Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4802
2006-08-17 14:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004802
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, AUGUST 17, 2006
In Today's Papers
Gul Visits Lebanon to Discuss International Force Deployment
All papers: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told the Turkish press
after returning home from Lebanon on Wednesday that the
international force to be deployed in the south of the country will
not deal with Hezbollah or work to disarm Hezbollah. On his day
trip to Lebanon, Gul met with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora,
Parliament Speaker Nabih Barri and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh,
and visited the Hezbollah-stronghold Dahia region which was
incessantly bombed by Israeli forces during the war. Gul lised as
Turkish conditions for joining the peackeeping force that Turkish
troops will not carry out combat duties, and that the force will not
be asked to disarm Hezbollah but only perform logistical and
humanitarian tasks.
Zaman says Siniora has stated that all parties in Lebanon, including
Hezbollah, want Turkish participation in the international force.
Gul said Turkey strongly backed the seven-stage peace plan proposed
by Siniora. Gul noted Turkey's satisfaction with United Nations
resolution no. 1701 calling for an end to hostilities in the region.
Zaman says if today's UN meeting expected to set the rules of
engagement in Lebanon meets Turkish expectations, the government
might call an extraordinary parliament meeting to discuss the issue.
Vatan says Ankara's decision would be shaped at a National Security
Council (MGK) meeting to be held August 21. Military and diplomatic
officials told the papers Turkish influence in the region would
decline if Ankara refuses to send troops to Lebanon. Hurriyet
reports Ankara would make a decision "after Gul's meetings in Israel
on Sunday." Cumhuriyet claims the Turkish General Staff (TGS) has
cautioned the AK Party government against rush in sending troops,
citing concerns of the military such as Turkey should first of all
wait for action from Islamic countries which have remained
"impartial" in the conflict, that UN has not yet announced the
conditions of the ceasefire truce, and that the prospective force's
mission description and location have not been clarified. Turkish
commanders warned in Cumhuriyet that Lebanon was not Kosovo, a
region which had a basis for success.
AKP Group deputy chairman Faruk Celik said Turkey would deploy
peacekeeping troops to Lebanon just as it had done in Bosnia and
Kosovo. Turkey-Lebanon Parliamentary Friendship Group chief, AKP MP
Medeni Yilmaz, said his group would travel to Lebanon soon to assess
civilian needs in the war-torn country.
Sami Kohen commented in mainstream Milliyet that it remained to be
seen whether Hezbollah agrees to pull back all its militants and
weapons from the region: "Lebanon is not going to force Hezbollah
to disarm, so, how will Hezbollah disarmament be realized? Just as
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul did, all the leaders from the countries
possibly sending troops to Lebanon asked the government of Lebanon
for some guarantees and explanations. The UN is reluctant to
determine the peacekeeping force's duties in a second resolution.
Since, no one can give answers to the questions about the duties of
the peacekeeping force, the ambiguity among the countries will
continue."
Turkey to Appoint a "PKK Coordinator"
Sabah, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak: Turkey is preparing to
appoint a special coordinator, either a diplomat or a member of the
military, for the struggle against the PKK after a US coordinator is
named. The Turkish coordinator will work closely with the
coordinator to be appointed by the United States. Iraq will also
appoint its own coordinator under the framework of the three-party
mechanism established among US, Turkey, and Iraq. Vatan notes that
the US decision sparked speculation that the coordinator would act
as an intermediary between Ankara and the PKK.
ANKARA 00004802 002 OF 003
Fatih Altayli claims in the mass appeal Sabah that the PKK
coordinators "have no meaning for Turkey" and should be seen as a
"US tactic to calm Turkey down:" "According to Turkish intelligence
and security, there is no need for this group of coordinators. If
the problem is generating from the flow of information, then, there
is no such problem because Turkish intelligence always shares
information on the PKK with the US and the Iraqi Administration
through the Turkish General Staff or National Intelligence Service.
So, if there is no problem here, what will the duties of these
coordinators be? If the American coordinator meets with the PKK to
serve as an intermediary between Turkey and the PKK, then Turkey
might face unexpected "fait accomplit" decisions made on the PKK.
Turkish security units believe that this coordinator initiative will
bring Turkey enormous problems, therefore, they expect the Turkish
government to reject this proposal."
Iran Kicks Off Extensive Operation against the PKK
Sabah and Cumhuriyet report that Iranian troops have launched an
extensive military operation against PKK militants holed up in Mount
Kandil, in etaliation against the killing of 10 Iranian sodiers in
a PKK landmine attack on Tuesday. The Iranian ground troops'
advance into northern Iraq continues despite sporadic clashes while
Iranian artillery continued shelling certain areas on the skirts of
Mount Kandil.
Seventh Anniversary of August 17 Earthquake
All papers report seven years after the August 17 earthquake the
Turkish government is still under the rubble. Homeless survivors
still live in dire conditions in prefabricated houses. Plans to
reinforce buildings have not been carried out and citizens are
advised that everyone should strengthen their own houses. The
August 17, 1999 earthquake claimed some 18,000 lives, wounding
another 44,000. Non-official estimates put the death toll at around
50,000.
TV Highlights
NTV, 8.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- The Turkish Red Crescent sent to Lebanon a third convoy of trucks
carrying humanitarian aid.
- Coalition government partners in Turkish Cyprus have come to the
verge of split when the junior partner Serdar Denktas turned down
reforms proposed by his partner CTP.
- Turkish Health Ministry announced that results of a survey show
the boom in cancer rates in the Black Sea region were not related to
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1993.
- Civil servants and the Turkish government in collective bargaining
failed on Wednesday to agree on the date pay hikes will take effect.
- Turkey's state-owned Ziraat Bank to open a branch in Saudi Arabia
as part of a broader cooperation program between the two countries.
International News
- The Lebanese cabinet discussed yesterday a plan to deploy Lebanese
military south of Litani River as of Thursday.
- The Armenian lobby in the US said in a letter to President Bush
that Turkish military presence in Lebanon would harm US interests
and impede lasting regional peace.
- The Palestinian ruling Hamas party and President Abbas have agreed
to begin talks on forming a national unity government.
ANKARA 00004802 003 OF 003
- The British daily Independent said the EU is mulling a transfer of
authority over the Turkish Cypriot ports to the United Nations in a
move to resolve a standoff between the EU and Turkey.
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, AUGUST 17, 2006
In Today's Papers
Gul Visits Lebanon to Discuss International Force Deployment
All papers: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told the Turkish press
after returning home from Lebanon on Wednesday that the
international force to be deployed in the south of the country will
not deal with Hezbollah or work to disarm Hezbollah. On his day
trip to Lebanon, Gul met with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora,
Parliament Speaker Nabih Barri and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh,
and visited the Hezbollah-stronghold Dahia region which was
incessantly bombed by Israeli forces during the war. Gul lised as
Turkish conditions for joining the peackeeping force that Turkish
troops will not carry out combat duties, and that the force will not
be asked to disarm Hezbollah but only perform logistical and
humanitarian tasks.
Zaman says Siniora has stated that all parties in Lebanon, including
Hezbollah, want Turkish participation in the international force.
Gul said Turkey strongly backed the seven-stage peace plan proposed
by Siniora. Gul noted Turkey's satisfaction with United Nations
resolution no. 1701 calling for an end to hostilities in the region.
Zaman says if today's UN meeting expected to set the rules of
engagement in Lebanon meets Turkish expectations, the government
might call an extraordinary parliament meeting to discuss the issue.
Vatan says Ankara's decision would be shaped at a National Security
Council (MGK) meeting to be held August 21. Military and diplomatic
officials told the papers Turkish influence in the region would
decline if Ankara refuses to send troops to Lebanon. Hurriyet
reports Ankara would make a decision "after Gul's meetings in Israel
on Sunday." Cumhuriyet claims the Turkish General Staff (TGS) has
cautioned the AK Party government against rush in sending troops,
citing concerns of the military such as Turkey should first of all
wait for action from Islamic countries which have remained
"impartial" in the conflict, that UN has not yet announced the
conditions of the ceasefire truce, and that the prospective force's
mission description and location have not been clarified. Turkish
commanders warned in Cumhuriyet that Lebanon was not Kosovo, a
region which had a basis for success.
AKP Group deputy chairman Faruk Celik said Turkey would deploy
peacekeeping troops to Lebanon just as it had done in Bosnia and
Kosovo. Turkey-Lebanon Parliamentary Friendship Group chief, AKP MP
Medeni Yilmaz, said his group would travel to Lebanon soon to assess
civilian needs in the war-torn country.
Sami Kohen commented in mainstream Milliyet that it remained to be
seen whether Hezbollah agrees to pull back all its militants and
weapons from the region: "Lebanon is not going to force Hezbollah
to disarm, so, how will Hezbollah disarmament be realized? Just as
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul did, all the leaders from the countries
possibly sending troops to Lebanon asked the government of Lebanon
for some guarantees and explanations. The UN is reluctant to
determine the peacekeeping force's duties in a second resolution.
Since, no one can give answers to the questions about the duties of
the peacekeeping force, the ambiguity among the countries will
continue."
Turkey to Appoint a "PKK Coordinator"
Sabah, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak: Turkey is preparing to
appoint a special coordinator, either a diplomat or a member of the
military, for the struggle against the PKK after a US coordinator is
named. The Turkish coordinator will work closely with the
coordinator to be appointed by the United States. Iraq will also
appoint its own coordinator under the framework of the three-party
mechanism established among US, Turkey, and Iraq. Vatan notes that
the US decision sparked speculation that the coordinator would act
as an intermediary between Ankara and the PKK.
ANKARA 00004802 002 OF 003
Fatih Altayli claims in the mass appeal Sabah that the PKK
coordinators "have no meaning for Turkey" and should be seen as a
"US tactic to calm Turkey down:" "According to Turkish intelligence
and security, there is no need for this group of coordinators. If
the problem is generating from the flow of information, then, there
is no such problem because Turkish intelligence always shares
information on the PKK with the US and the Iraqi Administration
through the Turkish General Staff or National Intelligence Service.
So, if there is no problem here, what will the duties of these
coordinators be? If the American coordinator meets with the PKK to
serve as an intermediary between Turkey and the PKK, then Turkey
might face unexpected "fait accomplit" decisions made on the PKK.
Turkish security units believe that this coordinator initiative will
bring Turkey enormous problems, therefore, they expect the Turkish
government to reject this proposal."
Iran Kicks Off Extensive Operation against the PKK
Sabah and Cumhuriyet report that Iranian troops have launched an
extensive military operation against PKK militants holed up in Mount
Kandil, in etaliation against the killing of 10 Iranian sodiers in
a PKK landmine attack on Tuesday. The Iranian ground troops'
advance into northern Iraq continues despite sporadic clashes while
Iranian artillery continued shelling certain areas on the skirts of
Mount Kandil.
Seventh Anniversary of August 17 Earthquake
All papers report seven years after the August 17 earthquake the
Turkish government is still under the rubble. Homeless survivors
still live in dire conditions in prefabricated houses. Plans to
reinforce buildings have not been carried out and citizens are
advised that everyone should strengthen their own houses. The
August 17, 1999 earthquake claimed some 18,000 lives, wounding
another 44,000. Non-official estimates put the death toll at around
50,000.
TV Highlights
NTV, 8.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- The Turkish Red Crescent sent to Lebanon a third convoy of trucks
carrying humanitarian aid.
- Coalition government partners in Turkish Cyprus have come to the
verge of split when the junior partner Serdar Denktas turned down
reforms proposed by his partner CTP.
- Turkish Health Ministry announced that results of a survey show
the boom in cancer rates in the Black Sea region were not related to
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1993.
- Civil servants and the Turkish government in collective bargaining
failed on Wednesday to agree on the date pay hikes will take effect.
- Turkey's state-owned Ziraat Bank to open a branch in Saudi Arabia
as part of a broader cooperation program between the two countries.
International News
- The Lebanese cabinet discussed yesterday a plan to deploy Lebanese
military south of Litani River as of Thursday.
- The Armenian lobby in the US said in a letter to President Bush
that Turkish military presence in Lebanon would harm US interests
and impede lasting regional peace.
- The Palestinian ruling Hamas party and President Abbas have agreed
to begin talks on forming a national unity government.
ANKARA 00004802 003 OF 003
- The British daily Independent said the EU is mulling a transfer of
authority over the Turkish Cypriot ports to the United Nations in a
move to resolve a standoff between the EU and Turkey.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON