Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006498

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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
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2006

In Today's Papers

Pope Benedict XVI's Upcoming Visit to Turkey
Yeni Safak, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others: Turkey
plans tight security measures for the Pope for his upcoming visit to
Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Ali Bardakoglu, head of the directorate
for Religious Affairs, said that the Pope should "acknowledge the
peaceful nature of Islam" during his visit to Turkey, and should
stress that "religion is not the source of violence." Meanwhile,
the Felicity Party (SP) is organizing a "No to the Pope"
demonstration on Sunday in Istanbul. The Vatican yesterday
expressed great disappointment at an ultranationalist protest
against the Pope in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. Turkish Culture
Minister Atilla Koc also condemned the protest saying that he "could
not approve of a raid on a cultural center or a place of worship,
regardless the reason."

World Economic Forum (WEF)
All papers: Stressing the importance of connecting regions and
creating new opportunities in his opening speech at the WEF Turkey
Summit, PM Erdogan said "Turkey has come to be known in the
international community as the country of opportunities." He
stressed that the Forum would determine problems and would suggest
solutions in this framework. PM Erdogan noted that Turkey's EU
entry was crucial for the alliance of civilizations. A report
prepared by the WEF described Turkey as model of stability in the
region and that Turkey was playing active role in preventing
regional clashes and defusing tensions.

Journalists, Jurists Proposal to Amend Article 301
Sabah, Zaman and others: The Turkish Journalists Society and the
Turkish Penal Code (TPC) Association sent PM Erdogan a proposal
regarding amendment of Turkish Penal Code, article 301, the article
under which several prominent journalists and writers have been
prosecuted for "insulting Turkishness." According to the proposal,
the word "Turkishness" in the controversial article 301 of the TCK
should be replaced with the term "Turkish Nation" to underline
citizenship bonds.

President Sezer Remarks at the OIC
All papers: Speaking at the Standing Committee for Economic and
Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC COMCEC), President Sezer urged the international community to
end the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots. President Sezer
expressed Turkey's concerns over Iraq and noted that rather than a
referendum, Kirkuk's status should be determined through
compromise.

TV Highlights

NTV (6 a.m.)

- Turkish lawmakers attending Turkey-EU joint parliamentary
commission meetings in Brussels on November 27-28 have been given a
briefing by Intelligence Undersecretary Emre Taner. "We know the
hideouts of Fehriye Erdal and Dursun Karatas, but there is nothing
we can do to take them," Taner said.

- Two terrorists have been killed in operations in Sirnak since
November 19.

- The High Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) will hold a meeting
with producers of morning programs targeting women on November 28.
55 percent of complaints for infringing public morality lodged to
RTUK are related to morning programs for women.

- Greek Foreign Minister Bakoyannis says it would be unacceptable to
exclude Maras from the Finnish formula for settlement in Cyprus.

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- Tens of thousands of people have bid farewell to assassinated
Lebanese politician Gemayel in Beirut.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

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

WILSON

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