Cablegate: Turkish Media Reaction

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

In Today's Papers

'Security Summit' on Kurdish Democratic Initiative
Media outlets report Prime Minister Erdogan came together Thursday
with army chief General Ilker Basbug, force commanders and the
related cabinet ministers at a "security summit" in connection with
the government's Kurdish democratic initiative. Interior Minister
Besir Atalay briefed the meeting on the steps taken by the
government regarding the initiative. A statement released at the
end of the meeting said internal and external security measures and
anti-terror policies to be pursued in the new period were reviewed.
Islamist-oriented Zaman says the meeting focused on legal reforms
that will be raised in the parliament during the autumn session.

Armenian Opposition Asks for Referendum on Diplomatic Ties With
Turkey
Yeni Safak, Zaman, Vatan, Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, and others:
Islamist oriented Yeni Safak and main stream Sabah report that
Armenian opposition party The Heritage launched a campaign for
holding a referendum on the two protocols agreed on between Turkey
and Armenia for normalization of bilateral relations. Sabah also
reports that European Armenian Federation, which is considered as
Armenian Diaspora in Europe, was disturbed by recent normalization
initiative between Turkey and Armenia. Releasing a statement, the
federation said "Turkey is imposing pre-conditions which are
violating the basic principles of the international law." Islamist
oriented Zaman and mainstream Milliyet report that Baku, once again,
reminded Turkey to keep its promise regarding the border opening
with Armenia not to realize unless Armenian occupation ends in Upper
Karabakh.

Editorial Debate on Government's Armenia and Kurdish Initiatives

Mehmet Yilmaz wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "It was very wrong from
the beginning to attach bilateral relations with Armenia to the
relationship with a third country, i.e. Azerbaijan. All previous
governments continued this mistake just like the current one.
Turkey's opposition parties should feel responsible to offer a
solution instead of standing against the initiative by sticking on
the mistaken approach."

Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "There cannot be an
overnight settlement to the long standing Karabakh problem. However
it is possible and likely that after successful effort from the
Minsk Group, Armenian forces may be withdrawing from the seven areas
surrounding Karabakh. Any progress in the Turkish-Armenian ties
will be beneficial for Azerbaijan as well."

Okay Gonensin wrote in mainstream Vatan: "There is always an ongoing
phobia in Turkey. Regardless of any fundamental initiative, Kurdish
problem or relations with Armenian, some in Turkey always come up
with 'foreign powers are imposing their terms' phobia.
Unfortunately, this has been the case before and it is now too."

Ferai Tinc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "After the announcement of
the normalization process with Armenia, there is a growingly upset
voice coming from the Diaspora. This clearly indicates that the
initiative is a very right thing to do and government should not
hesitate to proceed."

Ali Bayramoglu wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "A successful
outcome of the Kurdish initiative requires Kurdish people's support,
and that's what the government's plan already has. The efforts from
some pro-Kurdish groups, such as DTP should not be disappointing or
discouraging. They are still under the influence of PKK's
imprisoned leader and stick with his thinking. However, Kurds in
Turkey are supportive of the approach and this is what Ankara has to
watch for."

Freedom for the Terrorists Coming Down the Mountains and 11 Years
Prison Sentence for Throwing Stones to Police (Vatan)

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Mainstreams Vatan, Sabah, Milliyet and Hurriyet report that two
people who threw stones to the police in Sirnak, Cizre on October 18
in order to protest Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to Diyarbakir,
were sentenced to 11 year in prison each. Vatan reminds TGS
statement of August 26 saying that 12 PKK terrorists were freed
during the month of July who were surrendered to security forces.

First Female Minister After 30 Years. (Sabah) Both Female and a
Terrorist in the Cabinet. (Milliyet)
Media emphasize Iran's parliament approved all but three of 21
nominees for the cabinet including the first female minister since
the 1979 revolution. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak, writes in
"Female Minister After 30 Years," that "the cabinet will have its
first female minister Vahid Dastjerdi overseeing health who defended
gender discrimination at hospitals and other health institutes."
Mainstream Milliyet carries the headline, "Both A Female and A
Terrorist in New Iranian Government" and notes, "While Dastjerdi
becomes the first female minister, Ahmad Vahidi, who is wanted by
Interpol on charges that he helped organize the bombing of a Jewish
center in Argentina, is approved as the defense minister."
Mainstream Hurriyet headlines, "Terrorism Suspect Minister," and
notes, "speaking to AFP after he was approved, Vahidi said that his
assignment was a slap to Israel."

Kaidanow Visits Ankara
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia,
Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, visited the Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA)
on Thursday. Kaidanow met with Deputy Undersecretaries Unal Cevikoz
and Haydar Berk. In "Bryza's Successor Discusses with MFA Armenia
and Cyprus," mass appeal Aksam says Ankara has asked Kaidanow to do
her best for the resolution of the Karabakh question. Kaidanow said
the US would continue encouraging the sides in Cyprus to see that
the peace process in the divided island will not be disrupted,
reports Aksam.

Water Summit: Turkey-Iraq-Syria
Vatan reports on the Sept. 3 water summit in Ankara with Syrian and
Iraqi delegations. Iraq and Syria are asking for more water from
rivers which are shared by three countries. In rejecting Iraqi
pleas for increased water supply, Turkish Environment Minister
Eroglu emphasized that the "Ataturk Dam in the southeast was emptied
in order to provide water for neighbors." The summit ended,
however, with a signed protocol for continued water supply.

TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn called on the AKP government
to take concrete steps in connection with the Kurdish democratic
initiative.

- On September 4-5, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will join a
meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Stockholm.

- On September 7, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will go to
Georgia to press for the release of a Turkish captain who was
sentenced to 24-years in prison.

- President Abdullah Gul hosted Thursday night a fast breaking Iftar
dinner for the representatives of the Iraqi Turkmen groups at
Cankaya Presidential Palace.

- Energy Market Regulatory Board has approved a 10 percent increase
in electricity prices.

World

- Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki challenges Syria to explain
why it shelters armed groups which Iraq blames for staging bomb

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attacks in its territory.

- Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator says Tehran has
prepared an updated nuclear proposal and is ready to discuss it with
international powers.

- The early elections in Greece will be held on October 4, outgoing
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said.

- Iran's parliament has approved the first woman minister in the
30-year history of the Islamic republic.

- Hundreds of mourners have attended a ceremony in memory of the 334
people who died in a Chechen raid on a school in Beslan five years
ago.

JEFFREY

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