ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 002310

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
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006


Secretary Rice Visit Special Edition

SIPDIS

HEADLINES

Milliyet (mainstream): "Rice Renewed Trust"
During Secretary Rice's critical visit, a decision was made
to prepare a document on strategic vision and to further
strengthen relations between the US and Turkey. Rice said
the document envisions more frequent consultations and
intensification of effort in areas of common interest. The
Turkish side gave a clear message to Secretary Rice about
the need for concrete action on the PKK. Rice emphasized
the need for Iraqis to make an effort, hinting that the US
does not look favorably on a possible cross-border operation
by Turkey. Rice also said that the US has no better ally or
stronger supporter in efforts to bring about a democratic
Middle East and that Turkey serves as an example that Islam
and democracy can co-exist. On Cyprus, the Secretary said
that the US will continue to do what it can to break the
isolation of te Turkish Cypriots and that Greek Cypriots
shuld also be helpful on this and on Turkey's E
membership. She expressed strong support forTurkey's EU
process.

Hurriyet (mainstream): "A Promise to Redouble the Effort"
Turkish counterparts gave Secretary Rice a tough message on
the PKK: intelligence sharing is not enough -- PKK terrorism
must end. Rice promised to redouble efforts and reactivate
the trilateral process with Iraq, the coalition and Turkey.
On the PKK presence in northern Iraq, Rice said that borders
need to be as secure as possible, that Iraqi territory
should not be used as a place to launch terrorism, and that
US assistance on PKK issue will continue, but care must be
taken not to harm stability in Iraq.

Vatan (mainstream): "After 3 Years, We are Once Again
Strategic Partners," "Redoubling of Efforts on the PKK"
The US and Turkey will prepare a document on their strategic
vision as a way to overcome the March 1, 2003, Turkish
parliament vote against cooperation in the war in Iraq and
the July 4, 2003, Suleymaniye incident, in which Turkish
special forces in northern Iraq were detained by US troops.
During talks, FM Gul stressed that the PKK presence in Iraq
is harming Turkey, but was clear that Turkey would not carry
out a cross-border operation.

Yeni Safak (Islamist-oriented): "A New Vision for
Partnership"
The future of Turkish-American relations is being redrawn as
the two countries prepare a new strategic vision document.
During talks, Secretary Rice promised to rejuvenate the
three-way talks, stressing that the US was the first country
to call PKK terrorists. FM Gul said Iran needs to respond
to concerns of the international community and be more
transparent, but urged that Iran not become another Iraq.
On aid to Palestine, PM Erdogan urged that the US not
penalize the Palestinians for their democratic choice. Rice
said that the US is continuing humanitarian assistance. On
Cyprus, PM Erdogan stressed the need for positive movement
and Rice agreed that Turkish Cypriots had done the right
thing.

Sabah (mainstream): "A New Vision with the US"
The "Strategic Vision" to be prepared by the two countries
will include economic cooperation, a calendar for political-
military consultations, a coordination mechanism on Iraq,
and specific targets for the partnership. On Iran,
Secretary Rice raised the possibility of trade sanctions

SIPDIS
against Iran with FM Gul, and said she expected Turkey's
support if sanctions are imposed. FM Gul said Turkey was

ANKARA 00002310 002 OF 004


not very favorable toward sanctions, and that he hoped the
situation could be resolved through diplomacy. He assured
the Secretary that the Turks would give the right messages
to Larijani during an expected meeting in Ankara next week.
Rice also asked that Erdogan give the right message to
Ahmedinejad if he meets with him in Baku.

Radikal (liberal): "New Page in US-Turkey Relations," "No
Promise to Rice"
Among the many issues on the table, the PKK & Iran rose to
the top. Secretary Rice requested Turkey support the
collation against Iran and Turkey replied that without a UN
decision they would not participate.

Other Headlines:
NTV (all-news TV): "US-Turkey Strategic Vision Document to
be Prepared"
Zaman (Islamist-oriented): "US-Turkey Strategic Vision Era"
Cumhuriyet (left-leaning): "AK Party Gives in to Rice;
Strategic Vision Document will Restrict Turkey"
Turkiye (nationalist, mainstream): "US Should Take Concrete
Steps"
Aksam (tabloid): "A Vision to Repair Damaged Relations"

COMMENTARY

Abdulhamit Bilici, Zaman: "Has AMERICA Turned its Back on
the AK Party?"
"The people in this country who are bothered by democracy
and economic stability are very skilled. One of their
favorite refrains is that the government has lost the
confidence of the West. They think 'if only their ties with
the US could be broken, then we could get rid of them.' But
fortunately, every time these dark circles are about to
celebrate, developments seem to move in the other direction.
US Secretary of State Rice came to Ankara yesterday. It is
true that the Hamas issue has created some turbulence in the
relationship, in the same way that the PKK haven in Iraq has
become a serious problem. But relations are not at a point
that would make those who are looking for partners in the
West for their illegitimate plans rub their hands together
with glee. Just as there is not only one Turkey, there is
not one, single America. There are those in Washington who
from the very beginning have not been able to make their
peace with the AKP. There may be others who joined that
group following the disappointment of the March 1 vote. But
Rice's messages in Ankara show that this approach does not
reflect the views of the Administration. Rice talked about
the importance of Turkey's EU process and praised the
democratic evolution that has been carried out here. These
statements show that the US Administration has not turned
its back on Turkey or the AKP. If ties are to be broken, it
would mean the AKP would have to turn its back on the United
States. According to AKP foreign policy leaders, such a
thing is unthinkable. Even though they may disagree with
some policies of the Bush Administration, they are realistic
enough to see the US as a kind of insurance against threats
that may arise in Eurasia."

Fikret Bila, Milliyet: "Turkish-American Relations from
Ankara's Perspective"
"According to Foreign Ministry sources, the message to
Secretary Rice from Gul and Erdogan was essentially the

SIPDIS
same: the need to strengthen mutual trust, which is
perceived to have been damaged, and to concentrate on common
goals. The Turkish side stressed that the US-Turkish
relationship should not be reduced to just one or two
issues, but must be comprehensive and include energy,
regional cooperation, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the
Balkans. The Turks told Rice that the relationship should

ANKARA 00002310 003 OF 004


not be defined by differences over Hamas or the PKK. This
approach was shared by Secretary Rice, and the two sides
announced their intention to draft a document outlining
their strategic vision. Ankara expressed to Rice once again
Turkey's expectations on the PKK, repeating that the
establishment of a blatant PKK presence in northern Iraq and
the infiltration of PKK militants into Turkey must be
prevented, and that operational cooperation against the PKK
must remain an option. On Iraq, the Turks made clear their
desire for a broad-based government of national unity, and
cautioned that the Kurdish regional authority should not be
allowed to protect the PKK. They drew attention to efforts
to create a fait accompli in Kirkuk, and emphazised that
Iraq's natural resources must be shared by all Iraqis. On
Iran, the Turks made clear to Rice that Turkey would not
fall out of step with the international community, but said
that every last effort should be made to resolve the issue
diplomatically. What is important for Turkey is that the
international community act together on the Iran issue. If
that happens, Ankara will comply with international
decisions. Turkey does not seek to mediate with Iran, but
is trying to ensure that Iran gets the right message from a
country it trusts. On Cyprus, the Turkish side expressed
its hope that the US will do more to lift the isolation of
the Turkish Cypriots. The Turks said they recognize the
importance of US support in the EU process, and in that
context expect that the United States will be supportive of
Ankara's legitimate expectations on Cyprus."

Yalcin Dogan, Hurriyet: "Ice Skating with Rice"
"The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is known to
get up at 4 am and go to the gym. She also ice skates and
plays the piano. She showed Ankara how good an ice skater
she is despite the warm messages given outside. Turkish-
U.S. relations are not going well. The US was very
disturbed with the Valley of the Wolves, Iraq film and
Hamas' Ankara visit. The impression that Rice left in
Ankara is that the US is determined to hit Iran but the time
of this is still uncertain. The Secretary did not request
anything from Turkey on Iran yesterday and our side was
relieved. There are other options like northern Iraq,
Afghanistan and the Diego Garcia Base for a possible attack
on Iran but Turkey will eventually be affected by such an
attack. When Turkey mentioned the PKK to Rice, she launched
into a long fairy tale. She said that there is stability in
northern Iraq now and it would be a mistake to damage that
stability through a military intervention. This means that
the PKK will continue its presence there."

Ibrahim Karagul, Yeni Safak: "Iran, Turkey and United
Kurdistan"
"The visit of US Secretary of State will not provide
anything new for Turkey's expectations regarding the PKK.
We will end up being asked to believe the 'intelligence-
sharing' rhetoric accompanied by the usual propaganda about
the strength of Turkish-American ties. The US undoubtedly
will promise Ankara to take action against the PKK as soon
as Iraq becomes a stable country. The truth is that Iraq
will never be stable again, nor will a 'State of Iraq' exist
in the future. Iraq is going through a process of division
and it is at a point of no return. Turkey should act
together with Iran and Syria on the Iraq issue. Civil war
in Iraq will continue until the US/UK intervention reaches
its goals. We will have to deal with an Iraq dragged into a
series of ethnic or religious sectarian fights. This is the
way the US wants to see it. Iran is the real agenda for
Rice's visit. The war plan against Iran is underway and the
US is in the search of support from regional powers."

Cengiz Candar, Bugun: "The Rice Visit"

ANKARA 00002310 004 OF 004


"Secretary Rice made some important comments addressing
Turkey's concern regarding the PKK's existence in northern
Iraq even before she arrived in Ankara. Underscoring the
ongoing efforts to prevent Iraq from turning to a shelter
for any terrorist groups, she was mentioning the importance
of the issue for Turkey. With Turkish troops positioned in
the border area, Rice has given two messages through her
comments about the PKK and the future of Iraq. The first
message was a green light provided for Ankara to take any
necessary action against the PKK within Turkish borders,
while she gave another message to Baghdad when she asked the
new Iraqi government to move forward on the PKK issue. Why
is the US providing such clear support? The US wants to get
Turkey on its side on the Iran issue and simply does not
want to see Turkey become like Finland during the cold war
era."

Hasan Cemal, Milliyet: "Rice's Visit"
"By coming to Ankara, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
showed that our countries' relations are pretty good. Since
the end of the Second World War or the Cold War, the Turkish-
US alliance has never lost its strategic importance. There
have been ups and downs in the relations, or even crises.
Yet, a balance was found every time and the two countries
continued on their common path. The two countries cannot
ignore one another but this does not mean that there are no
differences of interest between Turkey and the US. It would
be impossible for them to view every issue through the same
lens. It is without doubt that both sides, particularly the
US as the only superpower, will want to attract each other
into their own area of play."

Sami Kohen, Milliyet: "While Waiting for a New Government in
Iraq."
"Four months after the elections in Iraq, there is finally a
chance for a new government. The chances of Jawad al-Maliki
to form a wide-based coalition seem much higher than that of
the temporary Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaferi. The fact
that the Iraqi Parliament and the President assigned al-
Maliki to the prime ministry proves that the rather
disparate Iraqi society trusts him. Al-Maliki now has one
month to form a broad-based government. The U.S. Secretary
of State, Condoleezza Rice, who came to Turkey yesterday,
told the traveling US press that the certain militia groups
in Iraq can only be de-activated after the forming of a new
government and she included the PKK in that group as well.
In other words, Rice left the responsibility of erasing the
PKK presence from northern Iraq to the Iraqis and the new
government there. A number of questions come to mind. How
long will it take for the al-Maliki government to be formed?
How much importance will they give to the fight against the
PKK when they have their own priorities? Will a broad-based
government that will also include Kurdish elements be able
to make such a decision? When Rice passed the ball to al-
Maliki, did she seek answers to these questions?"

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON