TIP IN TURKEY: REACTIONS TO NEW YORK TIMES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004117

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP ALSO FOR INL, DRL EUR/PGI AND EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2015
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: REACTIONS TO NEW YORK TIMES
ARTICLE ON TURKEY'S SEX TRADE


(U) Classified by Polcounselor John Kunstadter; reasons: 1.4
(b,d).


1. (U) SUMMARY. Craig Smith's June 27 New York Times
article on Slavic women working in Turkey's growing sex trade
has received mixed reaction in Turkey. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On June 28 Hurriyet columnist, Kanal D News Director
and news magazine host Fatih Altayli wrote that he had
reported on the prostitution scandal many times, but without
any results. He said that it used to be small scale, but in
recent years it has turned into a "slave trade." He asserted
that he is not pleased at Turkey's image as a country that
sells women and hinted of police collusion. In a column
dated July 2, he recounted a telephone conversation with a
reader who said that prostitution could be used as a
promotion element for Istanbul, much like the Red Light
District in Amsterdam. Altayli asked his readers if they
agreed.


3. (U) The daily Sabah published a series of reports on June
30, July 1 and 2. Zulfikar Ali Aydin recounted his
experience in the Istanbul area called Aksaray (the center of
Istanbul prostitution),posing as a customer in one of the
bars. Both MFA and IOM were interviewed and provided
information on the 157 Helpline for trafficked women. The
newspaper also published stories of two trafficked women.
Ergun Babahan, columnist at Sabah, asked if Turkey's
conscience was clear and called for a "full-fledged war on
this crime against humanity."


4. (U) The Russian singing group Spilki recorded a song
called "You are a Natasha" (Note: Prostitutes in Turkey are
called "Natashas") in response to the treatment they received
while in Turkey. Video clips and news reports were aired on
several news programs after the New York Times article. One
of the singers, Varya, in a televised interview, said that
she had been warned (about Turkey),but that she had not
expected "that much." She told papers that she was really
surprised to see that those in charge of security were
behaving "the same way" as she had been told.


5. (SBU) IOM Chief of Mission Marielle Sander-Lindstrom and
Strategic Consultant Allan Freedman claim that any coverage
is desirable. Craig Smith had called Freedman regarding an
article he was to write on the EU accession process and
Freedman suggested he write one on prostitution. Fatih
Altayli has not returned phone calls from IOM.


6. (C) Judge Aykut Kilic, Director General of the General
Directorate of International Law and Foreign Relations at the
Ministry of Justice, was more concerned with the implication
of police corruption. In response to the press, Judge Kilic
contacted the Istanbul Public Prosecutor asking what action
has been taken. He said he was assured that an investigation
is "underway" in Istanbul. When we asked him what Trabzon
and Antalya were doing, he shook his head. He said that the
Ministry of Interior had to take administrative action since
there was an allegation of corruption.


7. (SBU) MFA 2nd Secretary Ozlem Kural asserted to us that
Fatih Altayli had wrong information and that her department
planned to send a letter to him outlining efforts the GOT has
made. (Note: No copy has come to us, meaning that MFA
probably has not sent one.) She lamented that the MFA has
held many press conferences on the issue, but that no one has
listened so far. Most people, she said, think that the
matter is only for the Ministry of Interior. She was pleased
that the 157 Helpline has gotten good coverage.


8. (SBU) Human Resource Development Foundation Chairman
Turgut Tokus claimed that the press coverage has not been a
good thing. The "problem" is not one exclusive to Turkey and
has been exaggerated. He stated that media support is
definitely needed to raise public awareness, but that this
surge of Turkish press coverage has been for ratings only.
MCELDOWNEY