Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007

In Today's Papers

Governor: Ankara Bombing Suicide Attack
All papers report Ankara Governor Kemal Onal told the press the
suicide attacker who killed six people and injured around 100 others
on Tuesday evening was Guven Akkus, a 28-year-old man who spent two
years in prison for activities in relation to his membership in an
illegal leftist organization, the Turkish Revolutionary Communist
Union (TIKB). Akkus became affiliated with the PKK in prison. He
spent eight years abroad and returned to Turkey to carry out the
bombing.

The suicide bombing in Ankara was originally planned to occur
simultaneously with another attack in Istanbul, say papers,
reporting the police detained a woman preparing for a suicide bomb
attack in a home in the Umraniye neighborhood. Seven other suspects
were also taken into custody. Adana Governor Ilhan Atis said a
woman who was detained Wednesday in the southern city of Adana had
planned to carry out a suicide attack. Atis said the woman, seized
while trying to escape in a car, had 11.3 kg of explosives, two hand
bombs and 12 detonators in her bag.

No group has claimed responsibility for the Ankara bombing so far.
Former Kurdish MPs Selim Sadak and Hatip Dicle, board members of
Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP, condemned the attack and called for
reason from everybody. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports Firat News
Agency, an internet news agency close to the PKK, posted a statement
by the Koma Komalen Kurdistan (KKK) chairmanship council that "they
have no relation with the explosion" in Ankara, adding the attack
would be used to justify a cross-border military incursion into
northern Iraq.

Editorial Commentary on the Ankara Bombing
Ruhat Mengi writes in the mainstream daily Vatan: "The US Embassy
statement after the terrorist bombing in Ankara expressed 'shock.'
The fact of the matter is that we have been in shock for quite
sometime and it is because of their biased attitude. It was the US
who sat aside and did not help to resolve the PKK problem when it
was really needed. And it was the US who gave support to Iraqi
Kurds and the PKK, which helped encourage the terrorist organization
even more. The EU is even worse than the US - giving support to
every PKK linked organization."

Fikret Bila says in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "Terrorism
continues to claim lives of innocent people and the outside support
for the PKK is documented, and Turkey gets suggestions for working
on dialogue and political solution. This is totally unacceptable.
Turkey is treated with an obvious double standard on issues of
terror and terrorism. The US uses time-gaining tactics regarding
terrorist attacks coming from northern Iraq, while the same US
sought international cooperation in the aftermath of the 9/11
attacks."

Dogan Tilic comments in the leftist, pro-Kurdish daily Birgun: "The
bombing in Ankara will give support to those in favor of a cross
border operation in Northern Iraq against the PKK presence there.
This act will also change the political rhetoric especially on the
eve of the general elections. Following such terrorist attacks
security becomes an extremely high priority, as fear gradually
surrounds the entire society. Demands for security supersede
demands for democracy. The 9/11 climate is a typical example of
that. The fact of the matter is that when democracy and freedoms
are sacrificed in the name of security, we will eventually be less
secure than ever before."

Erdogan: Parliament will Support Cross-border Action against
Northern Iraq
All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan said if there was a request
from the Turkish military for a cross-border operation into northern
Iraq, the parliament would support it. In televised remarks,

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Erdogan, in response to a question on whether an operation into
northern Iraq could be carried out "despite the US," said the US is
Turkey's political ally. "The US should take the necessary measures
against the presence of the terrorist organization in northern Iraq.
Turkey will decide on its own when the time comes," said the PM.

Turkish Special Iraqi Envoy to Visit Iraq This Weekend
Hurriyet, Milliyet: An MFA delegation led by Special Envoy
Ambassador Oguz Celikkol will leave for Iraq this the weekend. The
delegation is expected to give Iraq a strong verbal warning to bring
an end to the PKK presence in Northern Iraq. The delegation will
hold talks with Iraqi PM Maliki and FM Zebari. Mainstream Hurriyet
and Milliyet added that during the visit, Iraq will be asked to
fulfill the requirements of the April 10 diplomatic note that Turkey
had presented to Baghdad.

Erdogan on Elections, Constitutional Reform
All papers report that speaking at Turkish Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan
criticized the Constitutional Court ruling about the quorum number
for Presidential election, resulting in the failure to elect a
president, and said history would judge those who made the decision.
The PM also criticized President Sezer, saying the President has
been intentionally holding on to the law to amend the constitution
to allow the election of President in a popular vote. In an
interview with ATV yesterday, the PM stressed that Abdullah Gul will
be nominated as the AKP candidate for the Presidency if
constitutional reforms for the election enter into effect. The PM
added that he would not forget the unfair maneuvers during the
presidential elections which forced Gul to withdraw his candidacy.

TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.

Domestic News

- State Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey may fulfill its EU
requirements by 2011.

- Amnesty International report says freedom of expression was
suppressed "in a variety of ways" in Turkey.

- Turkey's TAV Airports Corp. signed a contract to operate Batumi
International Airport in Georgia for 20 years.

International News

- Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis said he was
"revolted by the ruthless terror attack in Turkey" and characterized
killing people while they went about their everyday lives as murder.

- On Wednesday, a suicide bomber killed 20 people and wounded 30
others in a crowded coffee house in the town of Mandali in northern
Iraq on the border with Iran.

- A prosecutor in the northern Greek city of Salonika has pressed
charges against unidentified persons who burned a Turkish flag
during a Greek-Armenian demonstration at the city's Turkish
consulate last month.

- Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh accused Iran for the
recent escalation in Gaza and the Kassam attacks.

WILSON

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