Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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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, DECEMBER 15, 2005

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:

HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
--------------------------------------------- --
HEADLINES

MASS APPEAL
Rice: `Iran is a Serious Issue to be Solved' - Vatan
$400 Million Budget from Pentagon for the Pro-American
Journalists - Posta
US Tries to Correct its Image with Bribes - Aksam
The Number of CIA Agents will Increase in Turkey - Sabah
FM Gul Calls on Turkmen to Participate in Iraqi Elections -
Milliyet
Barzani: `A General Amnesty will Solve the PKK issue' -
Aksam
Imam-Hatip Graduates Given Access to Universities - Hurriyet
Government Clears the Obstacles from the Path of Imam-Hatip
Graduates - Milliyet
Gen. Buyukanit: `Turkish Military Gets Its Authority from
Ataturk' - Milliyet
Van University Rector Askin Trial Starts - Sabah
The Court Rejects the Release Request of Rector Yucel Askin
- Hurriyet
Tense Budget Discussions at the Parliament - Hurriyet
The most tense Day in the Parliament - Vatan
Moody's Upgrade Turkey's Credit Rating - Sabah

OPINION MAKERS
Bush Admits Intelligence on Iraq Wrong - Yeni Safak
Pentagon puts $400 Million on the Side for a Psychological
War - Zaman
The US Makes Preparations to Attack Iran - Cumhuriyet
General Buyukanit: "I did not Come to US to ask for
Approval' - Zaman
US Embassy Officials Question AKP on Alcohol Ban -
Cumhuriyet
Talabani Requests General Amnesty from Turkey for the PKK -
Yeni Safak
No Release for Rector Taskin - Radikal

BRIEFING

Government Opens the University Doors to Imam-Hatip
Students: All papers cover extensively the news about a
regulatory change that allows Imam-Hatip (Islamic schools)
graduates to enter any university they want by completing
the necessary courses in the correspondence ("open") high
school system. "Hurriyet" reports that the Higher Education
Board (YOK) announced that they will be applying to the
court for the regulation to be annulled.

Tense Budget Debates at the Parliament: During
parliamentary debates yesterday on next year's budget,
opposition parties harshly criticized the Government for its
domestic and foreign policies. "Sabah" says CHP leader
Deniz Baykal criticized the Prime Minister mainly for his
comments related to the Turkish national identity, saying
that `Turkey has no such problems'.

Rector Askin Trial: Today's papers give extensive coverage
to the trial of Van University Rector Prof. Yucel Askin for
irregularities in the university hospital. "Sabah" reports
that the previous judge who had objected to Askin's jail
sentence was replaced with a new judge. The trial lasted

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for six hours and the court rejected the prosecutors request
for Askin's release. The trial was postponed to December 29
due to the need to hear other defendants.

General Buyukanit Comments: Turkish Land Forces Commander
General Buyukanit described his visit to the US as extremely
positive. Buyukanit said that there were some news reports
claiming that he came to the US to get some form of
approval. He responded that the Turkish Military gets its
authorization only from Ataturk and from laws. He added
that this is only a routine visit and such visits are paid
to many countries.

Pentagon Bribes Media for Pro-American news: All papers
report on the Pentagon information program first reported on
by "USA Today." Several papers claim that the US has
allocated $400 million to be paid to pro-American
journalists for their articles. "Zaman" says that this
money is to be used as a psychological warfare tactic by the
US.

The US Prepares to Strike Iran: "Cumhuriyet" reports on its
front page that US is stocking fuel oil for jets brought to
Iskenderun airport in October and November. The paper
claims that the US is getting ready to strike Iran.

Barzani and Talabani Remarks: In remarks attributed to
Barzani in "Aksam" and Talabani in "Yeni Safak," Iraqi
officials requested a general amnesty from Turkey for the
PKK militants in the mountains. Barzani reportedly said
that this is the only solution for the PKK issue.
EDITORIAL OPINION: IRAQ ELECTIONS

"Democracy vs. Anti-Democracy"
Hasan Cemal observed in the mainstream "Milliyet" (12/15):
"The main issue in the Iraq elections is the battle between
those who are for democracy and those who are against it.
This time Sunni participation is even more important than
before because it directly links to the legitimacy of the
elections and Iraq's stability. There is also some
speculation and concern regarding the possibility of an
emergence of an Islamic dictatorship in Iraq right after the
demise of the Saddam Hussein dictatorship. In any case,
this is a very important day for Iraq. Elections can either
pave the way for stability and democracy or cause chaos and
division. Let's hope for the first possibility as this also
has important consequences for Turkey."

"The Iraqi Election Also Draws Turkey's Destiny"
Cuneyt Ulsever commented in the mass appeal "Hurriyet"
(12/15): "There are two facts which cannot be changed: the
US has clearly failed to bring peace and order to Iraq; and
tmore effort is made every day in the US to bring the Iraq
war to an end. The US is aware of the fact that it will have
to pull out from Iraq gradually. However a US withdrawal
without any back up is going to create nothing but chaos in
Iraq. In the meantime, the US has some other business on
the agenda, like Syria and Iran. At this point, there is no
way for the US to achieve a UN mandate for their future
efforts. Therefore the US is trying to build bilateral or
regional support. Turkey is on the top of this list, and
that gives Turkey a valuable card to play."

"Iraq is a Turning Point Not Only for the Mideast, But also
for Turkey and the US"
Cengiz Candar wrote in the tabloid "Bugun" (12/15): "The
election in Iraq is the most important event of 2005 in
world politics. Currently Iraq is at the center of world
politics and events there directly or indirectly concern

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every country on the globe. The result of the elections
will shape the future destiny of the Middle East with both
regional and global impact. The election is, of course,
very important for Turkey as well. Given the current
situation in Iraq, unity can still emerge after the
elections. This possibility, despite all the setbacks, is
becoming stronger than the possibility of a divided Iraq."

WILSON

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