ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001628 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, MARCH 27, 2006 In Today's Papers Visit by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Pace, to Turkey All weekend papers: During his address at a terrorism symposium in Ankara last Friday, General Pace expressed US determination to combat PKK terrorism, but stressed that the security situation in Iraq must be improved in order to combat terrorism more effectively. These comments indicated that the US is not planning military action against the PKK until the security situation in Iraq is more stable. During an NTV interview, General Pace said that any decision on a US troop withdrawal from Iraq will be based on conditions on the ground in Iraq. Noting that Turkey has been fighting against PKK terrorism for a long time, General Pace said that solving the problem is not an easy task. If it were easy, the Turkish Government would have solved it a long time ago. Responding to a question on Iran, General Pace said 'Iran is a long way from needing some kind of military solution. There are many things that can be done diplomatically before any military option is considered. There is an international effort to persuade the Iranian government to function in a way that is not dangerous or threatening to its neighbors, to have nuclear power but not nuclear weapons.' After meeting with the Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Ozkok and Prime Minister Erdogan, General Pace went to Istanbul at the invitation of First Army Commander General Ilker Basbug, an old friend of General Pace. Sunday's Hurriyet reports that General Basbug and his wife took General Pace and his wife to Sultanahmet Mosque, Ayasofya Museum, Topkapi Palace, the covered bazaar and for a boat tour on the Bosphorus. General Pace was reportedly impressed by Friday night's dinner hosted by General Basbug in his honor at the Sait Halim Pasa Residence. General Pace and his wife left Istanbul for the US on Sunday by military aircraft. President Sezer Vetos Central Bank Nominee All weekend papers: President Sezer has rejected the nomination of Anmet Buyukdeniz, the Government's candidate for Central Bank Governor. President Sezer also rejected the nominations of Mehmet Simsek and Birol Aydemir as vice governors of the Central Bank. The statement from the Presidency gave no reason for the veto other than to say that the nominations were found to be 'inappropriate.' Papers speculated that Buyukdeniz was rejected because of his strong interest in interest-free banking and Islamic finance. PM Erdogan told reporters on Sunday that the cabinet would nominate a new candidate for the post. In the interim, the Central Bank will be run by Deputy Governor Erdem Basci. Controversy Over Cypriot Air Corridor Radikal: The controversy over access of Cypriot planes to Turkish air corridors continues. Last week the Foreign Ministry denied a press story claiming that the Turkish Government had recently decided to allow international airlines use Turkish airspace en route to Greek Cyprus. However, Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said over the weekend that all passenger planes flying to southern Cyprus could freely use Turkish airspace, and that Turkish planes are allowed to use Greek Cypriot airspace. Minister Yildirim added that only cargo planes are prevented from using each other's airspace. Last Friday, Turkish Cypriot `Foreign Minister' Serdar Denktas said that the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Cypriots had agreed to allow Greek Cypriot planes to use Turkish airspace. The Turkish Foreign Ministry, however, said that all foreign planes flying to southern Cyprus, excluding Cypriot Airlines ANKARA 00001628 002 OF 003 planes, have been allowed to use Turkish airspace for many years. PM Erdogan Goes to Sudan for Arab League Summit Aksam: Prime Minister Erdogan leaves for Sudan today to attend the Arab League Summit, where he will call on Arab countries to take a stronger role in Iraq in order to prevent a civil war. Erdogan will deliver a speech at the opening of the two-day summit on the issue of the 'Alliance of Civilizations,' in which he will call for dialogue between the West and the Muslim World. Columnist Ferai Tinc observed a significant interest in the Arab world to take action on the Iraq issue. In her column in mass appeal Hurriyet, she noted: "The recent signs of a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran on Iraqi security matters has raised concerns in the Arab world and serves as a factor in the Arabs' willingness to take action on Iraq. A decision by the Arabs to help and support Iraqi reconstruction would be an important step for the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity, which is at significant risk due to the ongoing chaos there. The Arab League is also working on a series of structural reforms, such as the establishment of a Peace and Security Council, that would enable Arab countries to enhance their role in the region. But the real for the Arab League will come in Iraq." Interview with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanyan Hurriyet: Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian complained about misunderstandings and preconceived ideas that he said were keeping Turks and Armenians from developing their relations. Oskanian said that opening the border gate between Turkey and Armenia would contribute greatly to the development of bilateral ties. The Armenian FM emphasized that necessity to recognize the events of 1915. Oskanian added that Armenia does not pose a threat to Turkey. TV News (NTV, 8.00 a.m.) Domestic News - The main opposition CHP said that 24 percent of its members are women, and that 16.7 percent of its members are 20 years old or younger. - Prime Minister Erdogan will participate in the Arab League summit in Sudan March 28-29. - 14 PKK terrorists were killed in clashes with security forces in the southeastern province of Bingol over the weekend. A pro-PKK website clams that 6 of those killed were nationals of Syria, Iran, and Iraq. International News - Former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich's party leads in Ukraine's parliamentary elections, held over the weekend. - Israeli interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he will hold talks with the United States and the international community on border issues with Palestine. - Incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah said Hamas wants an end to the crisis with Israel. - Greek Cypriot Justice Minister Doros Theodoros has rejected press reports that fugitive DHKP-C militant Fehriye Erdal is hiding in Cyprus. ANKARA 00001628 003 OF 003 - Iraqi army officials said on Sunday that 30 corpses, most of them beheaded, were found near the town of Baquba, outside Baghdad. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY