ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

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DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006

In Today's Papers

Upcoming Nevruz Celebrations
Vatan, Yeni Safak, Zaman: Tensions escalate in Turkey as
the Kurdish spring festival Nevruz approaches. Yeni
Safak reports that the committee organizing the
celebrations in Diyarbakir has asked the Diyarbakir
Governor for permission to use the Diyarbakir Fair
Grounds. Reportedly, President Sezer, PM Erdogan, Iraqi
President Talabani and KDP Leader Barzani, as well as
Ambassadors in Ankara from 49 countries, have been
invited to the celebrations. Zaman reports that in the
Kurdish language invitations sent to Barzani and Talabani
by the Democratic People's Party (DTP),Diyarbakir was
called "Amed," a Kurdish name for the city, and Barzani
was addressed as the "leader of the Kurdistan Region."

US Raid in Northern Baghdad Kills Women and Children
All Papers: Eleven people, most of them women and
children were killed when a house was bombed during a US
raid north of Baghdad on Wednesday. Aksam carried the
news with the headline saying "The US Targeted the
Children," and Posta, under the photo of the dead
children, runs the headline, "Here are the Freed
Children!"

Is Democracy to Blame for the Chaos?
Expressing worry about the political situation in the
Middle East following the Israeli raid on the Jericho
prison, columnist Semih Idiz wonders if the region does
not deserve democracy. Making a distinction between
democratic and non-democratic goals, he concludes in the
mainstream Milliyet: "The Middle East is moving toward
more chaos. Given the current situation, can we actually
conclude that democracy is bad? The answer is a definite
no. We should not blame democracy for all of this chaos.
The blame should be put on those exploiters of democracy
for their non-democratic goals."

Turkey Uneasy over Annan's New Cyprus Rep. Moller
Vatan, Yeni Safak, Cumhuriyet: Turkey has conveyed its
uneasiness on the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's new
Cyprus Special Envoy Michael Moller of Denmark. Turkey
believes that being pro-Greek, Moller cannot act
objectively on the Cyprus issue. Cumhuriyet reports that
Moller requested an appointment from Turkey to hold talks
with the Turkish officials on the Cyprus issue but the
request was rejected by Turkish officials.

Tolerance in Turkey Declines
Milliyet draws attention to a survey carried out with the
support of Bosphorus University and the Open Society
Institute. The survey, based on interviews with 1644
people in 15 provinces, reveals that there was major drop
in Turkish people's tolerance for different ideas and
views. 36 percent of the interviewed say they were
disturbed by those refusing to observe Ramadan, 24
percent were disturbed by women who did not wear
headscarf, 71 percent of the interviewed said the main
task of women was to serve their husbands, 76 percent
were disturbed by homosexuals, 65 percent were disturbed
by couples living together without getting married, 63
percent were disturbed by men wearing earrings, 56
percent were disturbed by those who go to discos and
nightclubs.

Armenian Symposium
Aksam: Turkish and foreign academics gathered at
Istanbul university yesterday for a three day conference

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to discuss whether the killing of Armenians during World
War 1 amounted to genocide. Turkey denies that Armenian
subjects under the Ottoman Empire, were victims of
genocide, but acknowledges that at least 300,000Armenians
and as many Turks died in civil war during the last years
of the Ottoman Empire. Foreign Minister Gul's message
was read at the opening of the symposium which said
"Turkey is a country that is at peace with its past.
There is no era in our history that makes us feel
ashamed. However, Turks are very sensitive to slander
and insults against their ancestors. I am happy to see
that the same sensitivity is shown by our citizens of
Armenian origin who adopt Turkey as their homes, who
contribute to this country's economy, art, culture and
social life." The Rector of Istanbul University, Prof.
Mesut Parlak, said "genocide is a crime against humanity
but there is no doubt that such a serious crime should
have a legal basis. Nobody can be considered guilty
before his/her offense is proven. The international law
on the recognition of genocide was enacted in 1948 and it
does not cover the past. So, it is not legally possible
to describe the 1915 incidents as genocide."

TV Highlights
NTV, 8 AM

Domestic News
- Police captured four suspects preparing for suicide
bomb attacks in the southeastern province of Batman.

- Turkey and Syria are to open a new border gate to ease
the heavy traffic through the Habur border crossing.

International News
- Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic will be
laid to rest on Saturday in his hometown of Pozarevac,
east of Belgrade. Belgrade said it will not hold a state
funeral for Milosevic.

- Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas lashed out at Israel
over the Jericho prison raid, saying his people had been
humiliated.

- The UN General Assembly has adopted a proposal to
create a new human rights council to promote and protect
human rights around the world.

Economy News
- Turkish Central Bank acting governor Erdem Basci said
he will continue tight monetary policies.

- Tourism sector representatives asked for state
incentives at a meeting with PM Erdogan yesterday.

- Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON