Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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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 19, 2006

In Today's Papers

Turkish Parliament to Discuss EU Reforms
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others: The Turkish Parliament is to hold an extraordinary
meeting Tuesday to discuss EU harmonization reforms. Article 301
will not be raised at the assembly meeting although the EU had
earlier asked in a letter to Foreign Minister Gul to amend or
abolish the controversial provision, which is seen as a new tool for
punishing free speech. Radikal emphasizes that the penalty given to
Armenian editor Hrant Dink for violating Article 301 by "insulting
Turkishness" did not make the AKP government move. EU officials
have earlier warned that the upcoming EU Turkey progress report
would contain strong warnings with regard to free speech.

Meanwhile, Turkey's elite business group TUSIAD warned in a report
to the government, bureaucrats and lawmakers that a failure to
change Article 301 would negatively affect Turkey's ties with the
EU, adding that the EU was closely watching the prosecution of
Turkish intellectuals under Article 301. Renowned author Elif Safak
goes on trial on September 21 for "insulting Turkishness" in her new
novel, just a few days before the EU kicks off discussing the Turkey
progress report, TUSIAD stressed.

Baghdad Bans PKK Activities in Iraq
Milliyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman and others report the
Iraqi Government has decided to close the PKK offices in Iraq,
banning all of its activities. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's
Office said in a statement many countries consider the PKK a
terrorist organization, and that the Iraqi Constitution does not
allow terrorist organizations on Iraqi territory. Vatan says that
"concrete steps" were taken after the US Special Envoy for
Countering the PKK, Joseph Ralston, conveyed Turkey's uneasiness to
the regional Kurdistan government president Barzani and al-Maliki
during a visit to Iraq over the weekend.

Gul Meets the Press in New York
All papers: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said at a breakfast
meeting with press in New York that Turkey has excellent relations
with Israel and Palestine. "Israel's security will be established
once the Palestinian problem is resolved," noted Gul, offering a
two-state formula to that end. Gul said the issue of Iran's nuclear
program should be resolved through diplomacy. Gul maintained
regarding Iraq "the Iraqi people will hold the coalition powers
responsible if their country disintegrates; in this framework, the
United States supports the territorial integrity and political unity
of Iraq." Responding to a question concerning the lawsuits filed
against Turks commenting on Armenian matters, Gul stated that the
Turkish government has broken many taboos, and the issue was freely
discussed in the country. "The legal process with regard to Article
301of the Turkish Penal Code has not been completed yet. We are for
the expression of all ideas as long as they do not support
violence," said Gul. Gul also stressed that Turkey's membership
talks with the European Union would take a long time. "At the end of
negotiations, Turkey will be a very different country, which, by
then, might not want to join the EU," Gul noted.

Erdogan Addresses Turkic States Congress
All papers report Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkic
states cannot afford to remain as passive observers to global
change, urging them to grab opportunities. Addressing the 10th
Turkic States Brotherhood and Cooperation Congress in the
Mediterranean city of Antalya yesterday, Erdogan called for a new
organization to represent the world's Turkish-speaking states,
citing the British Commonwealth as an example. Erdogan expressed
Turkey's support to Turkish Cyprus as well as Crimean, Meskhetian,
Iraqi and Gagauz Turks. Trade between Turkey and Turkic republics
is increasing, Erdogan said, adding the "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline was open, Baku-Tbilisi- Erzurum natural gas pipeline will

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be open soon, and a project on Kars-Ahilkelek-Tbilisi-Baku railway
will kick off next year." Erdogan also suggested the establishment
of a "Turkish Speaking States Community."

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told the gathering that his
country would not allow an Armenia to be established on Azerbaijani
territory. He said Armenians also demand land from Turkey. Aliyev
also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

Al-Kadi Court Case
Sabah, Cumhuriyet and others: The withdrawal of appeal initiated
by the Prime Ministry in the controversial court case for Saudi
businessman Al-Kadi may not be accepted by the Danistay, according
to Danistay sources. So far, the MFA, which had filed for an appeal
at the same time with the Prime Ministry, did not ask to withdraw
their request. Earlier, the Danistay had struck down a decision by
the government freezing Al-Kadi's assets and recognizing him as a
sponsor of terror. The Prime Ministry's Legal Affairs Office then
submitted an appeal of the decision without the Prime Minister's
knowledge. On Friday when the PM learned about the appeal, he
ordered it withdrawn and fired the Legal Office Director.

Editorial Commentary on PM Erdogan's Upcoming Visit to the US
Fehmi Koru, an influential columnist close to the ruling AK Party,
writing from Washington in the mass appeal Yeni Safak sees a motive
behind the recent goodwill gestures from Washington to Ankara: "The
US has been making some favorable gestures to Turkey and they have
all coincided on the eve of PM Erdogan's visit. Most significant
was the visit of General Ralston to Ankara to discuss the fight
against the PKK. With this visit Washington was giving a message
that it respects Turkey's top priority issue. In addition, the
White House announcement of Erdogan's visit mentioned the PKK issue
-- another gesture of the US administration. The US has so far not
been willing to discuss the PKK issue at the White House level.
There is a reason for all of this: President Bush wants to be closer
to Turkey especially as part of his expanded strategy in the fight
against terror. He is planning new tactics against Iran and in the
eyes of Washington, Turkey must be on the same side as the US. As
part of the plan, it is hoped that Turkey will be a part of an
anti-Iran frontline. Therefore Erdogan's visit to Washington is
becoming a highly risky thing for Turkey. In the midst of such
tough issues it will be a challenge to leave the White House in a
win-win situation."

Asli Aydintasbas, in the mass appeal Sabah, comments on the
speculation that Erdogan's ambition to become President is one of
his motivations for the trip: "PM Erdogan's upcoming visit to
Washington has brought up the speculations that he will try to get a
'US visa' for his goal to become a president in the next term.
Defenders of this argument believe that Erdogan will use every
positive image during his meeting at the White House in order to
demonstrate his leadership qualities as part of a domestic political
campaign. In fact this argument is not meaningful because a visit
to the White House always presents a warm and cordial image
regardless of the visitor. Besides there is no single voice in
Washington circles regarding Erdogan's goal for presidency. Some
believe that his being president might lead to more tension in
Turkey. Some others, including Rice are said to think that the
presidency issue has nothing to do with the US, and it is an
internal matter for Turkey. The fact of the matter is that in the
end, the presidency issue will be discussed and decided by the
parliament of Turkey."

Rich-Poor Gap Growing in Turkey
Radikal reports on its front page that official data exposed a
yawning gap between the richest and poorest in Turkey. The richest
spend 17 times more than their poorest compatriots on education, 11
times more on health, and 11.3 times more on culture and
entertainment. The richest 20 percent of Turks account for 40.8
percent on health and 57.1 on education spending while the poorest

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20 percent spend 9.2 and 3.2 respectively, according to the 2005
Household Spending Survey commissioned by Turkey Statistics
Institution.

TV Highlights
NTV (8 A.M.)

Domestic News

- Turkey will send a delegation to New York next week to discuss the
details of the Turkish peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

- Opposition parties UBP and DP have decided to veto parliamentary
meetings in Turkish Cyprus in reaction to the political crisis
sparked by the collapse of the CTP-DP coalition government,
allegedly through intervention by Turkey's ruling AK Party.

- UN Development Program (UNDP) head Kemal Dervis said Turkey had
pursued the right borrowing policies and managed to improve its debt
structure, adding Turkey still had to take measures to reduce the
current deficit.

- World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia,
Shigeo Katsu, said Turkey's strong economy had given a fast response
to market turmoil.

International News

- TIME magazine claims the United States might be preparing for war
against Iran.

- European Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger criticized
"disproportionate reactions" to Pope Benedict XVI's controversial
remarks on Islam as anger and protests in the Muslim world continue.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

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

WILSON

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