Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

VZCZCXRO1810
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #6631/01 3451533
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111533Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0262
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7645
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1776
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1419
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5612
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5334
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1993
RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU
RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU
RHMFIUU/39OS INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU
RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006631

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
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2006

In Today's Papers

Orhan Pamuk Receives Nobel Literature Prize in Stockholm
All papers report Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, the 2006 Nobel
laureate in literature, received the prestigious prize on Sunday
from the hands of King Gustaf XVI in a ceremony held in Stockholm.
The Swedish Academy permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said Pamuk
made his native Istanbul "indispensable literary territory," just as
Dostoyevsky did for St. Petersburg, Joyce for Dublin and Proust for
Paris. Most headlines say in chorus that it was "a day of pride"
for Turkey, underlining that Pamuk received the longest standing
ovation of all recipients. Several papers note that Pamuk declined
to participate in a BBC interview featuring the award winners
because he "did not want to talk politics." Papers say it's unclear
when Pamuk is to return to Turkey. Papers report Pamuk, afraid of
possible provocations, said he wants no welcoming ceremonies.

Talabani Urges Turkey for Amnesty for the PKK
A "behind the curtains" column in Turkey's leading daily Hurriyet
claims Ilnur Cevik, the owner of the English-language daily The New
Anatolian and businessman, has recently brought some messages from
the Iraqi President Talabani to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
Talabani told Turkey, according to Cevik, not to expect the Iraqi
Kurds to attack the PKK. "We have persuaded the PKK for a
ceasefire, but no thanks came from Turkey. We were surprised," said
Talabani. He called on Turkey to declare an amnesty for the PKK.
Talabani also directed a remark at Turkey, asking whether President
Sezer had invited Iraq's Prime Minister but not its President
because of the fact that Iraq's president is a Kurd. According to
Hurriyet, Ankara's "unofficial" response had been that "Talabani is
unaware of the facts. He can speak so recklessly just because the
US backs him. It is up to President Sezer's as to whom to invite."
Ankara also stresses, "We have taken note of the fact that even when
severely hostile against Turkey, Syria did not put the PKK leader on
television. Murat Karayilan, however, held a TV interview in Iraq."
Cevik, a figure close to the Iraqi Kurdish leaders Talabani and
Barzani, has business investments in northern Iraq worth some USD
150 million.

Cyprus Proposal Deepens Political Rifts in Ankara
All papers report that PM Erdogan came under strong pressure at home
and abroad, following his government's last minute Cyprus proposal
aimed at averting a crisis with the European Union. Turkey earlier
insisted that it will not open its ports to EU member Greek
Cypriots, despite the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU since
1996. Ankara said it would only do so if EU would keep its promises
to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish government's
unexpected proposal on Wednesday created uneasiness among President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the military and the opposition parties. Chief
of the Staff General Buyukanit complained to a prominent newspaper
on Thursday that he had heard about the controversial proposal from
television. President Sezer joined the fray on Saturday, saying in
a statement that he had not been directly or indirectly informed of
the proposal. PM Erdogan, in a speech in Afyon on Saturday said he
was not obliged to inform anyone about such a proposal which he
noted was verbal, and warned that these objections could destabilize
financial markets and harm the economy. The Turkish Foreign
Ministry, in a written statement on Sunday dismissed statements from
the General Staff and the Presidency, and said all relevant
institutions were informed beforehand about the proposal. The
Ministry also underlined that traditional close cooperation with
General Staff will continue.

Meanwhile, Saturday's Sabah reported that PM Erdogan held a
telephone conversation with President Bush on Friday and,
reportedly, President Bush renewed support for Turkey's EU bid.
Saturday's Hurriyet reported that FM Gul spoke to US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice over the phone and Secretary Rice stressed
that Turkey's Cyprus proposal is a very positive and constructive
step.

ANKARA 00006631 002 OF 003

Editorial Commentary on Iraq Study Group Report
Writing in the mass appeal Hurriyet, Ferai Tinc notes that the
summaries of the ISG report do not accurately reflect the report's
real recommendations: "The ISG report needs careful study. It has
more to say on Iraq than only sending a message to President Bush.
The report depicts the current picture of Iraq, which it calls 'very
bad,' but also sends messages to the Congress, Iraqi neighbors and
to the international community. Even though the highlights from
this report were limited to the US pull out and possible dialogue
with Syria and Iran, an in-depth reading gives more than this.
Contrary to the conclusions drawn after a surface reading about a US
withdrawal, in fact the ISG report advises a gradual growth in the
American presence in Iraq, including security training, intelligence
training and programs related to economic aid and development. The
report clearly suggests that an immediate withdrawal from Iraq will
be disastrous for the entire world and asks support from Iraqi
neighbors to change the already negative picture. Following the
release of this report, there have been commentaries about President
Bush remaining distant to the report. However, it should be telling
us something significant that Robert Gates whose name is among the
architects of the report, has been appointed to be the new Secretary
of Defense."

Omer Taspinar of the Brookings Institute comments in the
liberal-intellectual Radikal on the possibilities for US dialogue
with Iran and Syria: "The report puts primary advice on Iraq policy
into three groups, military, diplomatic and political. It is
however not clear whether the Bush administration will take the
advice seriously. Contrary to the President's rhetoric, everybody
believes that the White House is searching for an exit strategy in
Iraq. President Bush also standsclearly distant to the idea of
initiating diaogue with Iran and Syria. 'What are we going t
discuss?' is always coming up as an immediate question at the White
House whenever this issue is brought up. Washington is reluctant to
initiate a dialogue with Damascus and Tehran because of its feeling
of weakness in Iraq. The regional dynamics, starting with Iraq and
Lebanon, are moving against US and Israeli interests. Given the
current situation in the region, a dialogue with Iran and Syria will
only help them to sit at the table in a position of strength. In
sum, the Bush administration is at a serious impasse on Iran and
Syria. There will be more reports and advice on Iraq and there will
always be search for a magical formula. The fact of the matter is
that Washington has already started considering Iraq a second
Vietnam."

Turkey Opposes US Bases in Northern Iraq
Saturday's Cumhuriyet reports Turkey has told the US that the
establishment of US military bases in northern Iraq was
"unacceptable," warning the bases would spark serious problems. The
US has changed its plans, and the bases will be constructed in other
parts of Iraq. The Kurdish groups, afraid of possible Turkish
interference in northern Iraq, have been uneasy that the change in
US plans paves the way for an intervention by Turkey. Sources told
Cumhuriyet the US could not afford to ignore Turkish sensitivities
while using Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey.

Banking Watchdog Wary of Greek Interest in Turkish Banks
Milliyet reports Turkey's banking watchdog BDDK was alarmed by the
interest shown by Greek investors in Turkish banks. BDDK had given
the nod to the USD 2.3 billion sale of Finansbank to Greece's NBG
only because the amount of money to be injected into Turkey was
quite high. The BDDK members are reportedly debating whether a
restriction should be placed on foreign investments in the Turkish
banking sector. Milliyet says that the Greek EFG Eurobank had
acquired 70 percent share of Tekfenbank for USD 185 million in May.
In November, Greece's second largest bank Alpha Bank made a USD
435.5 million deal for a 50 percent stake of Abank. These sales
have not yet been approved by the BDDK.

ANKARA 00006631 003 OF 003

TV News:
(NTV, 7.00 A.M.)

Domestic News

- EU foreign ministers will gather to decide whether to partially
suspend membership negotiations with Turkey. EU General Affairs and
External Relations Council will discuss EU enlargement, in
particular, accession talks with Turkey and Croatia.

- The Turkish and US envoys for countering terrorism, Edip Baser and
Joseph Ralston will meet on Monday in Germany or Belgium.

- Prime Minister Erdogan phoned Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero and
Russian President Putin to discuss Turkey's EU entry process.

- The Turkish Parliament will discuss the 2007 budget on Friday.

- Eight people suspected to be trying to join the PKK terrorists in
the mountains have been captured in security operations in the
eastern province of Van.

International News

- General Augusto Pinochet, who seized power in 1973 in a military
coup against the Chilean President Salvador Allende, died at 91 in a
hospital from complications following a heart attack.

- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose Social
Democrats support Turkey's EU membership, argued in an interview
with the weekly Der Spiegel that "if Turkey were to turn away from
Europe, that would be a serious strategic loss for the EU."

- The Iraqi President Talabani said the US report calling for a new
approach to the Iraqi war contained dangerous recommendations that
would undermine his country's sovereignty.

- Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has told his cabinet that the Iraq
Study Group report released last week should be seen as an internal
American affair and ignored.

- US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, soon to leave office,
paid a surprise farewell visit to the US troops in Iraq.

- Palestinian President Abbas has threatened to call early elections
if deadlocked negotiations with Hamas over the formation of a
national unity government are not revived.

- The widow of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko blamed the Russian
authorities for her husband's poisoning.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

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

WILSON

© Scoop Media