9/11 EVENTS IN ANKARA, ISTANBUL GENERATE POSITIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005305

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PPD, PA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PTER TU
SUBJECT: 9/11 EVENTS IN ANKARA, ISTANBUL GENERATE POSITIVE
PRESS PLAY

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CHARGE, CG LEAD 9/11 COMMEMORATIONS
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1. Commemorations organized by Embassy Ankara and Congen
Istanbul to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks
generated unusually widespread and positive coverage in the
Turkish media today. Embassy Ankara organized a ceremony
and wreath-laying at a monument to Turkish martyrs in the
nearby municipality of Kecioren. Turkish participants
included local military commanders, the mayor of Kecioren,
and representatives of Turkish martyrs' organizations. The
Charge's comments highlighting the US and Turkey's common
struggle against terrorism and emphasizing Turkey's
suffering from PKK violence resulted in numerous front-page
stories and prominent television coverage. Headlines noted
especially the Charge's remark equating Usama bin-Ladin with
imprisoned PKK terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan, and her
reiteration of US determination to cooperate with Turkey
against the PKK. In Istanbul, the Consul General and PAO
laid wreaths at the four sites of the al-Qaida bombings in
Istanbul in November 2003. Comprehensive coverage of the
ceremonies and the CG's remarks appeared repeatedly on 24-
hour news channel NTV and in "Posta," Turkey's largest-
circulation daily. The paper highlighted the CG's
characterization of terrorism as a threat to free people
everywhere.

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"BIN-LADIN IS NO DIFFERENT FROM OCALAN"
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2. Coverage of the Ankara commemoration ceremony in the
influential Turkish daily "Milliyet" was typical of the
overall tone in the media:

"US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney made an
important gesture and delivered a critical message following
the visit of US generals to discuss the PKK presence in
northern Iraq. On the fourth anniversary of the September
11 attacks in the United States, McEldowney laid a wreath at
a monument to Turkish martyrs who have fallen in the
struggle against the PKK. Beginning her remarks in Turkish,
McEldowney said "today I want to speak to you from my heart,
because I am here today as a true friend of Turkey and the
Turkish people. September 11 was such a tragedy that it
still burns in our hearts. But on this painful day, we are
not thinking only of ourselves, because many others have
suffered as well, even more than we have." McEldowney then
placed Usama bin-Ladin, who has drowned the world in blood,
in the same category as the terrorist leader Abdullah
Ocalan.

Noting that Turkey has suffered for decades at the hands of
"this murderous gang," McEldowney stressed that "Turkey has
paid a terrible price in blood and lives to protect the
republic that it holds dear." She added that "the Turkish
people have borne an extraordinary burden in this regard."
The US diplomat continued: "I stand together with your
nation, which has felt the pain of the martyrs. There can
be no double standard and no distinction in our words or our
actions. Whether the bomb goes off in New York or Istanbul,
whether it is Zarkawi or Murat Karayilan, by standing
together at this monument today we send a clear message.
Americans stand together with their Turkish brothers in
condemning the PKK and its terrorist violence just as we
condemn al-Qaida.""

The coverage in "Milliyet" and most other papers featured a
series of photos (including many on the front page) of the
Charge, accompanied by the head of ODC, with Turkish
civilian and military officials. Turkish TV news channels
NTV and CNN-Turk ran excerpts of the ceremony repeatedly
last night and this morning, and other popular commercial
stations featured the event prominently on last night's main
news programs.

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"CALL FOR A JOINT STRUGGLE AGAINST TERROR"
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3. Media coverage of the commemoration ceremonies organized
by ConGen Istanbul was also very positive. At the
Consulate's invitation, a television crew from NTV and the
foreign news editor from "Posta," Turkey's largest
circulation daily, accompanied the CG and the PAO to the
four locations of the 2003 bombings. NTV gave extensive
coverage to each wreath-laying and to the remarks by Consul
General Jones. A half-page article in "Posta" featured
photos of our commemorative delegation with British
diplomats who met the CG at the British consulate, and of
representatives of Istanbul's Jewish community at each of
the synagogues that was targeted in the attacks.


4. "Posta" excerpted heavily from the CG's remarks in a
detailed account of the wreath-laying ceremonies:

"When I asked the Consul General why she had decided to
remember the events of 9/11 in this way, and what message
she wished to send, she answered like this: "Terrorism
represents a threat to free people everywhere. It knows no
boundaries. The Turkish people understand better than most
the pain that results from terrorist attacks, the damage
that is done, and the destructive effects of terrorism on
society. Today, on the anniversary of September 11,
Americans remember the terrorist attacks that took place on
their soil. But September 11 doesn't belong only to
Americans. We must also remember all Turks who have been
victims of this extremist violence. Today we are laying
wreaths at the sites of the four horrible bombings that took
place in Istanbul in November 2003. No one should excuse
terrorism in the name of ideology. Our societies must stand
firm around our shared values of tolerance, respect, and
understanding, and all of us must stand together against
terror."

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COMMENT
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5. The Mission's 9/11 commemorations were an effort to
connect the al-Qaida attacks in the United States with
Turkey's own troubled history with terrorism, and to
reaffirm our determination to act jointly in the struggle
against both al-Qaida and the PKK. The message - no double
standard on terrorism - played well and extensively in the
Turkish media, and marked another step in Mission efforts to
assure the Turkish public that the US is firmly on Turkey's
side against the PKK.
End Comment.

MCELDOWNEY