Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA6750
2005-11-15 16:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO7760 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #6750/01 3191633 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 151633Z NOV 05 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1223 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 6680 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 9033 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 9967 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 4927 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 4626 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1233 RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU RHMFIUU/CDRUSAE IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39OSS 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 04 ANKARA 006750
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, NOVEMBER 14, 2005
THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
-------------- --
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Talabani: Coalition May Pull Out of Iraq in 2006 - Sabah
Pakistani Delegation Goes to Israel - Hurriyet
King Abdullah Calls for `Jihad' against Terror - Sabah
Jordanians Denounce Zarkawi - Hurriyet 11/12
Paris Riots Spread to Athens - Aksam
3,000 Policemen Besiege Paris - Sabah
Rice Celebrates Birthday in Riyadh - Star
Queen Elisabeth is al-Qaida's New Target - Aksam
Clinton Attends Rabin Remembrance in Tel Aviv - Aksam
Secret CIA Torture Center in Morocco - Sabah
SIPDIS
Taliban Enters Afghan Parliament - Milliyet
Pakistan Earthquake Victims Abducted for `Jihad' - Sabah
Sirleaf the First Woman President in Africa - Hurriyet 11/12
OPINION MAKERS
Talabani: Sudden Iraqi Withdrawal Will Bring Disaster -
Cumhuriyet
Al-Qaida: Queen Elizabeth an Enemy of Islam - Radikal
US Praises AKP - Radikal 11/11
US Rejects Military Operation in northern Iraq - Zaman
US Warns against Cross-Border Operation in Iraq - Yeni Safak
11/11
Bloody Operation in Baghdad: 33 Killed - Yeni Safak 11/11
Woman Suicide Bomber Captured in Baghdad - Cumhuriyet
Support for Bush Declines - Yeni Safak 11/11
Zarkawi Claims Amman Hotel Bombings - Zaman
Peaceful Rallies Continue in Baku - Zaman
Palestinians Demand UN Investigation into Arafat Death -
Zaman
Annan Visits Iraq - Radikal
Lawyers Quit Saddam's Defense Team - Zaman
BRIEFING
Flory Visits Ankara: New measures against the PKK were
discussed at the High-Level Defense Group (HLDG) meeting
between Turkey and the United States last week, Saturday
papers report. The head of the US delegation, US Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy Peter
SIPDIS
Flory, said that the real solution that Turkey is looking
for `will take some time.' Flory pointed to the Iraqi
Government as the main address for the PKK problem. `We are
working against terrorism in Iraq on many fronts, including
the struggle against the PKK. The Iraqi Government is
responsible for dealing with this problem. The PKK problem
is part of a more comprehensive project. Our goal is to
maintain Iraq's unitary structure. The Turkish Government
well understands our position. It will, however, take some
time to bring about a real solution,' Flory said. Flory
said that although the Iraq-Turkey border is an issue for
those two countries, the US `does not believe that a cross-
border operation by Turkey would contribute to Iraq's
stability, nor would it solve the PKK problem over the long
run. It wouldn't be a good thing,' Flory concluded.
Wilson Hearing at US Senate: President Bush's nominee as US
Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, told a hearing at the
ANKARA 00006750 002 OF 004
Senate Foreign Relations Committee that his most important
task will be `avoiding the creation of unnecessary problems
between the United States and Turkey,' "Zaman" reported on
Monday. `Turkey's contribution to the success of Iraq will
be more important in 2006 and beyond, and if my appointment
is approved, this issue will be my key focus. PKK terrorism
poses a threat to Turkey and Iraq. Turkey needs to join the
international community in overcoming the problems posed by
Iran and Syria and the threat they represent to global peace
and security,' Wilson said. Responding to a question on the
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, Wilson said that
the US recognizes the ecumenical status of the Patriarchate,
and that the US will continue to advocate for the reopening
of Halki Seminary.
Semdinli Bombing: A Turkish court charged a military
sergeant and a former PKK militant with involvement in last
week's bombing of a bookstore in the southeastern city of
Semdinli, papers reported on Sunday. The ruling AK Party
government, acting on suspicion that security forces may
have acted outside the law and played a roled in the
bombing, pledged a full probe into the incident in which one
persone was killed. Dailies say that the bombing recalled
the `Susurluk' scandal in 1996, which erupted after a car
carrying a senior policeman, a wanted gang leader, and a
parliamentarian crashed in western Turkey. The ensuing
probes revealed shady links between politicians, police,
military officials, and criminal gangs. Officials said a
local court in Semdinli had charged a civilian and a
sergeant on Saturday, but released two other jandarma
officials who had been detained after the incident. The
civilian was charged with carrying out the bombing. He was
identified by the media as a former member of the outlawed
PKK who had benefited from a repentance law. Newspapers
said that police had found three Kalashnikov rifles, two
grenades, a detailed map of the province, and a map
pinpointing the bombed bookstore in the car of the arrested
men. Kurdish protesters lobbed rocks at th police and
chanted slogans in support of the PKK in the aftermath of
the bombing. Police fired into the air and sprayed tear gas
to dsperse the crowd. Main opposition CHP Hakkari awmaker
Esat Canan accused security forces for responsibility in the
blasts and the subsequent incidents in Semdinli. Two
Turkish-made bombs were found in the car used by the
bombers. The car belongs to the jandarma. The name of the
shopping arcade and the owner of the store were also found
in the car. The owner of the store was a PKK member who had
previously served 15 years in prison. A delegation from the
ruling AK Party is carrying out an investigation into the
bombing and said it will submit a motion on November 15 for
a parliamentary inquiry into the incident. On Sunday,
security forces detained 24 in the eastern city of Van
during an illegal rally held to protest against the Semdinli
incidents.
PKK Terrorists Surrender in Silopi: Four terrorists who
escaped from the separatist PKK organization surrendered to
security forces in Silopi in Turkey's southeastern province
of Sirnak, Sunday papers reported. Another terrorist was
captured in the southern city of Adana. The four terrorists
in Silopi said that the oppression and inhuman treatment
within the organization have reached unprecedented levels.
During their initial interrogation, the terrorists confessed
that there are many others in the organization who are
`biding their time' and looking to escape.
Gul on EU Turkey Reports: Turkey pledged on Thursday to
tackle shortcomings in its political and legal reforms after
the European Commission said its reform process had `lost
ANKARA 00006750 003 OF 004
momentum,' Friday papers reported. `Our government is
determined to implement the reforms, and to deepen and
strengthen our democracy,' Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
said. In its annual progress report on Turkey on Wednesday,
the Commission said that the pace of change had slowed in
2005, and that the implementation of reforms is `uneven.'
The report urged Ankara to improve the rights of women,
religious minorities, and trade unions, and to stamp out
torture. But it also bestowed on Turkey the status of a
`functioning market economy,' a step likely to encourage
more foreign investment. Gul welcomed the criticisms in the
report as being more `careful' than in previous years.
`There is no question that anything in the documents
published yesterday will block our way to the EU,' Gul said.
He warned, however, that Turkey's strategic cooperation with
the EU may be overshadowed by some new demands with regard
to Cyprus. Meanwhile, State Minister Ali Babacan responded
to demands to grant Greek Cypriots access to Turkish ports
by saying that Turkey is waiting for steps from the EU
before moving ahead.
Gul at Forum for the Future: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
condemned terrorist attacks in Jordan and Iraq at the `Forum
for the Future' meetings held in the Bahraini capital of
Manama, papers report. Gul said that the region had
problems that had `called out for a solution for a long
time.' Gul pointed out that enhancing dialogue among the
regional countries and the international community will
contribute to the reform process. He noted that Turkey has
supported the political process in Iraq from the outset,
calling for all groups to take part in the process. Gul
stressed that the elections in Iraq to be held on December
15 will be closely followed in Turkey. `Elections will be
held in Israel soon. It is important that internal
political developments not affect the Middle East peace
process,' he added.
ECHR Ruling on Headscarves: The European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg rejected on Thursday the appeal
of Leyla Sahin, a student in Istanbul who was prevented from
going to medical school because she wears a headscarf. The
Court upheld its previous decision, and ruled tha the
Turkish ban on headscarves at university is not a violation
of human rights.
Turkey Sends Humanitarian Aid to Tal Afar: Turkey sent 624
tons of humanitarian aid, including food and clean-up
material, to Iraq late last week, weekend papers report.
The Prime Minister's Office said that 200 tons of the aid
would be delivered to the Iraqi Red Crescent, while the
remaining 424 tons will be deilvered to Tal Afar by Turkish
and Iraqi Red Crescent officials.
Erdogan to Visit Qatar, Bahrain, Denmark: Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan will pay state visits to Qatar and Bahrain
from November 12-14, Erdogan's Office said on Friday. State
Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul,
lawmakers and businessmen will accompany Erdogan during his
visits. Erdogan will then fly to Copenhagen on November 14.
He will deliver a speech at the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly's 51st Annual session on November 15, and meet with
Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Putin to Visit Turkey: Russian President Vladimir Putin
will pay a working visit to Turkey on November 17, the
Interfax news agency reported Friday. During the visit,
Putin will meet with the Turkish and Italian prime ministers
in ceremonies to mark the official opening of the Blue
Stream natural gas pipeline, which crosses the Black Sea.
ANKARA 00006750 004 OF 004
N
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, NOVEMBER 14, 2005
THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE TURKISH PRESS SUMMARY UNDER THREE
THEMES:
HEADLINES
BRIEFING
EDITORIAL OPINION
-------------- --
HEADLINES
MASS APPEAL
Talabani: Coalition May Pull Out of Iraq in 2006 - Sabah
Pakistani Delegation Goes to Israel - Hurriyet
King Abdullah Calls for `Jihad' against Terror - Sabah
Jordanians Denounce Zarkawi - Hurriyet 11/12
Paris Riots Spread to Athens - Aksam
3,000 Policemen Besiege Paris - Sabah
Rice Celebrates Birthday in Riyadh - Star
Queen Elisabeth is al-Qaida's New Target - Aksam
Clinton Attends Rabin Remembrance in Tel Aviv - Aksam
Secret CIA Torture Center in Morocco - Sabah
SIPDIS
Taliban Enters Afghan Parliament - Milliyet
Pakistan Earthquake Victims Abducted for `Jihad' - Sabah
Sirleaf the First Woman President in Africa - Hurriyet 11/12
OPINION MAKERS
Talabani: Sudden Iraqi Withdrawal Will Bring Disaster -
Cumhuriyet
Al-Qaida: Queen Elizabeth an Enemy of Islam - Radikal
US Praises AKP - Radikal 11/11
US Rejects Military Operation in northern Iraq - Zaman
US Warns against Cross-Border Operation in Iraq - Yeni Safak
11/11
Bloody Operation in Baghdad: 33 Killed - Yeni Safak 11/11
Woman Suicide Bomber Captured in Baghdad - Cumhuriyet
Support for Bush Declines - Yeni Safak 11/11
Zarkawi Claims Amman Hotel Bombings - Zaman
Peaceful Rallies Continue in Baku - Zaman
Palestinians Demand UN Investigation into Arafat Death -
Zaman
Annan Visits Iraq - Radikal
Lawyers Quit Saddam's Defense Team - Zaman
BRIEFING
Flory Visits Ankara: New measures against the PKK were
discussed at the High-Level Defense Group (HLDG) meeting
between Turkey and the United States last week, Saturday
papers report. The head of the US delegation, US Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy Peter
SIPDIS
Flory, said that the real solution that Turkey is looking
for `will take some time.' Flory pointed to the Iraqi
Government as the main address for the PKK problem. `We are
working against terrorism in Iraq on many fronts, including
the struggle against the PKK. The Iraqi Government is
responsible for dealing with this problem. The PKK problem
is part of a more comprehensive project. Our goal is to
maintain Iraq's unitary structure. The Turkish Government
well understands our position. It will, however, take some
time to bring about a real solution,' Flory said. Flory
said that although the Iraq-Turkey border is an issue for
those two countries, the US `does not believe that a cross-
border operation by Turkey would contribute to Iraq's
stability, nor would it solve the PKK problem over the long
run. It wouldn't be a good thing,' Flory concluded.
Wilson Hearing at US Senate: President Bush's nominee as US
Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, told a hearing at the
ANKARA 00006750 002 OF 004
Senate Foreign Relations Committee that his most important
task will be `avoiding the creation of unnecessary problems
between the United States and Turkey,' "Zaman" reported on
Monday. `Turkey's contribution to the success of Iraq will
be more important in 2006 and beyond, and if my appointment
is approved, this issue will be my key focus. PKK terrorism
poses a threat to Turkey and Iraq. Turkey needs to join the
international community in overcoming the problems posed by
Iran and Syria and the threat they represent to global peace
and security,' Wilson said. Responding to a question on the
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, Wilson said that
the US recognizes the ecumenical status of the Patriarchate,
and that the US will continue to advocate for the reopening
of Halki Seminary.
Semdinli Bombing: A Turkish court charged a military
sergeant and a former PKK militant with involvement in last
week's bombing of a bookstore in the southeastern city of
Semdinli, papers reported on Sunday. The ruling AK Party
government, acting on suspicion that security forces may
have acted outside the law and played a roled in the
bombing, pledged a full probe into the incident in which one
persone was killed. Dailies say that the bombing recalled
the `Susurluk' scandal in 1996, which erupted after a car
carrying a senior policeman, a wanted gang leader, and a
parliamentarian crashed in western Turkey. The ensuing
probes revealed shady links between politicians, police,
military officials, and criminal gangs. Officials said a
local court in Semdinli had charged a civilian and a
sergeant on Saturday, but released two other jandarma
officials who had been detained after the incident. The
civilian was charged with carrying out the bombing. He was
identified by the media as a former member of the outlawed
PKK who had benefited from a repentance law. Newspapers
said that police had found three Kalashnikov rifles, two
grenades, a detailed map of the province, and a map
pinpointing the bombed bookstore in the car of the arrested
men. Kurdish protesters lobbed rocks at th police and
chanted slogans in support of the PKK in the aftermath of
the bombing. Police fired into the air and sprayed tear gas
to dsperse the crowd. Main opposition CHP Hakkari awmaker
Esat Canan accused security forces for responsibility in the
blasts and the subsequent incidents in Semdinli. Two
Turkish-made bombs were found in the car used by the
bombers. The car belongs to the jandarma. The name of the
shopping arcade and the owner of the store were also found
in the car. The owner of the store was a PKK member who had
previously served 15 years in prison. A delegation from the
ruling AK Party is carrying out an investigation into the
bombing and said it will submit a motion on November 15 for
a parliamentary inquiry into the incident. On Sunday,
security forces detained 24 in the eastern city of Van
during an illegal rally held to protest against the Semdinli
incidents.
PKK Terrorists Surrender in Silopi: Four terrorists who
escaped from the separatist PKK organization surrendered to
security forces in Silopi in Turkey's southeastern province
of Sirnak, Sunday papers reported. Another terrorist was
captured in the southern city of Adana. The four terrorists
in Silopi said that the oppression and inhuman treatment
within the organization have reached unprecedented levels.
During their initial interrogation, the terrorists confessed
that there are many others in the organization who are
`biding their time' and looking to escape.
Gul on EU Turkey Reports: Turkey pledged on Thursday to
tackle shortcomings in its political and legal reforms after
the European Commission said its reform process had `lost
ANKARA 00006750 003 OF 004
momentum,' Friday papers reported. `Our government is
determined to implement the reforms, and to deepen and
strengthen our democracy,' Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
said. In its annual progress report on Turkey on Wednesday,
the Commission said that the pace of change had slowed in
2005, and that the implementation of reforms is `uneven.'
The report urged Ankara to improve the rights of women,
religious minorities, and trade unions, and to stamp out
torture. But it also bestowed on Turkey the status of a
`functioning market economy,' a step likely to encourage
more foreign investment. Gul welcomed the criticisms in the
report as being more `careful' than in previous years.
`There is no question that anything in the documents
published yesterday will block our way to the EU,' Gul said.
He warned, however, that Turkey's strategic cooperation with
the EU may be overshadowed by some new demands with regard
to Cyprus. Meanwhile, State Minister Ali Babacan responded
to demands to grant Greek Cypriots access to Turkish ports
by saying that Turkey is waiting for steps from the EU
before moving ahead.
Gul at Forum for the Future: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
condemned terrorist attacks in Jordan and Iraq at the `Forum
for the Future' meetings held in the Bahraini capital of
Manama, papers report. Gul said that the region had
problems that had `called out for a solution for a long
time.' Gul pointed out that enhancing dialogue among the
regional countries and the international community will
contribute to the reform process. He noted that Turkey has
supported the political process in Iraq from the outset,
calling for all groups to take part in the process. Gul
stressed that the elections in Iraq to be held on December
15 will be closely followed in Turkey. `Elections will be
held in Israel soon. It is important that internal
political developments not affect the Middle East peace
process,' he added.
ECHR Ruling on Headscarves: The European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg rejected on Thursday the appeal
of Leyla Sahin, a student in Istanbul who was prevented from
going to medical school because she wears a headscarf. The
Court upheld its previous decision, and ruled tha the
Turkish ban on headscarves at university is not a violation
of human rights.
Turkey Sends Humanitarian Aid to Tal Afar: Turkey sent 624
tons of humanitarian aid, including food and clean-up
material, to Iraq late last week, weekend papers report.
The Prime Minister's Office said that 200 tons of the aid
would be delivered to the Iraqi Red Crescent, while the
remaining 424 tons will be deilvered to Tal Afar by Turkish
and Iraqi Red Crescent officials.
Erdogan to Visit Qatar, Bahrain, Denmark: Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan will pay state visits to Qatar and Bahrain
from November 12-14, Erdogan's Office said on Friday. State
Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul,
lawmakers and businessmen will accompany Erdogan during his
visits. Erdogan will then fly to Copenhagen on November 14.
He will deliver a speech at the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly's 51st Annual session on November 15, and meet with
Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Putin to Visit Turkey: Russian President Vladimir Putin
will pay a working visit to Turkey on November 17, the
Interfax news agency reported Friday. During the visit,
Putin will meet with the Turkish and Italian prime ministers
in ceremonies to mark the official opening of the Blue
Stream natural gas pipeline, which crosses the Black Sea.
ANKARA 00006750 004 OF 004
N