Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA856
2006-02-22 14:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO5223 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #0856/01 0531440 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 221440Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3388 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 6965 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 9875 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 0434 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5123 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 4830 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1452 RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU RHMFIUU/CDRUSAE IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39OSS INCIRLIK AB TU RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000856
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, FEBRUARY 22, 2006
In Today's Papers
Hamas Visit to Turkey
Sabah, Radikal and Zaman carry Ambassador Ross Wilson's
evaluation of the Hamas visit to Ankara last week. "What is
important to us is that any meetings with Hamas make clear
that Hamas must abandon terrorism, recognize the right of
Israel to exist, and honor the commitments the Palestinian
Authority. According to the Turkish government, clear and
strong messages were delivered," Wilson said, adding that
time would tell whether the messages had been effective or
not. With respect to criticism that came from some groups
in the United States, Wilson said: "A number of influential
Americans have expressed concern that Hamas was received
here. I would let their comments speak for themselves. The
reaction of the US Government is the position that I have
already described." In response to a question, Wilson said
that among the influential Americans that have expressed
concern about the visit are a number of leading figures in
the American Jewish community. Zaman says that Wilson does
not believe the visit will damage Turkey-US ties: "We were
informed beforehand by the Turkish government of this visit.
We discussed our views with the Turkish Government before
Hamas came, and we have discussed it since then."
Serdar Turgut commenting in the tabloid Aksam is concerned
that in the wake of the Hamas visit, Turkey-US ties could
worsen. He notes as evidence that Secretary Rice is starting
a tour of the Middle East but "she is not going to stop in
Turkey." Turgut wonders if in the event of an "attack on
Iran or Syria" Turkey would be able to "say 'no' to these
demands after the Hamas crisis?" and if the US will convey
its demands directly to the AKP government or "will they use
the bridge already established with the Turkish military to
convey the demands?"
Commenting in the conservative-nationalist Turkiye, Yilmaz
Oztuna wonders how much of the advice given to them by
Foreign Minister Gul Hamas will use. Noting that "Tehran
will definitely advise them to the contrary," Oztuna
suggests that Hamas "at least announce that they recognize
Israel and they are going to disarm." He continues, "If the
established government of Hamas is recognized by other
countries, then the AKP initiative will be counted as a
positive and valuable one." Oztuna concludes, "Considering
Turkey's interests, the most important thing here is
Turkey's strategic ally America's approach to the issue."
Hamas Leader Mashal Visits Iran; Egypt, Russia Refuse to
Meet with Hamas
Hurriyet, Sabah, Zaman and several other dailies report that
both President Putin and President Mubarak have refused to
meet with the Hamas delegation. Egypt said that Turkey "had
weakened its hand" by receiving Hamas. Sabah says that
Hamas leader Mashal forgot his "peace messages" in Ankara,
and issued war messages in Tehran by saying "We will not
negotiate with Israel. If Israel does not pullout of
occupied Palestine land, resistance will grow tougher."
Papers emphasize that Turkish-Israeli relations are back on
track again toward normalization as the Israeli Ambassador
in Ankara, Pinhas Avivi, paid a visit to AKP headquarters
yesterday, and that he agreed to a meeting at the Foreign
Ministry. Following his meetings at the AKP headquarters,
Avivi said that the two sides had decided to bury past
problems. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Erdogan defended the
visit at his party group meeting: "We did the right thing at
the right time. The Palestinian elections have brought a
new structure. If we try to tame this new structure with
economic methods, this cannot be called democracy."
ANKARA 00000856 002 OF 003
Rice Skips Turkey on Middle East Tour
Sabah says that Secretary Rice did not include Turkey in her
Middle East tour, adding that Rice might not visit Turkey in
the near future due to the strong reaction of the Jewish
lobby in the United States against the Hamas visit to
Ankara. Despite US efforts to make "balanced" statements
with regard to the meetings of Turks with Hamas
representatives in Ankara, Washington had been "annoyed" by
the visit. Turkish Ambassador in Washington Nabi Sensoy is
working hard to soften the reactions coming from the Jewish
lobby. Meanwhile, Milliyet reports that Turkish lawmakers
had canceled their trip to Iran amid strong western
reactions to the visit of Hamas leader Mashal to Ankara, and
the uncompromising messages issued by Mashal and Iranian
President Ahmadinejad in Tehran.
US Prepares for Direct Trade with Northern Cyprus
All papers carry a Washington Times (WT) article which
claimed that the US is preparing to establish direct trade
links with Turkish Cyprus. "There's a huge economic gap
between the two sides in Cyprus. International sanctions on
Turkish Cyprus must be reduced, and for reunification, the
gap must be closed," a US Administration official told the
WT. Hurriyet notes that the reports had been confirmed by
US State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli.
TV Highlights
(NTV, 8 AM)
International News
- Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman said Egyptian
President Mubarak declined to meet Hamas officials, and
criticized Turkey and Russia for inviting Hamas.
- Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Director Reza
Aqazadeh said all the Iranian nuclear installations
including Natanz are located deep underground and no
military offensive can destroy them.
- War crimes fugitive General Ratko Mladic, charged with
genocide in the Bosnian war, has been located and
authorities are negotiating his surrender, a senior Serbian
official said.
- A car bomb exploded at an outdoor market in Baghdad,
killing 22 people.
Domestic News
- In response to criticism about the Hamas visit to Ankara,
Prime Minister Erdogan said Turkey conveyed to Hamas "the
right messages at the right time."
- Israeli Ambassador Pinhas Avivi, in an effort to mend
fences, met AKP officials at the party headquarters, and
noted the importance of ties.
- The EU has asked Turkey to mediate to defuse the strains
over publication of the Prophet Mohammed cartoons. Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul is invited to deliver the opening
speech at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on
March 11 held to discuss the cartoon crisis.
- Hasan Ciftci, the provincial head of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Turkey's eastern city of
ANKARA 00000856 003 OF 003
Van, has been arrested for encouraging terrorism in a
statement made to the Copenhagen-based Roj TV.
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
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2006
In Today's Papers
Hamas Visit to Turkey
Sabah, Radikal and Zaman carry Ambassador Ross Wilson's
evaluation of the Hamas visit to Ankara last week. "What is
important to us is that any meetings with Hamas make clear
that Hamas must abandon terrorism, recognize the right of
Israel to exist, and honor the commitments the Palestinian
Authority. According to the Turkish government, clear and
strong messages were delivered," Wilson said, adding that
time would tell whether the messages had been effective or
not. With respect to criticism that came from some groups
in the United States, Wilson said: "A number of influential
Americans have expressed concern that Hamas was received
here. I would let their comments speak for themselves. The
reaction of the US Government is the position that I have
already described." In response to a question, Wilson said
that among the influential Americans that have expressed
concern about the visit are a number of leading figures in
the American Jewish community. Zaman says that Wilson does
not believe the visit will damage Turkey-US ties: "We were
informed beforehand by the Turkish government of this visit.
We discussed our views with the Turkish Government before
Hamas came, and we have discussed it since then."
Serdar Turgut commenting in the tabloid Aksam is concerned
that in the wake of the Hamas visit, Turkey-US ties could
worsen. He notes as evidence that Secretary Rice is starting
a tour of the Middle East but "she is not going to stop in
Turkey." Turgut wonders if in the event of an "attack on
Iran or Syria" Turkey would be able to "say 'no' to these
demands after the Hamas crisis?" and if the US will convey
its demands directly to the AKP government or "will they use
the bridge already established with the Turkish military to
convey the demands?"
Commenting in the conservative-nationalist Turkiye, Yilmaz
Oztuna wonders how much of the advice given to them by
Foreign Minister Gul Hamas will use. Noting that "Tehran
will definitely advise them to the contrary," Oztuna
suggests that Hamas "at least announce that they recognize
Israel and they are going to disarm." He continues, "If the
established government of Hamas is recognized by other
countries, then the AKP initiative will be counted as a
positive and valuable one." Oztuna concludes, "Considering
Turkey's interests, the most important thing here is
Turkey's strategic ally America's approach to the issue."
Hamas Leader Mashal Visits Iran; Egypt, Russia Refuse to
Meet with Hamas
Hurriyet, Sabah, Zaman and several other dailies report that
both President Putin and President Mubarak have refused to
meet with the Hamas delegation. Egypt said that Turkey "had
weakened its hand" by receiving Hamas. Sabah says that
Hamas leader Mashal forgot his "peace messages" in Ankara,
and issued war messages in Tehran by saying "We will not
negotiate with Israel. If Israel does not pullout of
occupied Palestine land, resistance will grow tougher."
Papers emphasize that Turkish-Israeli relations are back on
track again toward normalization as the Israeli Ambassador
in Ankara, Pinhas Avivi, paid a visit to AKP headquarters
yesterday, and that he agreed to a meeting at the Foreign
Ministry. Following his meetings at the AKP headquarters,
Avivi said that the two sides had decided to bury past
problems. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Erdogan defended the
visit at his party group meeting: "We did the right thing at
the right time. The Palestinian elections have brought a
new structure. If we try to tame this new structure with
economic methods, this cannot be called democracy."
ANKARA 00000856 002 OF 003
Rice Skips Turkey on Middle East Tour
Sabah says that Secretary Rice did not include Turkey in her
Middle East tour, adding that Rice might not visit Turkey in
the near future due to the strong reaction of the Jewish
lobby in the United States against the Hamas visit to
Ankara. Despite US efforts to make "balanced" statements
with regard to the meetings of Turks with Hamas
representatives in Ankara, Washington had been "annoyed" by
the visit. Turkish Ambassador in Washington Nabi Sensoy is
working hard to soften the reactions coming from the Jewish
lobby. Meanwhile, Milliyet reports that Turkish lawmakers
had canceled their trip to Iran amid strong western
reactions to the visit of Hamas leader Mashal to Ankara, and
the uncompromising messages issued by Mashal and Iranian
President Ahmadinejad in Tehran.
US Prepares for Direct Trade with Northern Cyprus
All papers carry a Washington Times (WT) article which
claimed that the US is preparing to establish direct trade
links with Turkish Cyprus. "There's a huge economic gap
between the two sides in Cyprus. International sanctions on
Turkish Cyprus must be reduced, and for reunification, the
gap must be closed," a US Administration official told the
WT. Hurriyet notes that the reports had been confirmed by
US State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli.
TV Highlights
(NTV, 8 AM)
International News
- Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman said Egyptian
President Mubarak declined to meet Hamas officials, and
criticized Turkey and Russia for inviting Hamas.
- Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Director Reza
Aqazadeh said all the Iranian nuclear installations
including Natanz are located deep underground and no
military offensive can destroy them.
- War crimes fugitive General Ratko Mladic, charged with
genocide in the Bosnian war, has been located and
authorities are negotiating his surrender, a senior Serbian
official said.
- A car bomb exploded at an outdoor market in Baghdad,
killing 22 people.
Domestic News
- In response to criticism about the Hamas visit to Ankara,
Prime Minister Erdogan said Turkey conveyed to Hamas "the
right messages at the right time."
- Israeli Ambassador Pinhas Avivi, in an effort to mend
fences, met AKP officials at the party headquarters, and
noted the importance of ties.
- The EU has asked Turkey to mediate to defuse the strains
over publication of the Prophet Mohammed cartoons. Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul is invited to deliver the opening
speech at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on
March 11 held to discuss the cartoon crisis.
- Hasan Ciftci, the provincial head of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Turkey's eastern city of
ANKARA 00000856 003 OF 003
Van, has been arrested for encouraging terrorism in a
statement made to the Copenhagen-based Roj TV.
WILSON