ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001813

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
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2006


In Today's Papers

Turkish Parliament Discuss Violence in Southeast Turkey
All papers: Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu yesterday
told a parliament gathering to discuss rising terror in
southeast Turkey that talks were underway with Denmark to
ban the Copenhagen-based Kurdish broadcaster Roj-TV. Aksu
said following the killing of 14 PKK terrorists by security
forces in Bingol on March 25, Roj-TV had provoked people to
rally for protest in the cities in the region and in
Istanbul. In the incidents, 15 were killed and 418
arrested, Aksu said. The main opposition CHP leader Deniz
Baykal urged the government to take effective measures
against terror, and called for direct state investments in
southeast Turkey. "It is impossible to solve the problem by
dividing the nation along ethnic lines," Baykal said. Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in response to the request for
a meeting by Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP that the DTP
should first declare that the PKK is a terrorist
organization. Lawyer Hasip Kaplan, the deputy chairman of
the DTP, told the press that Hamas was on the list of terror
organizations, but that the AKP government met with its
representatives. Kaplan said that the AKP was adhering to a
double-standard when on the one hand it wanted DTP to
recognize the the PKK as terrorists while on the other hand
holding meetings themselves with Hamas.

Papers report two new investigations have been launched
against the Mayor of Diyarbakir, Osman Baydemir, for
propagandizing in support of an outlawed organization, and
for giving municipal vehicles to PKK members during the
rallies. Police on Tuesday detained four provincial
administrators of DTP in Diyarbakir.

Concerns over New Turkish Anti-Terror Bill
Radikal reports the EU welcomed the statement by Justice
Minister Cemil Cicek that Turkey would adjust its definition
of terrorism to fit EU rules while reforming its anti-terror
law. EU said it will give Turkey all necessary support,
calling on the AKP government to stress human rights during
the process. Leftist Birgun, underlining intentions for
restriction of travel, communications and some other areas
in southeast Turkey, claims the new anti-terror bill drafted
by the government would pave the way to emergency rule in
the mainly Kurdish region. Jurists said the bill included
tighter measures against terrorism than another
controversial anti-terror bill adopted by Britain.

Serdar Turgut wrote in the tabloid Aksam on the draft anti-
terror bill that it is normal and the rule of democracy that
there will be differences of opinion between the civilian
authority and the military in Turkey. "These kinds of
differences should not be exaggerated. Everyone should
understand that certain concessions should be made in order
to fight against terrorism. The AKP Government is rather
hesitant to give any concessions because there are promises
given to the EU, plus, the AKP is concerned that some of the
concessions could affect religious freedom. We can
understand both these concerns but no one should put these
concerns before the State's rights. If one surrenders to
this kind of concern, then terrorist activities will explode
in the country. The draft terrorism law shows that the
civil authority and the military have already overcome the
differences and agreed on the draft."

Gul on Violence in Southeast Turkey, Iran
All papers: On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told
media representatives in Ankara that a new wave of reforms
would be disclosed soon. Gul noted terrorist activities

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increase when there are favorable developments in the
country like local broadcasts in the Kurdish language in
southeast Turkey. "We must not fall into the trap of the
PKK. The only way to live together in Turkey is with
democracy; the terrorist organization aims to disrupt
democratic and economic developments in Turkey," Gul said.
The FM stressed that Turkey opposed the emergence of a
nuclear power in its region, adding that later this week he
would discuss with Turkish ambassadors and diplomats the
recent developments in Iran. Gul noted the US favored a
diplomatic solution to the Iranian problem. Turkey and Iran
have the right to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes,
Gul said, quoting IAEA chief Muhammad al-Baradei as saying
that Turkey needed five nuclear power plants.

Kirkuk Census in July Next Year
Cumhuriyet reports the program of the new government to be
formed in Iraq requires that in 2007, a census be held in
Kirkuk on July 31 followed by a referendum on November 15.

Bryza Visits Ankara
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman, Yeni
Safak and others: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza warned after wrapping up meetings in the
Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) Turkey should meet its
responsibility of opening its ports and airports to the
Greek Cypriots, and called on the EU to end the isolation of
Turkish Cypriots. Bryza said it was up to the Greek Cypriot
side to convince the UN Secretary General that they are
ready to reengage in talks for a settlement. Bryza said the
US was doing everything it can with the Europeans to cut the
support that is going to the PKK from Europe. Bryza added
that the US believed the Copenhagen-based Kurdish
broadcaster Roj TV should be closed.

Bakoyannis Meets Papadopoulos
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman and others
report during her visit to Nicosia, the Greek Foreign
Minister Dora Bakoyannnis briefed President Papadopolus
about her talks in the US with Secretary Rice and UNSYG
Annan. Bakoyannis said Cyprus need to make use of the new
momentum on the issue, urging Papadopoluos not to stay away
form the negotiating table. She also urged Turkey to meet
its responsibilities and open Turkish ports and airspace to
the Greek Cypriots. Papadopoulos said if Ankara does not do
so, a crisis between Turkey and the EU will be seen during
the evaluation of the accession process in October.

Ambassador Wilson on US-Turkey Ties
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman, Yeni
Safak and others: US Ambassador in Ankara, Ross Wilson,
told a meeting of Turkish-American Businessmen Council
(TABA) in Istanbul that Turkey made unbelievable reforms in
judiciary, that state security courts and crimes committed
against the state were scrapped, and that trials for torture
began proceeding faster. Cumhuriyet commented Wilson did
not hide that there were problems in ties with Turkey, and
stressed the partnership should be redefined. Wilson said
the Hamas visit to Turkey had caused disappointment in
Washington, adding that bilateral ties in general had been
"disappointing" over the past few years. "We have been
trying to rebuild the relationship over the course of the
last 8-9 months," Wilson said.

Returning home from a visit to the United States, Osman
Ulagay writes in the mainstream Milliyet that just like the
Bush Administration, the AKP government and PM Erdogan has
entered into a period full of difficulties. "AKP government
relations continue to deteriorate with the EU, US and with

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Turkish voters which carried the party to power in the last
elections. On the other hand, the Bush Administration is
going through a very hard period. The fiasco in Iraq
decreased American people's support for Bush to thirty
percent; the Bush Administration was unable to determine a
policy against Iran; there was great disappointment with the
Hamas victory in Palestine and moreover, almost all of the
South American leaders are anti-American. Anything could be
expected from a US Administration which is feeling cornered.
If the AKP government puts further distance between itself
and the US Administration just to give a message to its
voters, we can end up in a rather different position in our
relationship with the US. And, it is not easy to guess who
is going to benefit from all these developments."

Citigroup Wants Turkey's Akbank
Hurriyet cites a Wall Street Journal report claiming the US-
based Citigroup, after losing Turkish Finansbank to the
Greek National Bank, was now looking to buy the Sabanci
Group's Akbank. Radikal reports the Greek National Bank
said after the purchase of Euro 2.3 billion that they had
made an investment in Turkey's future. The paper also
carries the Greek daily To Vima comment that the purchase
was a "helping hand" extended by PM Karamanlis to PM
Erdogan.


TV Highlights
NTV, 8 AM

Domestic News
- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said a new democratization
package would be unveiled soon despite the rise in terror
attacks. Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu told the
parliament that the PKK received international support. CHP
leader Deniz Baykal claimed some political movements and
municipality officials were linked to the PKK.

- Turkish jandarma found 10 kg of A-4 plastic explosives
concealed in a sack in a graveyard in Istanbul, the
Governor's Office said.

- Istanbul Greek Patriarchate said the EU should press
Turkey to recognize the ecumenical status of the
Patriarchate.

International News
- PKK militants attacked Turkish businesses and shops in
Berlin and London.

- Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis paid a two-day
visit to south Cyprus.

- The Czech Senate will host a conference on Armenian
genocide claims next week despite Turkish efforts to block
the gathering.

- The court trying Saddam Hussein said the former Iraqi
dictator will face new charges of genocide against Kurds in
the 1980s.

- A federal jury has decided Zacarias Moussaoui, the only
man on trial in the US for involvement in 9/11 attacks, was
fit for execution.

Economy News
- EU to provide Euro 2 billion support for Turkish farmers.

- Foreigners bought 21,000 homes in the Aegean region of

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Turkey over the last two years.

- The World Economic Forum (WEF) will gather in Istanbul on
November 23-24.


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MCELDOWNEY