ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000861

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
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005


THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

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

HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Shiites win Iraqi polls, Kirkuk goes to Kurds - Hurriyet
Shiites emerge out of Iraqi ballot box - Vatan
Shiites, Kurds Iraq's new bosses - Aksam
Talabani the real winner of Iraqi elections - Vatan
Sunnis poorly represented in Iraqi parliament; Turkmen have
3 seats - Milliyet
Kurds are key to a coalition in Iraq - Sabah
Grossman promises Iraq's integrity - Sabah 2/13
CNN's Jordan loses job for accusing US soldiers in Iraq -
Milliyet 2/13
`Old Europe' was uttered by `old Rumsfeld' - Hurriyet 2/13
Greek Cypriots threaten US with economic sanctions -
Hurriyet
Palestinian workers allowed into Israel - Sabah
German defense minister implies end approaching for NATO -
Aksam 2/13

OPINION MAKERS
Shiites get 48 percent of Iraqi votes - Radikal
Shiites to power in Iraq - Cumhuriyet
Violence on the rise after Iraqi elections - Zaman 2/13
Grossman: We are still friends with Turkey - Yeni Safak 2/13
US delegation to visit `TRNC,' Greeks furious - Cumhuriyet
Greek Cypriots threaten US - Yeni Safak
Washington makes business `gesture' to `TRNC' - Radikal 2/13
US to send business delegation to `TRNC' - Cumhuriyet 2/13
Hamas accepts ceasefire with Israel - Yeni Safak 2/13
Rumsfeld calls on Europe for cooperation against terror -
Cumhuriyet 2/13
Turkey takes ISAF command again - Radikal
Howard Dean new leader of US Democrats - Yeni Safak
Perle: Iran crushed group formed by CIA in late 1980s -
Radikal 2/13


BRIEFING

FM Gul on the Visit of Secretary Rice to Ankara: FM
Abdullah Gul told "Milliyet's" Taha Adyol that he explained
Turkey's concerns over the fate of Kirkuk to Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice during their ride together from his
residence to Ankara's airport at the conclusion of her
recent visit. My worries decreased after the conversation,
Gul said. Responding to "Milliyet" columnist Taha Akyol's
questions, Gul explained how impressed he was with Secretary
Rice's biography and her academic background. Rice is
ambitious, consistent, and open, and speaks in a transparent
manner, Gul noted, adding that he has established a warm
friendship with Secretary Rice. Responding to the
possibility of Kurdish leader Talabani becoming Iraq's
president, Gul said Turkey would respect any decision taken
by the Iraqis: `Iraqis know their internal balances better
than anyone else,' Gul emphasized, and advised all groups in
Iraq to `turn to Baghdad.' The US, too, knows that Iraq's
integrity is of crucial importance, Gul stressed.
Washington regards the PKK as no different than Al-Qaida,
Gul said, and claimed that Americans were uncomfortable
about not having taken concrete actions against the PKK
presence in the region. Gul also said it is important that
Secretary Rice stressed the Turkmen factor in Iraq during

SIPDIS
her meetings in Turkey and elsewhere on her trip. The
Turkish FM regards the upcoming visit of American business
representatives to northern Cyprus as an initiative launched
by Secretary Rice. He expects the US and EU to increase
pressure on the Greek Cypriots. Gul was happy to hear,
after a long time, Secretary Rice describe U.S- Turkish
relations as a `strategic partnership.' On the Incirlik
Airbase, Gul said Ankara is evaluating new requests put
forward by the US.
Grossman Reiterates Friendship With Turkey: Undersecretary
of State Marc Grossman told a gathering of the American-
Turkish Society in New York that ties between the two allies
were strong enough to withstand disagreements, Turkish
papers report over the weekend. Grossman recalled US
pledges regarding Iraq's territorial integrity, and said the
US would work with Turkey against all terrorist groups in
Iraq, including the PKK. The US is taking some steps to
ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, he
noted. Grossman also advised Turkey to reopen the Halki
Seminary and protect the rights of non-Muslim minorities in
the country. Turkey, is today a more democratic and
prosperous country than ever before, Grossman reportedly
said.

Ankara Unhappy With Iraqi Election Results: Turkey has
complained to the United Nations that the recent Iraqi
elections were subject to manipulation and do not reflect
the real wishes of the Iraqi people. `The low turnout by
some groups in the elections and manipulations in some
regions, including Kirkuk, led to unbalanced results,' the
MFA said in a statement on Sunday. `It has become clear
that certain elements in Iraq tried to manipulate votes in
the elections and obtained unjustified gains from this,' the
statement added, noting that Ankara expected Iraqi
authorities to examine claims of irregularities.

US Carries Out Secret Operations Against Iran From Turkey -
US analyst: US defense analyst William M. Arkin told daily
"Vatan" that US military special forces and the CIA have
intensified activities against Iran from the airbases in
Batman and Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. `The CIA has
used these bases against Iraq and Al-Qaida, but this is not
anything extraordinary,' Arkin said. He added that the CIA
and US military special forces have intensified work against
Iran from these bases. Batman is particularly important for
establishing contact with pro-American groups in Iran, which
are mostly Iranian Kurds, Arkin stressed. Turkish
government and intelligence units are aware of Americans'
activities in the country, he noted. Arkin believes that a
so-called crisis between US and Turkey had been exaggerated
by the Turkish press: `US and Turkish special forces have
recently done many joint operations in Afghanistan,' he
claimed.

Turkey Takes ISAF Command: Turkey took command Sunday of
the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Afghanistan for another
six months, during which the force will expand to the west
of the country and oversee security preparations for
upcoming parliamentary polls, papers report. Turkish
General Ethem Erdagi took over leadership of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from French
General Jean-Louis Py, who heads Eurocorps. General Erdagi
said terror is no longer a major fear in Afghanistan.

Nicosia Reacts to Upcoming US Business Delegation Visit to
North Cyprus: The Greek Cypriot government is angered by
the upcoming visit of representatives of several leading US
companies to northern Cyprus in an effort to relieve the
economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots, papers report.
Papadopoulos said the visit would be a violation of UN
Security Council resolutions, and threatened a boycott of
American goods in south Cyprus if the businesses go ahead
with investment plans in northern Cyprus, papers report. In
retaliation, Cyprus will seek closer ties with enemies of
the US in the region, such as Syria and Iran, Papadopoulos
is quoted as saying. Meanwhile, PM Tayyip Erdogan invited
Papadopoulos to resolve the Cyprus problem over coffee in
northern Cyprus, says "Hurriyet." Sunday papers quote State
Department Spokesman Boucher as confirming that a private US
business delegation would explore business opportunities in
the Turkish Cypriot sector of the divided island.

Greek Cypriot Opposition Delegation Visits Turkey: Greek
Cypriot opposition DISI leader Nicos Anastassiades met with
PM Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday for what he called `useful'
talks on the division of Cyprus, papers report over the
weekend. Anastassiades added that peace on Cyprus would
also help Greece and Turkey: `These three countries have a
common home and that is the European Union,' he said.
Erdogan made no comment after the meeting. Greek Cypriot
opposition leader Anastassiades and his delegation later
attended a church service in Istanbul Sunday, which was
presided over by Patriarch Bartholomew. Anastassiades is
the first Greek Cypriot political leader to visit Turkey
since the island's partition in 1974. Anastassiades and his
delegation came to Turkey Wednesday on the invitation of the
ruling AK Party, and held talks with FM Gul, PM Erdogan and
senior AKP leaders.

Erdogan Due in KOSOVO, Bosnia: PM Tayyip Erdogan will make
official visits to Albania and Bosnia next week to improve
bilateral relations with the two Balkan countries, Erdogan's
office said Friday. Erdogan will visit Albania on Tuesday
and will travel on Wednesday to Sarajevo, where he is
scheduled to hold meetings with Bosnian leader Adnan Terzic
and other officials.


EDITORIAL OPINION: Rice in Europe; Afghanistan/Iraq; Middle
East

"Trouble of the Tongue"
Ali Aslan wrote from Washington in the Islamist-intellectual
"Zaman" (2/14): "The Bush administration used to give harsh
responses to anyone, particularly the Europeans, who did not
support the US plan in Iraq. However, Washington is now
intensifying its efforts to restore relations with Europe by
correcting its rhetoric. . Both Rice and Rumsfeld took a
decidedly soft tone during their recent visits to Europe.
They did everything possible to take back the harsh U.S.
rhetoric and sustained a nearly apologetic tone in their
messages. . Secretary Rice's itinerary included Paris and
Ankara, which was a clear indicator of the `restoring ties'
message. Washington tried to tell Ankara that the US cares
about Turkey and Turkish public opinion. The carefully-
scripted diplomatic message from Washington to Ankara can be
summarized as follows: `We [the US] are sorry about what
happened in the past. We may have made some rhetorical
mistakes during the Iraq war. Yet we always pursued good
intentions. We take seriously Turkey's concerns regarding
Iraq's territorial integrity and the Kurdish issue. And
from now on we will care even more than before. Please take
our concerns seriously too. We urge you not to discuss
Turkish-American bilateral issues in a manner that provokes
anti-Americanism.' Naturally, the US is now asking for a
change in our rhetoric since Washington has changed its
rhetoric. . Turkish officials should analyze their messages
very carefully. Turkey is a big power but this does not
mean our politicians should speak publicly in an
unconsidered manner. Turkey should adopt a mature, well-
balanced, and soft tone, particularly when addressing the
international public. Otherwise, Turkey could fall into an
`unsympathetic' category similar to that which the U.S.
occupied before."

"Afghanistan and Turkey's help"
Erdal Safak wrote in the mass appeal "Sabah" (2/14): "Turkey
assumed the ISAF command from France. Afghanistan has been
overshadowed by developments in Iraq, but the fact is that
there are many tasks waiting to be completed in Afghanistan.
Turkey will face important challenges, including the
extension of the ISAF mission to the whole country,
collecting arms from militia, and paving the way for
parliamentary elections. . If Turkey achieves the extension
of the ISAF-controlled area and manages to cover
Afghanistan's east and south regions, the US military there
will be able to move from Afghanistan to Iraq. This is an
indirect way of helping and supporting US on the Iraq issue.
Whether this is good enough in the eyes of Washington
remains to be seen."

"Peace? Maybe!"
Zafer Atay commented in the economic-political Dunya (2/14):
"If the terms of the Sharm Al-Sheikh agreement are
implemented, the Palestinian and Israeli leaders will meet
again this week. Thousands of Palestinians will be freed
from Israeli prisons. Thousands of Palestinians suffering
from unemployment in Palestine will be able to fill vacant
jobs in Israel. The US and the EU will release all kinds of
assistance after the `cease-fire' agreement, and the people
living in poverty will achieve prosperity. The leader of
Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, believes that an independent
Palestinian state can only be created through dialogue. For
many years, Abbas worked as Arafat's deputy, but no one ever
seen him with a gun on his belt. Sharon, on the other hand,
is a warrior. In the past, he took part in many bloody
incidents. But, lately, he realized that guns and tanks
cannot solve any problems. The whole world is waiting
cautiously and acting with optimism. I wish peace would
come immediately. But, in a region where logic is in short
supply, even to wait for a possible peace gives one hope."

EDELMAN