Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005248

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
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006

In Today's Papers

Kurdish Party Calls for PKK Ceasefire
All papers: Turkey's main Kurdish party, the Democratic Turkey
Party (DTP,) called on the outlawed PKK to unilaterally lay down
their arms. DTP leader Ahmet Turk said the party grassroots
demanded a ceasefire, adding he expected a positive response from
the PKK/Kongra-Gel. Papers comment that while earlier ceasefire
calls by the DTP were directed at both the Turkish army and the PKK,
this one was meant only for the PKK. Renowned Kurdish politician
Abdulmelik Firat, head of HAKPAR party, claimed that the DTP had
been acting under the instructions of the PKK leadership, drawing
speculation that the PKK was in trouble and was seeking a ceasefire.
Another Kurdish politician, Serafettin Elci, said a ceasefire would
not end the fighting as long as there are armed PKK militants in the
mountains.

Turkey Sends Letter to EU
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Zaman and others report Ankara
said in a letter seen as a response to the EU progress report on
Turkey that Greek Cypriots would not be allowed into Turkish ports
and airports unless the isolation of Turkish Cyprus is brought to an
end. The letter also says Turkey was the second country to
recognize the Armenian state; that bilateral trade between the two
countries amounts to USD 120 million; and there are some 40,000
Armenian nationals working in Turkey, adding that Armenia had not
responded to Turkish proposals to establish a joint commission of
historians to research genocide claims. It notes the rise in the
PKK terrorism in southeast Turkey aimed at undermining EU
harmonization reforms, and urges the EU to call on the PKK to lay
down arms. It said Turkey was looking for ways to reopen the Halki
Seminary within the framework of the Turkish Constitution. The
letter said controversial articles of the new anti-terror law,
including Article 301, did not violate free speech, adding that
there were similar provisions in European countries. Meanwhile,
visiting British Minister of State for Europe Geoff Hoon said in
Istanbul that the EU must cooperate with Turkey against the PKK
terrorist organization.

Anniversary of September 12 Military Takeover in Turkey
Turkish papers carry news and opinion pieces strongly critical of
the interruption of democracy in Turkey after the takeover by a
military junta in September 12, 1980 on the anniversary of the coup
today. Analysts said September 12 initiated a tradition of
"illegality" in Turkey, legitimizing the mandate and implementations
of the junta leaders. Several intellectuals reportedly called for
the generals who perpetrated the takeover to be tried. Academics
said coup leaders stripped their autonomy because they saw
universities as enemies. Cumhuriyet says September 12 imprisoned
and tortured thousands of workers, students, intellectuals, and
artists, bringing the fledgling Turkish democracy to a standstill.

US Donates Scholarship Funds to Commemorate 9/11
Sabah, Milliyet, Aksam, Bugun, Vatan and others: Today's papers
cover the donation ceremony held yesterday in the garden of the US
Embassy in Ankara. In commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the
September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, the US mission donated
$10,000 to the Association for Aid and Solidarity with the Families
of Martyrs from the Security Services (EMSAD). US Ambassador Ross
Wilson said at the ceremony that "Turkey and the US would not bow
before the terrorists and will continue to fight against the PKK
together." Papers also reported that US Principal Officer in Adana
Eric Green visited the Association for Solidarity with families of
martyrs in Adana. Green was welcomed by a veteran who had lost his
legs in operations in Northern Iraq in 1997. NTV and others report
that the veteran told Green that "if the US had acted in time
against the PKK, he would have been able to stand up and greet the
Consul."

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Zawahiri Declares UNIFIL the Enemy of Islam
Sabah, Radikal and others reported that the second-in-command of
Al-Qaeda Ayman-Al-Zawahiri, in a web site, threatened the US and
Israel, declared the UNIFIL the enemy of Islam and added that
whoever joins the UN forces will be damned. Radikal reports that
Zawahiri issued a call to the Iraqi Kurds as well to cease relations
with the US and Israel.

Bryza on Lebanon, the PKK
Zaman reports Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza told a panel
meeting in Istanbul that if Turkey wants to play a leadership role
in the Middle East, it should participate in the international force
for Lebanon. DAS Bryza also gave the message that the appointment
of US Special Envoy for Countering the PKK, Joseph Ralston,
indicated US determination to end the PKK threat against Turkey.

Editorial Commentary on the 9/11 Anniversary
Mustafa Balbay comments in the nationalist-leftist Cumhuriyet:
"Looking back on the twin towers attack after five years, it seems
that it served the American neo-cons' interests. With the
occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, the US today seems to be holding
the key to the door to the Middle East and Central Asia, and this is
a privilege it would not like to give up. There are only two
options offered by the US to the entire world in the aftermath of
9/11 events: either terrorism or war; either imperialism or
religious radicalism; either nuclear weapons or suicide bombers."

Cuneyt Ulsever observes in the mass appeal Hurriyet: "The 21st
century began on September 11, 2001, as did World War III. On the
very same day Turkey became a de facto part of this war. The
developments after the 9/11 events have redefined the world. There
are a lot of reasons behind this. One of them is the consumption of
oil in the US and the huge deficit between local production and
consumption."

TV Highlights
NTV (8 A.M.)

Domestic News

- On September 30, Prime Minister Erdogan will take part in a
think-tank gathering in New York before meeting with President Bush
in Washington on October 2. Erdogan will meet with British Prime
Minister Blair in London on October 3 before returning home the same
day.

- Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said the Turkish cabinet decided
in principle to appoint retired General Edip Baser as coordinator on
terrorism.

- Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said the government is
investigating the murder in the Ismail Aga Mosque in Istanbul,
warning against the exploitation of the investigation for political
ends. Opposition CHP is to submit a motion for a parliamentary
investigation into the murder of the retired imam in the mosque and
the subsequent lynching of the assailant.

- The Turkish parliament will convene extraordinarily September 19
to discuss EU harmonization reforms.

- A Turkish military plane crashed near Mount Kazdaglari in the
Canakkale province; the pilot parachuted to safety.

International News

- On Monday, thousands across the United States marked the fifth
anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks. Secretary Rice said the
world is safer now than it was before 9/11.

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- Palestinian President Abbas said al-Fatah and Hamas have agreed to
form a coalition government "within days." The government program
contains statements amounting to indirect recognition of Israel.

- Turkish Cyprus "Prime Minister" Ferdi Sabit Soyer has presented
his resignation to President Mehmet Ali Talat. Soyer's junior
coalition partner Serdar Denktas holds Ankara responsible for the
collapse of the government.

- NATO airstrikes have killed a further 200 suspected Taliban
fighters in the last two days, pushing the toll of militants killed
in a 10-day offensive past 500.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON

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