraq will
likely spread through the entire region, and have a negative
effect on all concerned."
MCELDOWNEY