Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003134
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
FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2005
THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- -----
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Rice Gives Turkey Support For EU - Sabah
Rice Gives Turkey Strong EU Support - Aksam
Athens' EU Support for Turkey Won't Change - Milliyet
The Guardian: Turkey May Be Victim of French EU Vote - Sabah
Anti-Syria Journalist Killed in Bomb Attack in Beirut -
Sabah
Serbian President Promises to Catch Karadzic, Mladic - Sabah
OPINION MAKERS
Edelman: Those Who Undermine US-Turkey Relations Should be
Countered - Zaman
Rice: A United Europe Including Turkey Will Benefit All -
Yeni Safak
European Press Says EU Constitution is Dead - Zaman
French, Dutch Rejections of Constitution a Veto for EU
Leaders - Yeni Safak
Kasir Assassination Shakes Lebanon - Radikal
Zebari Assures Rice on Role of Sunnis - Cumhuriyet
A War-Like Day in Iraq: 12 Killed, 37 Wounded - Cumhuriyet
400 Palestinians Released by Israel Return Home - Cumhuriyet
US `Bought' Gitmo Detainees from Tribes in Afghanistan -
Cumhuriyet
China-Russia Finalize Border Agreement - Cumhuriyet
BRIEFING
Edelman Addresses US-Turkish Business Council Meeting: US
Ambassador Eric Edelman told the US-Turkish Business
Council's annual conference in Istanbul that trade relations
between Turkey and the United States are not at the same
level as the political and security relationship between the
two allies, papers report. Edelman criticized excessive red
tape, corruption, and a `bureaucratic mentality' in Turkey,
and reiterated the need for reforms. He noted that US
investment levels in Turkey have remained low when total US
foreign direct investment around the world continues to be
strong. Edelman complained that these `fundamental
realities' are holding back trade and investment between the
two countries. Ambassador Edelman warned against
`misguided' ideas, such as public calls earlier this year
for boycotts of US companies in Turkey. Edelman said that
such ideas should be `countered and contradicted.' He also
commented on the recent visit to north Cyprus by US
Congressmen, and noted that the Bush Administration is
making good on its commitment to ending the isolation of
Turkish Cypriots.
Secretary Rice Supports Turkey's EU Bid: Turkish media
SIPDIS
report Secretary Rice's remarks in support of Turkey's EU
membership drive at a press conference at the US-EU
ministerial meeting in Washington. `A Europe that is
outward-looking, not inward-looking, is extremely important
to completing Europe's integration and Europe's unity -- and
that includes Turkey,' Rice said. Rice noted that the US
has been working with the EU and NATO in supporting efforts
for democratization in Central and Eastern Europe, and urged
Europe to continue on that path: `Everyone, including
Turkey, has a stake in a Europe that is united around common
values,' the Secretary remarked.
US State Department Official Evaluates Turkey's EU Chances:
"Milliyet" reports from Washington on a background briefing
by an unidentified senior US State Department official, who
assessed the impact of the rejection of the European Union
constitution in referenda in France and the Netherlands on
Turkey's chances of joining the European bloc. `Whether
Turkey will become a full EU member depends ultimately on
the extent to which Turkey can transform itself,' the US
official said. The official warned against developments
which may lead to a Europe that closes its doors to new
candidates that show themselves fit for EU membership. The
US official noted that in Poland in 1988, only `humorists'
and `banned dissidents' were talking about their country
becoming a member of the European Union and NATO.
`However,' the official said, `what was once seen as humor
has become a reality today, because the Poles have managed
to reform themselves.'
Edogan to Attend `American Davos': Prime Minister Erdogan
is to attend the Sun Valley Conference, to be held July 6-10
in Sun Valley, Idaho, "Hurriyet" reports. The conference,
billed as `an American Davos,' brings together some 200
American business owners and CEOs with world leaders.
Erdogan Reshuffles Cabinet: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
on Thursday announced a reshuffle in his cabinet after
Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu, Public Works Minister Zeki
Ergezen, and State Minister for Women's Affairs Guldal Aksit
resigned from their posts. Erdogan said they had been
replaced by Mehmet Mehdi Eker, Faruk Nafis Ozak and Nimet
Cubuk. Papers comment that Erdogan has partially reshuffled
his cabinet, while leaving key ministers at their posts, and
that the changes were not surprising, as the sacked
ministers had drawn criticism that they were unsuccessful.
"First Prosecution For Statement on Armenain Claims": An
Ankara prosecutor has for the first time brought charges
against someone for expressing the view that there were
massacres of Armenians in Anatolia in 1915. If the
defendant, lawyer Medeni Ayhan, is convicted for expressing
these views, it will represent the first implementaion of
Article 312 of the revised penal code, which envisages
criminal penalties for `those who defend views that are
contrary to the these of the state.' The charges against
Ayhan under Article 312 also include his alleged statement
that `I am from the Kurdish nation and speak as a citizen of
Kurdistan.' But also included in the prosecution's case are
Ayhan's alleged comments on the Armenia question: `The
Ottoman Empire, along with the Hamidiye Regiments and the
Committee for Union and Progress, had a role in the massacre
of 1.5 million Armenisans in 1915.' If Ayhan is convicted
and sentenced for his comments on the Armenian issue, it
could open the way for cases to be opened against many
others who defend views contrary to the official version of
events.
Syria Tests Missiles: International wire services cite a
`New York Times' story reporting Israeli officials as
claiming that Syria tested three Scud missiles last week,
including one that broke up over Turkey's southern province
of Hatay. The missiles were fired last Friday from northern
Syria in the first such tests by Syria since 2001. The
tests were part of a Syrian missile development project
using North Korean technology and designed to deliver air-
burst chemical weapons, the report says.
EDITORIAL OPINION: The EU Constitution
"After Holland"
Yilmaz Oztuna commented in the conservative "Turkiye" (6/3):
"After the French and the Dutch referenda results, it seems
that the United Kingdom will skip the process altogether.
From now on, the EU will have to focus on the nation-state
system rather than a confederation. In fact, this serves as
a more appropriate basis for the EU vision. The essence of
the European Union envisages economic welfare and peace
among its members. Interference in the affairs of nation-
states are not part of it. . The EU certainly will continue
to function, but the major focus will be given to the
individual nation-states rather than the constitution. This
process will only help Turkey become a member within shorter
period of time than expected. However, it is up to Turkey
to use this historic shift to its advantage. Turkey can't
afford to miss the chance presented by these developments."
"France and the Netherlands Strike a Blow Against the EU'"
Erhan Basyurt commented in the Islamist-intellectual "Zaman"
(6/3): "The rejection of the EU constitution by the French
and Dutch people damaged the future of Europe more than it
damaged Turkey's EU membership prospects. As a matter of
fact, there is no direct connection between the rejection of
the EU constitution and Turkey's membership. Regardless of
whether the EU constitution is ultimately ratified, Turkey
will start negotiations with the EU on October 3. Nine
countries have approved the constitution so far. Most
likely the UK, Denmark, and Poland also will say `no' to the
constitution. The future of the EU constitution process
will be shaped at the upcoming EU summit. The members will
search for a solution at the summit. It is obvious that the
EU has been damaged by the `no' votes, but the European
`culture of reconciliation' will undoubtedly produce new
solutions to overcome the crisis."
"Back to the Nation-State"
Haluk Ulman observed in the economic-political "Dunya"
(6/3): "The rejection of the EU Constitution by France and
the Netherlands clearly indicates that the nation-state
system is not finished, even in Europe. Despite efforts by
the EU officials to play down the results of the last two
referenda, a single European entity with one president, one
capital, and a unified political system now appears to be an
almost impossible goal. . It is obvious that both French and
Dutch voters are asking for the right to determine their own
future. They want to have a direct say over their own
political, economic, and social needs. In effect, they are
advocating a return to the nation-state system."
EDELMAN