TURKISH MEDIA COVERAGE - VISIT OF APNSA HADLEY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 005634

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: TURKISH MEDIA COVERAGE - VISIT OF APNSA HADLEY
SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2005


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SUMMARY
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1. Turkish media coverage of APNSA Hadley's September 23-25
visit to Ankara has generally been straightforward,
accurate, and positive. Not surprisingly, most papers
focused on Hadley's public remarks on the the need for the
United States to do more to address Turkey's concerns about
PKK terrorism. They also highlighted US concerns, expressed
by APNSA, about Iran and Syria. Many media outlets
characterized the visit as a sign of the continuing
importance of the strategic relationship between the two
countries, and claimed that it demonstrated that the Turkish
parliament's March 1, 2003 decision not to allow US troops
to cross Turkish territory on their way to Iraq has been
relegated to history. In addition to the substantive
coverage, APNSA Hadley was portrayed positively in his visit
to a municipal youth center in Ankara. Most papers carried
photos of Hadley with Turkish young people doing folk
dances, playing in rock music, or challenging him at table
tennis. These images were also carried repeatedly on major
Turkish television channels following the visit. END
SUMMARY.

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STRAIGHTFORWARD REPORTING ON APNSA VISIT
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2. Turkish media coverage of the visit was largely
straightforward and accurate, drawing heavily on Hadley's
public statements. A representative sample follow:

"Yeni Safak" (Islamist-oriented, pro-government): "Now is
the Time to Struggle Against the PKK" - The United States,
which has made continual promises to struggle against the
PKK but hasn't taken any action, has raised hopes once
again. US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley,
visiting Turkey on his first trip abroad in his new
position, said that the time has come for the struggle
against the PKK. It has also been learned that a
consultation mechanism will be established between Turkey
and the United States to help bring an end to the PKK
presence in northern Iraq. Hadley signaled that "various
means" must be found to address the PKK problem in northern
Iraq, and said that coalition forces must work on this issue
with Turkey and Iraq. Following his discussions with MFA
Undersecretary Tuygan, TGS Chief General Ozkok, and NSC
Director Alpogan, Hadley said that "we need to eliminate the
safe haven that the PKk is exploiting in northern Iraq." He
added that "we also need to cut off financing and other
kinds of support for the PKK," and said the United States
"needs to to better" on this.

"Hurriyet" (mainstream secular): "We Have Forgetten About
March 1" -- There are important messages from President
George W. Bush for Ankara. Stephen Hadley brought these
messages. But who is Hadley? When Condoleezza Rice became
Secretary of State, he was the key man who took over for her

SIPDIS
at the NSC. As the Natioanl Security Advisor, he is
President Bush's right-hand man. The messages President
Bush is sending to Turkey were very clear. Bush is saying
this: "Let's reestablish our strategic partnership. I am
determined. We have completely turned the page. March 1 is
now history. Let's melt the ice completely. Let's fight
against terrorism in the Middle East together, and build
democracy." Bush, who said two years ago that "nothing is
left of our strategic partnership with Turkey," now wants to
shore up the bridges once again. It's as if Washington has
understood how difficult it will be to establish democracy
in the Middle East, and wants to work together with Turkey.

Bush also had an important message on the PKK. Hadley said
that "the President understands in his heart the pain you
feel as the result of PKk terrorism, because every morning
when he sits down at his desk, he feels that same pain.
Every day we are losing US soldiers to terrorism. Don't
worry, we will get rid of the PKK." But when? Even if
Talabani promises a hundred times, nobody in Ankara believes
that he is going to eliminate the PKK. The Turkish side
told Hadley that "the strategic partnership includes the PKK
issue. If Iraq breaks apart and a Kurdish state is
established, fire will engulf the region. It will be a
disaster." Hadley replied that "we also oppose a Kurdish
state. Talabani and Barzani also need Turkey. Be patient."
Maybe 6 months. Maybe 1 year. But why? Because Bush's
first goal is to gain passage of the new constitution on
October 15. He is also trying to get a new government
elected in December. The Americans are also working to
establish an Iraqi army. So Bush cannot give the green
light for a US military operation at this point. He is
insisting that we wait. Hadley also told Ankara that the
tension on the Syria issue is now behind us. "We were
looking to isolate Assad completely. We may not always view
things in exactly the same way. We have a lot to learn from
you," he said. I also heard that there was an interesting
exchange between Hadley and PM Erdogan. When Erdogan was
explaining Turkey's democratic experience, he said "I am a
religious person, but I am prime minister of a secular
country." Hadley was impressed by this.

"Zaman" (Islamist-oriented, pro-government): "Hadley Takes
the Pulse in Ankara on Syria and Iran" - US National
Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, who said he was visiting
Turkey "to show the importance of the strategic
relationship," spoke in a way that gave hope that the PKK
presence in Iraq could be eliminated. Hadley also tested
Turkey's approach on Iran and Syria, which he said had
"engaged in behavior that is very worrisome." Hadley told
the press that there are many problems in Iraq, and that the
PKK presence is one of those problems. He said "we need to
work together. We need to eliminate the safe haven that the
PKK has been exploiting in northern Iraq." When asked
whether the United States is stringing Turkey along on the
PKK issue, Hadley answered that "the time has now come." He
added that "we have done some things, but there are many
other things we will do. We need to cut off financial
support for the PKK. We need to find some things we can do
in northern Iraq. Coalition forces need to work together
with Turkey and Iraq." Syria and Iran were among the
important issues on Hadley's agenda in Ankara. "Some of
Syria's behavior is a source of concern for us - their
support for terrorism, and the limitations on freedom for
their people. We also have concerns about Iran - the lack
of freedom, the neclear program , and the support for
terrorism. These are difficult issues, and it is important
from our point of view to learn about each other's ideas,"
he said. According to information we have obtained, the
Turkish side said that "every country has the right to
benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful uses. But this
needs to proceed in an open and transparent way, in
cooperation with the IAEA." The need for "an appropriate
level of consultation for cooperation between the two
countries" was also discussed. With this in mind, the two
sides will work on a consultation mechanism.

"Milliyet" (mainstream secular): "Hadley: Time to Intervene
Against the PKK" - US National Security Advisor Stephen
Hadley, who can be described as President Bush's right-hand
man on foreign policy and national security issues, told
Ankara that the US supports Turkey against the PKK and in
the EU process, and said that "the time has come to struggle
against the PKK." Hadley stressed in all of his comments
the determination of the United States to act against the
PKK. When he was asked when the time for an intervention
will come, he replied that "the time has come now. It was
useful for me to come and to learn what your government and
your people think about this issue. The PKK is one of the
issues that needs to be resolved in Iraq. We condemn PKK
terrorism. We need to prevent northern Iraq from being a
safe haven for this organization. We have taken some steps.
Coalition forces will continue this struggle, along with
Turkey and Iraq." Hadley stressed that one of the US
priorities in the struggle against the PKK is the cutting
off of financial sources. Hadley also met with young people
at the Youth Center in Sincan, where Turkish tanks rolled
through the streets following a performance of "Jerusalem
night" as part of the February 28 process. It was learned
that the visit was part of a plan to engage in a close
dialogue with people in Muslim countries in order to repair
the US image.

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COMMENTARIES FOCUS ON SYRIA, MIDDLE EAST
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3. Editorial comment on the Hadley visit was sparse, and
focused more on Syria and the Middle East rather than the
PKK. Several examples follow:

"Regime Change Scenarios for Syria" (Asli Aydintasbas in
"Sabah"): "The expectation in Washington, as well as in
international circles, is that as the result of the ongoing
Hariri investigation, regime change in Syria is a an
increasingly likely possibility. The Bush administration
views Assad as a weak leader, and does not see any progress
by the regime regarding security and democratization issues.
Ankara and other Western capitals have started discussing
possible names to replace Assad. This issue was brought up
during National Security Advisor Stephan Hadley's recent
visit to Ankara as well. . Ankara worries about possible
chaos in the event of a regime change in Syria, even if it
comes about through the UN investigation. On the other
hand, the Turkish government does not intend to continue to
play a `big brother' role for the Assad administration any
longer. But Ankara does not want to see instability in
Syria similar to what we have seen in Iraq. Moreover,
Ankara wants to see tangible evidence from the UN
investigation if it points to Syrian complicity. This
message was also conveyed to Hadley."
"New Game Plan for the Middle East" (Murat Yetkin in
"Radikal"): On Hadley's announced agenda were the war
against terrorism, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Israel-Palestine, and
Lebanon. The fact that of the seven political crisis topics
the United States is now dealing with on a global basis, six
- excluding only North Korea -- are focused in this region,
in which Turkey is a key player. The United States, while
hoping the chaos in Iraq will end as soon as possible, wants
to focus its full attention on the situation in the Broader
Middle East. It believes that developing its relations with
Turkey will be in its interests in this regard. Israel's
withdrawal from Gaza, and the possibility of a secular and
democratic state being established in Palestine, the Syrian
military's having been forced to withdraw from Lebanon
following the February murder of former Prime Minister Rafik
al-Hariri and the holding of the first free elections in
Lebanon in decades, have all brought the United States'
Middle East game plan to a new stage. The fact that German
prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, who is investigating the Al-Hariri
killing on behalf of the UN, engaged in questioning
yesterday in Damascus regarding the Syrian connection,
enhances the importance of the report that he will present
in October. The United States currently sees Syria as the
greatest obstacle to the environment of stability that it
plans for the region. US intelligence sees Syria as a place
where the armed groups fighting in Iraq gather and
infiltrate into Iraq; the most recent operation in Tall Afar
came in this context. The government of Bashar al-Asad is
at the head of the list of regimes that, in Washington's
view, have to be "brought into line" in short order or else
overthrown.
"Strategic Partnership?" (Uluc Gurkan in "Star"): "Given the
fact that National Security Advisor Hadley made his first
tour abroad to Turkey, the Hadley visit was a very important
event. During the visit, Hadley conveyed President Bush's
message about forgetting the past and reestablishing the
strategic partnership. When Turkish authorities asked about
the PKK, Hadley confirmed that the issue is covered by the
strategic partnership as well. The meaning of this message
is very clear. The US wants Turkey to accept and assume the
role designed for it within the Broader Middle East
Initiative. The message also indicates that meeting this
expectation is the only way to eliminate the PKK threat in
northern Iraq. . Turkey is now being dragged into an
adventure that will result in a redesign of the Middle East
map. It is vitally important that Turkey stand on its own
feet instead of fooling itself with carrots, such as
possible US action on the PKK issue. Any adventure taken
with the US will bring nothing but lost lives, blood, and a
threat to our territorial integrity."

MCELDOWNEY