ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 007303 SIPDIS 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, DECEMBER 13, 2005 THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE THEMES: HEADLINES BRIEFING EDITORIAL OPINION -------------- -- HEADLINES MASS APPEAL US-Turkey Cooperation in Counterterrorism - Hurriyet CIA and MIT Bargain over Counterterrorism - Sabah CIA Offers Cooperation - Sabah Technology will be Used Against PKK - Hurriyet CIA Director Asks Turkey's Support for Al-Qaeda - Milliyet Turkey Expects Concrete Steps from US on PKK Issue - Turkiye Shocking PKK File from MIT to CIA - Star 4.5-Hour Long MIT-CIA Summit - Aksam Cross Border Operation into Northern Iraq Not Until Rice Visit in January - Aksam Why Did the CIA Come? - Vatan Turkish General Staff Does Not Plan Shortened Military Service - Hurriyet Anti-Syrian Journalist Assassinated - Hurriyet Election Precautions in Iraq - Sabah Critical Elections in Iraq - Turkiye Khalilzad: "Kurds Support a United Iraq" - Sabah Nobel Prize Writers Support Orhan Pamuk - Milliyet Turkey to Train Italian F-16 Pilots - Milliyet OPINION MAKERS Minister Cicek: Turkey's Expectation from the US More than Intelligence - Yeni Safak Next US Target is Iran - Cumhuriyet CIA's Agenda: PKK and Al-Qaida - Radikal CIA Director's Long Meeting with MIT - Zaman Lebanon in Shock Once Again - Radikal Turkish General Staff (TGS): Shortened Military Service is Unfair - Cumhuriyet Confusion in Orhan Pamuk Case - Radikal Orhan Pamuk's File Returned to the Justice Ministry - Zaman BRIEFING CIA Director Porter Goss Visit: The meetings of CIA Director Porter Goss continued to dominate the front pages of the papers. "Hurriyet" reports that the CIA will use special technology to stop the infiltration of PKK terrorists into Turkey from Northern Iraq. The system will be able to alert Turkey of movements at the border so that security officials can take necessary steps against the terrorists. "Milliyet' says Goss asked for Turkey's close cooperation against Al-Qaeda. "Vatan" says the reason for the Goss visit was to ask for more cooperation against Syria, Iran and Al-Qaeda. "Aksam" reports that the CIA director's responded positively to Turkey's request for a cross-border operation against PKK. The cross-border operation will be discussed during Secretary Rice's visit to Turkey at the end of January. "Sabah" says that Goss had two requests from Turkish officials: the first was for cooperation in intelligence service activities against Islamic terror; and the second was that CIA agents going to work in Islamic countries be trained by Turkey. Turkish officials, in return, reminded the director of the PKK issue and reiterated Turkey's expectation for concrete steps against the PKK. All papers report that the CIA director met with Emre Taner, the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) yesterday and would meet with PM Erdogan today. "Cumhuriyet" reports that the CIA director presented ANKARA 00007303 002 OF 003 Turkish officials with three files: one on Iran's nuclear activities, another on Iran's support for Al-Qaeda and PKK, and the third on the anti-Turkish activities of Iran. Goss reportedly warned Turkey of possible air strikes against Iran and Syria. Justice Minister Comments on Goss Visit: "Yeni Safak" highlights Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek's remarks that `Turkey has expectations of the US regarding the PKK. The Goss visit should be evaluated within this framework." Khalilzad Remarks on Kurds: "Sabah" cites CNN-TV as a source to highlight US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad's remarks on Kurds. Khalilzad was quoted as saying "Barzani, Talabani and I talked repeatedly and have decided that it is better for the Kurds to remain a part of Iraq rather than to go on their own as an independent state, since they'll be isolated with many enemies around them. Under these conditions the survival of a mini Kurdish State would not be possible." Assassination of Lebanese Journalist/Parliamentarian: All papers reported on the car bomb in Beirut killing an anti- Syrian journalist, Gibran Tueni, with most pointing a finger at Syria. Shortened (Paid) Military Service: "Hurriyet" and "Cumhuriyet" report that the Turkish General Staff yesterday moved to end a debate on shorter military service started by PM Erdogan on his recent visit to Australia. Opposing the idea, the TGS stressed that such changes would be unfair while the country's fight against terrorism continues. Orhan Pamuk Case: "Radikal" reports that an Istanbul court has asked the Justice Ministry for permission to try Pamuk according to the former penal code. The penal code was amended recently within the framework of EU harmonization reforms. Justice Minister Cicek's approval is needed for the trial. Minister Cicek however refuses to comment on the issue. EDITORIAL OPINION: US-Turkey Relations; Iraq "New Understanding with the US" Sami Kohen observed in the mainstream "Milliyet" (12/13): "Given the recent visitor traffic and increased number of contacts, the relationship between Turkey and the US has reached a new level of understanding. The basis of this understanding is to focus on the problem areas in bilateral ties and turn them into areas of cooperation. A constant and constructive dialogue is needed to achieve this goal, which is the reason for the busy visitor traffic to and from the United States. As Ambassador Ross Wilson pointed out very recently, as far as Turkish-American relations are concerned, the US goal is to eliminate both people's concerns rather than simply maintain good relations. Obviously Iraq is the main issue of concern. The PKK in northern Iraq seems to be the main issue between Washington and Ankara. It looks like the US officials have understood well that the relationship will not stay on track unless the current differences related to the PKK have been eliminated. On the other hand, it would be unrealistic to expect the US forces to wipe out the PKK with a military operation. Nevertheless it seems possible that the US will start taking steps toward breaking down PKK influence. Turkey and the US are searching for ways to change their disputes into cooperation. If the new understanding continues, the search will be successful." ANKARA 00007303 003 OF 003 "Looting Iraqi Oil" Haluk Ulman commented in the economic-politic "Dunya" (12/13): "One of the reasons for the Iraq war, as far as the Bush administration is concerned, was to control the future of oil reserves by positioning itself in Iraq. The US plans to give these reserves over to American multi-national companies and to have a strong say in fixing oil prices in OPEC. Steps have already been taken in this regard. The occupiers have it made possible for foreign oil companies to operate in Iraq. In the first nine months of 2006, Iraqi oil reserve operations will be contracted out to western oil companies. In other words, foreign companies will be able to re-enter the Iraqi oil business for the first time since 1972 when Iraqi oil reserves were nationalized." "The Exit Strategy" Mehmet Barlas wrote in the mass appeal "Sabah" (12/13): "In Iraq, the exit strategy, rather than the victory, has become the major priority for the US. This is about leaving Iraq before being defeated. The US avoided international cooperation when it started the Iraq operation. However, as former Secretary of State Kissinger warned recently, the US should have cooperated with Iraq's neighbors which were likely to be affected by Iraq's instability. The success of the exit strategy will depend on whether or not Iraqi security forces manage to gain full control over the country. In the aftermath of the December 15 elections, it is crucially important for the region as well as for countries with Muslim populations and for the world oil resources that Iraq has a legitimate government with territorial integrity." WILSON