

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AORC
AMGT
APER
AU
AF
AS
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AR
AE
AJ
ADANA
AEMR
AG
ATRN
ADPM
APECO
AGAO
AMED
AX
AM
AL
ADCO
AA
AECL
AADP
ABUD
AMEX
ACAO
ANET
AODE
ASCH
AY
APEC
AID
AORG
ASEAN
AFSI
AFSN
AINF
AGR
AROC
AO
AMBASSADOR
AFFAIRS
ASIG
ABLD
ASUP
AND
ARM
ARF
AQ
ATFN
AC
ACOA
AORL
ADM
AUC
AGMT
ACABQ
ASEX
AFU
ALOW
AZ
APCS
AVERY
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AER
AN
AIT
AMG
AGRICULTURE
AMCHAMS
ACS
BR
BA
BD
BL
BO
BF
BU
BILAT
BEXP
BRUSSELS
BK
BN
BM
BT
BY
BX
BTIO
BIDEN
BG
BE
BP
BBSR
BC
BTIU
BWC
BB
BH
BMGT
CH
CY
CA
CU
CS
CO
CVIS
CPAS
CMGT
CE
COUNTER
CASC
COUNTRY
CJAN
COUNTERTERRORISM
CG
CI
CD
CIDA
CJUS
CDG
CBSA
CEUDA
CR
CM
CLMT
CAC
CBW
CODEL
COPUOS
CWC
CIC
CW
CBE
CHR
CFED
CT
CONS
CIA
CTM
CDC
CVR
CF
CLINTON
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CACS
CAN
CONDOLEEZZA
CB
CSW
CITT
CARSON
CNARC
CACM
CDB
CARICOM
COM
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CV
CKGR
CBC
CL
CICTE
CIS
ECON
EFIN
ELAB
ETRD
EIND
EC
EINV
EAGR
ENRG
ETTC
EAID
EPET
ELTN
EWWT
EAIR
EFIS
EMIN
EG
EU
ER
EUN
EPA
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ECPS
ENGR
ETRC
ECIN
EN
EI
ELN
ET
EINT
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ES
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EZ
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EFTA
EAIG
EK
EUREM
EURN
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EAP
ENIV
ECONOMY
ESA
EINN
ECONOMIC
EIAR
EXBS
ECA
ECUN
EINDETRD
EUR
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
ENERG
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFIM
ENGY
EAIDS
EINVEFIN
EINVETC
EUMEM
ETRA
ETC
ERNG
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EXIM
ERD
EEPET
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IO
IAHRC
ID
IC
IT
IRAQI
IWC
IN
IL
ISLAMISTS
IV
ICAO
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IPR
ICRC
INTERPOL
IQ
IBET
IMO
INR
ITRA
INTERNAL
ICJ
ICTY
IRS
ILO
INRA
INRO
ISRAELI
IEA
INRB
ITALY
ITU
IBRD
IIP
ILC
INTELSAT
IZPREL
IMF
INMARSAT
IRAJ
IDA
ICTR
IA
IGAD
IF
IDP
ITF
ISRAEL
IEFIN
IRC
IACI
KN
KCRM
KOMC
KNNPMNUC
KIPR
KPAL
KWBG
KSCA
KFRD
KNNP
KUNR
KTIP
KWMN
KSTC
KFLU
KOLY
KISL
KPAO
KMDR
KJUS
KSTH
KDEM
KCOR
KIRF
KAWC
KU
KTFN
KWAC
KNPP
KERG
KSEO
KACT
KHLS
KZ
KGHG
KTIA
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KE
KPKO
KCIP
KDRG
KVPR
KV
KIDE
KICC
KPRP
KBIO
KSUM
KGIT
KCFE
KG
KBTS
KFLO
KMPI
KS
KGIC
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KSEP
KTEX
KFSC
KOCI
KHDP
KPLS
KTDB
KHIV
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KMRS
KOM
KSAF
KRVC
KR
KMOC
KNAR
KIRC
KBCT
KSPR
KFIN
KBTR
KJUST
KNEI
KAWK
KGCC
KMCA
KREL
KMFO
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVRP
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KAID
KVIR
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KRAD
KPRV
KCMR
KPWR
KCHG
KIFR
KCFC
KICA
KPIN
KSCI
KESS
KDEV
KTBT
KCRS
KCGC
KOMS
KRIM
KTER
KREC
KPOA
KWWMN
KRGY
KPAK
KWNM
KMIG
KDDG
KRFD
KWMM
KWMNCS
KX
KRCM
KPAONZ
KNUC
KDEMAF
KNUP
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MCAP
MTCRE
MNUC
MIL
MX
MEDIA
MO
MPOS
MU
ML
MA
MP
MY
MERCOSUR
MG
MD
MW
MK
MAS
MEETINGS
MR
MT
MI
MOPPS
MASC
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MTRE
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
MARAD
MASSMNUC
MEPP
MCC
MZ
MILITARY
MDC
MRCRE
MC
MV
MIK
MUCN
NATO
NL
NZ
NPT
NI
NAFTA
NU
NDP
NIPP
NP
NPA
NG
NRR
NO
NSC
NEW
NE
NH
NR
NA
NS
NSF
NZUS
NATIONAL
NSG
NC
NT
NAR
NK
NGO
NV
NSFO
NSSP
NASA
NW
NPG
NORAD
NATOPREL
OTRA
OAS
OPRC
OIIP
OVIP
OREP
OPDC
OEXC
OSCE
OFFICIALS
OMIG
ODIP
OFDP
OECD
OPIC
OBSP
OPCW
OFDA
OTR
OSAC
OSCI
ON
OCII
OES
OVP
OIC
OPAD
OIE
OHUM
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PK
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PA
PTER
PINR
PREF
PHSA
PBTS
PBIO
PO
POL
PE
PARMS
PM
PROG
PL
PAK
POLITICS
PORG
PTBS
PNAT
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PROP
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PAO
PG
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PALESTINIAN
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PSEPC
PREFA
PGOVE
PINF
PHUMPGOV
PNG
PMIL
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
PLN
PSA
PGIV
POLINT
PAS
POGOV
PHUMPREL
PHUMBA
PEL
PGGV
PNR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PRAM
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PF
POV
PROV
PRL
PREO
PAHO
PHUH
PSI
PINL
PU
PRGOV
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
RS
RU
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RO
RW
RCMP
RF
RM
RFE
RSP
RP
RICE
ROBERT
ROOD
RELATIONS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RSO
SU
SNAR
SO
SOCI
SW
SENV
SMIG
SCUL
SP
SZ
SENVKGHG
SR
SY
SA
SYRIA
SF
SI
SC
SWE
SARS
STEINBERG
SN
SG
SIPRS
ST
SEVN
SL
SPCE
SNARIZ
SSA
SNARCS
SYR
SK
SPCVIS
SHUM
SIPDIS
SHI
SH
SOFA
SEN
SNARN
SAARC
SAN
SANC
SCRS
TRGY
TBIO
TU
TF
TERRORISM
TI
TSPL
TPHY
TH
TIP
TSPA
TC
TO
TW
TX
TZ
TNGD
TT
TL
TV
TFIN
TS
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TD
TK
TR
THPY
TP
TAGS
UNGA
UN
UK
US
UNC
UNSC
USUN
UG
UP
UY
USEU
UNESCO
USPS
USTR
UZ
UNHRC
UNO
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNHCR
UNCHR
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
USOAS
UNFICYP
UV
UNEP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDC
UNCHC
UNDP
UNCND
USNC
UNPUOS
UNICEF
UNCSD
UE
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05ANKARA1656, ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05ANKARA1656.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05ANKARA1656 | 2005-03-22 14:02 | 2011-04-10 12:12 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ankara |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001656
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
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2005
THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- -----
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
PM Erdogan: Retrial for Ocalan Out of the Question -
Milliyet
FM Gul: Turkey's Left Should Take Tony Blair As a Model -
Milliyet
Papadopoulos Opposes UN Arbitration on Cyprus - Sabah
Sistani is Friedman's Candidate for Nobel Peace Prize -
Sabah
Racism on the Rise in France - Hurriyet
OPINION MAKERS
Edelman: Lots of Things to Do Before I leave Ankara - Yeni
Safak
Erdogan-Karamanlis Discuss Cyprus in Brussels - Radikal
Arab League Supports Damascus - Radikal
Israel Intends to Expand Along West Bank - Radikal
Israel Allows 3,500 New Settlements - Cumhuriyet
Professor McCarthy: Armenian Genocide Never Happened - Yeni
Safak
Germany Backs Wolfowitz for World Bank - Zaman
Annan Proposes Sweeping UN Reforms - Cumhuriyet
Annan Proposes UN Human Rights Council - Zaman
OSCE: Traffickers `Sell' 1.2 Million Children Every Year -
Yeni Safak
Feminists Build Women-Only Mosque in Amsterdam - Yeni Safak
BRIEFING
Ambassador Edelman: Lots of Things to Do Before I Leave
Ankara: US Ambassador Eric Edelman told "Yeni Safak" that
he had announced his resignation decision early in order to
allow Secretary of State Rice time to assign someone else as
ambassador to Ankara. Edelman said that the posts to be
vacated at the US Embassy in Ankara would likely be filled
by late this summer. `I've still got three more months in
Ankara, and lots of things to do before I leave,' Edelman
stressed. Ambassador Edelman said the reason behind his
decision to quit the Foreign Service was to launch a second
career, according to "Milliyet." `Ethical rules would have
prevented me from evaluating offers coming from the private
sector while serving as Ambassador. That, too, may have
influenced my decision to resign,' Edelman said.
US Sends Another Signal to AKP: Bruce Jackson, one of the
board members of `Project for the New American Century,'
told the US Congress that difficulties lay ahead for Turkey,
a country which has failed to solve its national and
geopolitical identity crisis, the liberal/opinion maker
"Radikal" reports in a front page story. Turkey's ruling AK
Party is reluctant to cooperate with the West, Jackson said,
citing the AKP government's `termination' of strategic ties
with Israel, its reluctance to meet with Yerevan over the
opening of Turkey's border with Armenia, demanding that the
US pressure the Kurds in Iraq, and Ankara's policy of
seeking closer ties with Russia instead of Western-oriented
democracies. Jackson told the committee that the AKP is a
secular Islamic party that has revived xenophobia in Turkey
by following policies that are anti-European and anti-
American.
US Diplomats Take to Anatolia: Alarmed by rising anti-
American sentiment in Turkey, US diplomats in Ankara have
started touring Anatolia to meet with local administrators
and provincial party organizations, "Radikal" reports. US
Embassy Deputy Political Counselor James R. Sopp talked to
extremist nationalist `Nationalist Action Party' (MHP)
leaders about the `indispensibility' of US-Turkey relations
and the lack of justification for anti-American feelings in
Turkey. MHP leaders said that anti-Americanism prevailed in
Turkey because of the improper policies of the AKP
government which, they claimed, had been brought to power
through the backing of the United States.
US Troops, Peshmerge Raid Turkmen Houses: "Zaman" reports
from Kirkuk that US troops, accompanied by Kurdish
peshmerge, raided 10 houses belonging to Turkmen in
`Tuzhurmatu' near Kirkuk early Monday. A number of Turkmen
were reportedly detained for suspected ties with terrorist
groups. Peshmerge reportedly looted the Turkmen houses and
took gold and silver from Turkmen families. Iraqi Turkmen
Front (ITF) member Fevzi Ekrem Terzi said the situation in
the city remains tense.
PM Erdogan to Visit Israel, Palestine: "Zaman" reports that
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will visit Palestine May 1
before proceeding to Israel on a three-day official visit.
Erdogan's call in Tel Aviv will help to normalize ties with
Israel, the paper reports.
Israel Asks for Turkish Support on Development Programs:
Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Pinhas Avivi told "Sabah" that
deputy PM Shimon Peres asked PM Erdogan at a meeting in
Spain for Turkey's support for some development programs
involving Israel, Palestine and Turkey. Avivi noted that
Israel and Palestine need a third party to assist them in
the implementation of confidence building measures.
Lawmaker Tells His Impressions After US Visit: AKP Deputy
Group Chairman Faruk Celik told reporters about his
impressions of the US following meetings with Rumsfeld,
Wolfowitz, Grossman and US Congressmen in the United States.
Celik was part of a visiting delegation from the Turkish
Parliamentary Committee for Democracy. Celik reportedly
told the Americans that anti-American sentiment in Turkey
would end if the US takes measures against the PKK, helps to
end the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots, and
takes forward steps on the Armenian issue in line with
Turkey's requests, "Yeni Safak" reports. Wolfowitz
reportedly told the Turks that the US would handle the PKK
issue according to the level of stability achieved in Iraq
following the January 30 elections. Wolfowitz also noted
that the European Union has not given Turkey sufficient
support with regard to Cyprus.
Turkey-Iraq Relations: A delegation from the Supreme
Council of Islamic Revolution In Iraq (SCIRI), the
influential Iraqi Shiite group, will visit Ankara soon,
"Yeni Safak" reports. The paper also says that Ankara is
waiting for the formation of a cabinet in Iraq before
launching initiatives to open a consulate in Mosul and to
host the next meeting of Iraq's neighbors in Istanbul in
April.
ECHR Expected to Call for Retrial of Ocalan: Turkish papers
quote diplomatic sources as saying that the European Court
of Human Rights (ECHR) has accepted claims that jailed PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan was unfairly tried and will call for
his retrial. However, Turkish government officials,
including the Prime Minister, denied that Ocalan could ever
be retried at the court's request.
Professor Justin McCarthy in Turkey: Main opposition CHP
leader Deniz Baykal received historian Professor Justin
McCarthy from Louisville University to discuss Armenian
`genocide' claims. Professor McCarthy said that what
happened in 1915 between the Ottoman Turks and Armenians
should be defined as `war' rather than `genocide.'
Armenians killed more Turks than they lost in fighting with
Ottoman forces, McCarthy claimed. Baykal said the works of
Professor McCarthy, an expert on demography and the history
of migrations, would help in correcting a serious mistake.
McCarthy will give a series of conferences to ambassadors in
Ankara, the Turkish Parliament, and universities in Ankara
and Istanbul.
Interior Minister on Missionary Activities in Turkey:
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said Monday in response to
a motion by an opposition lawmaker that 338 Muslims have
converted to Christianity, and 6 to Judaism in Turkey in the
last seven years. Aksu noted that there are 72 Protestant,
6 Bah'ai, and 10 Jehovah's Witnesses prayer houses in
Turkey. Aksu said that the exact number of missionaries in
Turkey is not known.
EDITORIAL OPINION: Iraq; US-Turkish Relations
"The War Has Not Brought Peace Yet"
Sami Kohen commented in the mass appeal "Milliyet" (3/22):
"Although the declaration about the end of the Iraq war was
made three weeks after it began, in fact, after two years'
time the war still continues in different ways. Given the
circumstances, the Iraq war has not yet brought peace and
stability. . Time has shown that besides the official
reasons expressed by the Bush administration to initiate the
war, there were some other secret and selfish intentions
attached. Washington, under the influence of `hawks,'
sketched a new order for the region, including Iraq, and
designed it according to US interests. This apparently was
the major motive to attack Iraq. This plan was so important
for Bush that he defied warnings from friends and allies and
implemented it. . Today the result is not promising: At
least 100,000 Iraqis have died to date along with demolished
towns and the resurrection of religious and ethnic
conflicts. The US has lost 1,500 soldiers and experienced a
heavy fiscal burden. Moreover, Washington has lost the
support and trust of its allies as well as Iraqis. Under
current circumstances the only way out is to speed up the
Iraqi rebuilding process and terminate the occupation as
quickly as possible. The second anniversary of the Iraq war
brings to mind a question: Is the Bush administration going
to take lessons from what has happened so far and act
realistically?"
"Edelman, Syria and Other Issues"
Yalim Eralp, a retired diplomat, wrote in the conservative-
sensational "DB Tercuman" (3/22): "Ambassador Edelman is
about to leave Ankara. For some reason, Ankara has not yet
learned the importance of working with US ambassadors who
are influential in Washington. I wonder what we are going
to do if Edelman now gets appointed to an important position
in Washington. . Despite contrary claims by Turkish
officials, this phase of Turkish-American relations is not
heading in the right direction, and is getting worse.
American officials, on the other hand, are making statements
to indicate that `things are not right' but somehow Turkish
officials tend not to read them properly. Turkey cannot
benefit from having a fight with the US. Turkey is also
presenting an image of alienating itself from the EU, which
eventually will leave us `twisting in the wind' as far as
foreign policy is concerned. . The Turkish president is
preparing for an official visit to Damascus. What happens
if the UN Investigation Commission charges Syria or the
Syrian intelligence services with the assassination of
Hariri? If Turkey really wants to be a regional power, it
should act properly; for instance, Turkey should cooperate
with the US and EU on how to achieve reforms in Syria."
"The Feelings Are Mutual in the US and in the AKP"
Murat Yetkin commented in the liberal-intellectual "Radikal"
(3/22): "Ankara was disturbed by US Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld's comments at an interview with FOX
television the other day. Rumsfeld stressed that by
blocking the transfer of US troops into Iraq from the north
two years ago, Turkey paved the way for insurgency there to
flourish. While the foreign ministers of both countries
have been trying to ease tensions with their statements,
Turkish government circles were surprised to hear the
Defense Secretary's comments. As a matter of fact,
Rumsfeld's comments could be considered as a reflection of
Washington's opinion about the AKP government and
Washington's characterization of March 1, 2003, as the start
date for weakening bilateral relations. This reaction was
clearly expressed in the US Senate. The theme of a
presentation to the Senate on March 8 in the Senate Foreign
Relations Commission's Europe sub-commission hearing was
`Democracy's Future in the Black Sea Region'. The presenter
was Bruce P. Jackson, and the expressions he used about
Turkey and especially about the AKP, were rather hard to
digest. The name of Jackson should not be underestimated.
Bruce Jackson worked at the Pentagon as a nuclear weapons
and arms control expert after 11 years with the US military
as an intelligence officer. This means that he is very
close to Rumsfeld, Cheney and Wolfowitz. Some of the
expressions used in his presentation were rather
exaggerated, but this presentation proves that this group,
which determines the ideological and political basis of the
US administration, has started to hit the AKP now to hurt."
EDELMAN