Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=04/03/03

TYPE=WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP

TITLE=COLIN POWELL'S TRIP

NUMBER=6-12894

BYLINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

TELEPHONE=619-3335

CONTENT=

INTRO: Secretary of State Colin Powell is on a whirlwind tour of Turkey and Europe to shore up relations with Ankara, and try to enlist the aid of European nations in Iraq's rebuilding. Both results as well as media reaction to the trip, are mixed.

Turkey has agreed to overflights of food, fuel and other supply shipments, as well as med-evac flights, but not troops or weapons.

In Brussels Thursday, the Europeans were dismayed to learn from Mr. Powell that Washington still intends that it and Britain play the lead role in Iraq's rehabilitation. We get a sampling of media reaction now from V-O-A's _________________ in this week's World Opinion Roundup.

TEXT: This rapidly planned "fence mending" trip to Ankara and on to Brussels is a move to repair alliances that have worn thin during the current war with Iraq. As a big surprise, Turkey refused U-S requests to station troops there or allow military overflights, and the Europeans desperately want the United Nations to play the major role in Iraq's rebuilding.

Now the Turks are allowing supply and med-evac flights, but the Europeans are still not happy with Washington's position that it and the British will take the lead role in post-war Iraq. We begin our editorial sampling with London's Guardian, which is upset at Washington, but pleased with an emerging independence within the British government.

VOICE: In an interview [British Foreign Secretary Jack] Straw went out of his way to say that Iraq must be governed by Iraqis . Quite right. . But tell that to Donald Rumsfeld and his rightwing allies, who seem to have the upper hand over the Washington doves, including Mr. Powell. When [Secretary] Powell speaks today [in Brussels] he will speak as a beaten man.

TEXT: Taking a somewhat more positive view of the trip, The [London] Times exclaims:

VOICE: . Secretary . Powell will begin building bridges in Brussels today. . Foreign Secretary jack Straw has also been seeking to keep Britain's diplomatic relationships in good repair . but there are strong reasons for Mr. Straw to treat the conventional wisdom of his department with care. the most important diplomatic relationship that Britain has is with America.

TEXT: Across the channel, the Paris daily Liberation notes that:

VOICE: As Secretary Powell arrived in Brussels, it can be hoped that the U-N can serve as President Bush's lifeline, even if a new diplomatic battle will be required. This war was a mistake. But.If after the fall of Saddam the U-S can hand over the situation to the U-N some legality will have been recovered.

TEXT: A lukewarm response to the first portion of the Powell visit comes from Germany's financial capital and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

VOICE: Secretary Powell's latest visit to Ankara has not resulted in reconciliation, but both sides are obviously trying to reduce their contradictions. A 'cooperation committee' made up of Americans, Turks, and Kurds is to prevent a looming Turkish invasion of northern Iraq.

TEXT: For the view from Italy, we turn to Milan's La Stampa, which suggests:

VOICE: . at least in Ankara, the mission has produced the first results. The new Turkish government, in face, has accepted [allowing] supplies for U-S troops, parachuted in northern Iraq, except for weapons, [to] transit . its territory, and it has almost promised not to cross the border with its soldiers in order to control the Kurds.

TEXT: As for Russia, Moscow's business-oriented Kommersant suggests that the real significance of the trip is:

VOICE: Obviously, Washington is beginning to see a need to build political bridges in Europe.

TEXT: Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza from Warsaw suggests:

VOICE: The Europeans . must recognize that it is in the common interest to win peace in Iraq for the good of the Iraqis, the Middle East, Europe, and America. Yet Americans must first win the war - - with as little blood as possible.

TEXT: Lastly, in Turkey, the smaller daily Radikal proposes:

VOICE: It seems . Washington has realized that punishing Turkey - - something the hawks have been insisting on - - because of the . parliamentary motion [denying the use of Turkish territory for a northern front in the war] . is not a wise move regarding the future of Turkish-American . relations. Secretary Powell emphasized this by calling Turkey the 'best model' for the future of Iraq and the only Muslim democracy.

TEXT: On that comment from Turkey's Radikal, we conclude this sampling of editorial reaction to Secretary of State Colin Powell's current trip.

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