ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002043 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 FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2006 In Today's Papers AKP Government Responds to the President's Comments on Fundamentalism All papers: On behalf of the government, Deputy PM Mehmet Ali Sahin responded to President Sezer's remarks yesterday that the ruling AK party has laid the groundwork for religious fundamentalism. Rejecting claims that the government has filled the bureaucracy with Islamists, Sahin said that public personnel are hired through a centralized examination and placement system. Sahin said that the government and the AKP are as determined as Sezer is to protect the secularism of the state. "If the president has a list of individuals who have entered or are about to enter public service, or who have been involved in reactionary or separatist activities, then he should pass these names to me," Sahin added. Meanwhile, the leader of the main opposition party (CHP) Deniz Baykal backed Sezer by saying "the president didn't intend to create tension; that has been done by the government." Human Rights Watch Member Deported Yesterday Birgun: Human Rights Watch (HRW) member Jonathan Sugden, who was in Turkey monitoring human rights in Bingol, was deported yesterday for not having a work visa. HRW officials stressed that Mr. Sugden is an expert who has been monitoring the human rights violations in Turkey for decades and that he came to Turkey several times with a tourist visa and completed his research without any problems. The organization urged Turkey to stop arresting and deporting HRW officers, stating that efforts to cover up the human rights violations in Turkey are still very strong. Barrels of Toxic Waste in Tuzla All papers: After finding hundreds of barrels of toxic waste last Saturday in Tuzla, a second group of barrels, even more environmentally hazardous, have been discovered. There is a risk of water contamination in a nearby river if poisonous chemicals have leaked from the barrels. Zaman reports that burying of toxic waste is not the only environmental problem in Turkey and reminds readers that 1850 tons of toxic waste polluted Iskenderun Gulf last year when a Spanish ship sunk there. Speaking at the parliament, Environment Minister Osman Pepe said, "Provincial units from the Environment & Forestry Ministry filed all the complaints regarding the barrels suspected of carrying toxic and dangerous materials and the Public Prosecutor's office has started an investigation." Social Security Reform Package Debates in Parliament Radikal, Cumhuriyet: Reform package in Turkey's Social Security System faced heated debates in the parliament yesterday before it was passed. The bill suggests merging all social security institutions under one roof. The reform aims to cut Turkey's large social security deficit through more efficient management and by raising the retirement age. The atmosphere was tense during yesterday's debates. Main opposition CHP deputies protested the package and walked out of the debates. Other opposition parties chose to speak up against the reform package. Islamic Conference Concludes All papers: The Istanbul Conference of the Parliamentarian Union of the Organization of Islamic Conference concluded yesterday with the issuing of final ANKARA 00002043 002 OF 002 statement entitled the 'Istanbul declaration'. The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC),on Turkey's request, changed the official way of referring to Turkish Cypriots from the "Muslim Community in Cyprus" to the "Turkish State of Cyprus." A call on the international community to take concrete steps to end the inhumane isolation of the Turkish Cypriots was also included in the final declaration. Controversy Over Turkish Defense Bids Bugun: Following the story in Bugun yesterday regarding the terms for the Turkish defense bids, about which Ambassador Wilson had sent a letter to Turkish Defense Minister, the Undersecretary of the Turkish Defense Industry Murat Bayar explained that there are some unchangeable conditions in defense bids to protect Turkey's national interests, such as technology transfer. Bayar rejected the contract terms as a secret embargo against the US and said that Turkey welcomed all bidders.. However, Bayar added that Turkey had difficulties with the US particularly on the issue of renewing export licenses by administrations. TV Highlights NTV (7 a.m.) Domestic News - Deputy Prime Minister Sahin responded to the criticism of President Sezer about the rise of fundamentalism in Turkey - More barrels containing toxic waste have been found in Tuzla International News - Mohammed El Baradei is on a mission to Iran to check whether Iran has complied with a UN Security Council request to suspend its nuclear research program. Economy News - Social Security Reform will enter into effect tomorrow - The World Bank will give Turkey $150 million loan to strengthen its electricity system Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON