Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4237
2006-07-21 04:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004237
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
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2006
In Today's Papers
Prime Minister Erdogan Reaffirms Support for Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
All papers: Arriving in northern Cyprus for the 32nd anniversary of
the Turkish intervention, Prime Minister Erdogan expressed Ankara's
determination to continue supporting Turkish Cypriots in all areas
and said that Turkey should not be expected to make more concessions
in Cyprus. Erdogan urged the international community to end the
isolation of the TRNC. The Prime Minister yesterday met with TRNC
President Talat, the Prime Minister and the Parliament Speaker.
Meanwhile, State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza
said that it is a very positive development for Papadopoulos and
Talat to agree to meet, and that Washington is determined to support
the United Nations' efforts to resolve the Cyprus dispute.
Syrian President Assad Calls Erdogan to Discuss Lebanon Cease-fire;
Evacuees Arrive in Turkey
Sabah, Bugun, Milliyet and others: While the evacuation of
foreigners from Lebanon continued, Syrian President Assad called
Prime Minister Erdogan and asked for his assistance in reaching a
cease-fire in Lebanon. Sabah reports that the US has sent four
military ships to Lebanon for its citizens there. A group of
Swedish evacuees landed in the Turkish Mediterranean port city of
Mersin yesterday.
Commentary on the Middle East Conflict
Writing in liberal Radikal, Ismet Berkan observed that Israel's
actions are only serving to weaken the Lebanese government and by
extension strengthen Iran and Syria: "There is a serious conflict
between Israel's declared targets and the actual implementation.
Israel wants the Lebanese army to station troops on the border to
weaken Hezbollah's power. At the same time Israeli attacks are
hitting the Lebanese army as well which in fact weakens the
democratically elected Beirut government. In short Israel is doing
wrong, although there is no way to defend Hezbollah's presence
either - it is an organization aiming to destabilize the region and
act as a branch of Iran and Syria in Lebanon. But given the current
situation, Israel seems to be leaving the control fully to Iran and
Syria by destroying Lebanon and by causing and extraordinary number
of civilians killings. "
Writing in the Islamist-intellectual Zaman, Fikret Ertan, sees no
end in sight to the situation: "As the Israeli military operation in
Lebanon reaches its 9th day, where there is still no sign of
ceasefire. On the contrary there are strong indications that the
attack will continue for two or three weeks with all its harshness
and cruelty. Israeli generals have already and openly declared that
additional time -- up to three weeks -- is needed to finish the job.
Israeli sources also admit that despite air, sea and land forces
continuous bombardments, Hezbollah has only lost half of its
military capability. Given the current missile attacks against
Israel from Hezbollah-controlled areas, Hezbollah has still a
significant supply of missiles. It seems there is no sign of hope
for a settlement unless there is an unexpected and sudden
ceasefire."
Debates on a Possible Turkish Cross-Border Operation in Iraq
Radikal, Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Bugun, Vatan, and others: Prime
Minister Erdogan confirmed military plans yesterday for a possible
cross-border operation to eliminate terrorist bases in Northern Iraq
and said that Turkey is waiting for replies from Washington and
Baghdad on Ankara's request for concrete steps. Meanwhile, at the
daily press briefing, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
stressed US opposition to any unilateral move by Turkey. Milliyet,
citing the US Embassy press release of yesterday, said that 'the
words of US Ambassador Ross Wilson have been misunderstood. Turkey,
like every country, has a right and obligation to defend itself and
its people.' The US Embassy press release has been distributed to
ANKARA 00004237 002 OF 002
the press in Washington by the State department, Milliyet notes.
Comparing the Turkish stance on the Israeli actions against
Hezbollah to its stance on actions against the PKK in Iraq, Ertugrul
Ozkok commented in the mass appeal Hurriyet: "Turkey has taken a
leading role in the Middle East crisis, actively engaging in some
initiatives even though some of them have not been welcomed by the
US or Israel. All of this might be attractive to the domestic
audience. At this point, I can't help but act as devil's advocate.
Is it really in our interest to take an actively binding role in the
Middle East crisis as it has been a problem for half a century and
while Turkey suffers from its own terrorism problem? Putting aside
the voices of fanatics, anyone sensible can see that overreacting to
Israel and acting even more militantly than Egypt and Saudi Arabia
is an unnecessary thing. Moreover Turkey should be very careful
when criticizing others' way of fighting against terrorism while it
has plenty of its own terrorism problems. Regarding the recent
polemic between the US Ambassador and Prime Minister Erdogan, we
should understand that asking the US to stop Israel and to support
Turkey can only weaken our case. What we see today is the fact that
Turkish policies regarding the Middle East and northern Iraq have
completely collapsed as a natural consequence of the rejection of
March 1 parliamentary motion."
TV Highlights
NTV, 8.00 p.m
Domestic News
Q A police helicopter has crashed in Antalya, killing 5 policemen.
The cause of the crash was technical failure.
Q Hundreds of representatives of the Kamu-Sen labor union threw eggs
at the Israeli Embassy in Ankara to protest Israeli strikes against
Lebanon and Palestine.
Q The US Embassy in Ankara released a written statement saying that
comments made by Ambassador Wilson in recent days have been
misinterpreted.
Q Prime Minister Erdogan urged the international community to remove
unfair restrictions in Northern Cyprus
International News
Q US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said that the US
would not support a cross-border operation by Turkey in Northern
Iraq
Q More Lebanese civilians died in Israeli air strikes
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
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
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2006
In Today's Papers
Prime Minister Erdogan Reaffirms Support for Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
All papers: Arriving in northern Cyprus for the 32nd anniversary of
the Turkish intervention, Prime Minister Erdogan expressed Ankara's
determination to continue supporting Turkish Cypriots in all areas
and said that Turkey should not be expected to make more concessions
in Cyprus. Erdogan urged the international community to end the
isolation of the TRNC. The Prime Minister yesterday met with TRNC
President Talat, the Prime Minister and the Parliament Speaker.
Meanwhile, State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza
said that it is a very positive development for Papadopoulos and
Talat to agree to meet, and that Washington is determined to support
the United Nations' efforts to resolve the Cyprus dispute.
Syrian President Assad Calls Erdogan to Discuss Lebanon Cease-fire;
Evacuees Arrive in Turkey
Sabah, Bugun, Milliyet and others: While the evacuation of
foreigners from Lebanon continued, Syrian President Assad called
Prime Minister Erdogan and asked for his assistance in reaching a
cease-fire in Lebanon. Sabah reports that the US has sent four
military ships to Lebanon for its citizens there. A group of
Swedish evacuees landed in the Turkish Mediterranean port city of
Mersin yesterday.
Commentary on the Middle East Conflict
Writing in liberal Radikal, Ismet Berkan observed that Israel's
actions are only serving to weaken the Lebanese government and by
extension strengthen Iran and Syria: "There is a serious conflict
between Israel's declared targets and the actual implementation.
Israel wants the Lebanese army to station troops on the border to
weaken Hezbollah's power. At the same time Israeli attacks are
hitting the Lebanese army as well which in fact weakens the
democratically elected Beirut government. In short Israel is doing
wrong, although there is no way to defend Hezbollah's presence
either - it is an organization aiming to destabilize the region and
act as a branch of Iran and Syria in Lebanon. But given the current
situation, Israel seems to be leaving the control fully to Iran and
Syria by destroying Lebanon and by causing and extraordinary number
of civilians killings. "
Writing in the Islamist-intellectual Zaman, Fikret Ertan, sees no
end in sight to the situation: "As the Israeli military operation in
Lebanon reaches its 9th day, where there is still no sign of
ceasefire. On the contrary there are strong indications that the
attack will continue for two or three weeks with all its harshness
and cruelty. Israeli generals have already and openly declared that
additional time -- up to three weeks -- is needed to finish the job.
Israeli sources also admit that despite air, sea and land forces
continuous bombardments, Hezbollah has only lost half of its
military capability. Given the current missile attacks against
Israel from Hezbollah-controlled areas, Hezbollah has still a
significant supply of missiles. It seems there is no sign of hope
for a settlement unless there is an unexpected and sudden
ceasefire."
Debates on a Possible Turkish Cross-Border Operation in Iraq
Radikal, Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Bugun, Vatan, and others: Prime
Minister Erdogan confirmed military plans yesterday for a possible
cross-border operation to eliminate terrorist bases in Northern Iraq
and said that Turkey is waiting for replies from Washington and
Baghdad on Ankara's request for concrete steps. Meanwhile, at the
daily press briefing, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
stressed US opposition to any unilateral move by Turkey. Milliyet,
citing the US Embassy press release of yesterday, said that 'the
words of US Ambassador Ross Wilson have been misunderstood. Turkey,
like every country, has a right and obligation to defend itself and
its people.' The US Embassy press release has been distributed to
ANKARA 00004237 002 OF 002
the press in Washington by the State department, Milliyet notes.
Comparing the Turkish stance on the Israeli actions against
Hezbollah to its stance on actions against the PKK in Iraq, Ertugrul
Ozkok commented in the mass appeal Hurriyet: "Turkey has taken a
leading role in the Middle East crisis, actively engaging in some
initiatives even though some of them have not been welcomed by the
US or Israel. All of this might be attractive to the domestic
audience. At this point, I can't help but act as devil's advocate.
Is it really in our interest to take an actively binding role in the
Middle East crisis as it has been a problem for half a century and
while Turkey suffers from its own terrorism problem? Putting aside
the voices of fanatics, anyone sensible can see that overreacting to
Israel and acting even more militantly than Egypt and Saudi Arabia
is an unnecessary thing. Moreover Turkey should be very careful
when criticizing others' way of fighting against terrorism while it
has plenty of its own terrorism problems. Regarding the recent
polemic between the US Ambassador and Prime Minister Erdogan, we
should understand that asking the US to stop Israel and to support
Turkey can only weaken our case. What we see today is the fact that
Turkish policies regarding the Middle East and northern Iraq have
completely collapsed as a natural consequence of the rejection of
March 1 parliamentary motion."
TV Highlights
NTV, 8.00 p.m
Domestic News
Q A police helicopter has crashed in Antalya, killing 5 policemen.
The cause of the crash was technical failure.
Q Hundreds of representatives of the Kamu-Sen labor union threw eggs
at the Israeli Embassy in Ankara to protest Israeli strikes against
Lebanon and Palestine.
Q The US Embassy in Ankara released a written statement saying that
comments made by Ambassador Wilson in recent days have been
misinterpreted.
Q Prime Minister Erdogan urged the international community to remove
unfair restrictions in Northern Cyprus
International News
Q US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said that the US
would not support a cross-border operation by Turkey in Northern
Iraq
Q More Lebanese civilians died in Israeli air strikes
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON