ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003200

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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
THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2006


In Today's Papers

Turkey, Russia Optimistic for Diplomatic Solution to Iranian
Nuclear Row
All papers: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his visiting
Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said at a joint press
conference in Ankara that both their countries favored a
diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute. Gul
stressed diplomatic means should be employed to defuse the
problem, ruling out the possibility of any military action
against Iran, especially from Turkish soil. Lavrov said
there was an outstanding opportunity such as the upcoming UN
Security Council meeting in Vienna to resolve the problem.
"It is important to find a solution which suits all sides.
The rights of signatory countries to the Non-Proliferation
Treaty should be preserved." Lavrov emphasized that the
Cyprus problem should be resolved under the roof of the
United Nations, adding that Russia was waiting for UNSYG
Annan's report on the issue. Lavrov noted that a delegation
of the Russian Chamber of Commerce paid a visit to the
Turkish Cyprus, proposing that a "TRNC" delegation should
visit Russia as well. Lavrov also underlined the importance
of Iraq's territorial integrity, and both foreign ministers
encouraged Israel and Palestine to resume peace talks under
the Road Map. The two ministers also praised the economic
ties between the two countries, signaling the growing
collaboration in the natural gas and energy sectors.

Murat Yetkin commenting in the liberal daily Radikal notes
Turkey's central role in the Iran issue: "Although, the
Turkish media claims that Turkey was left out of the Iran
issue by the US when Turkey's offer to work as a mediator
between Iran-US was rejected, Turkey is very much involved
in the issue, especially after Condoleezza Rice's recent
visit to Ankara. The most important issue during NSC
Secretary Alpogan's visit to Israel and Russia, FM Gul's

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telephone conversations with the chairman of the AIEA
Muhammed El Baradey and Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister
Livni's visit to Ankara at the beginning of the week,
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's visit yesterday, the
German Foreign Minister Steinmeier's upcoming visit
tomorrow, and President Sezer's upcoming visits to Israel
and Russia, were and will be the Iran issue."

Ankara Invites Iraqi Leaders, Khalilzad to Turkey
Cumhuriyet reports Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) Spokesman
Namik Tan announced at yesterday's weekly press briefing
that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Foreign
Minister Hoshiyar Zebari in principle accepted invitations
to visit Turkey. Tan said Turkey's special Iraq envoy Oguz
Celikkol extended the invitations to the Iraqi leaders as
well as to US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad during a one-day
visit to the country earlier this week. Tan said all of
them accepted the invitations.

Minority Groups Discuss Iranian Regime Change in Washington
Yeni Safak reports the representatives of minorities in Iran
came together in Washington at a meeting held by the North
American Kurdish National Committee to discuss regime change
in Iran. At the meeting, Iranian Kurdish, Azeri, Arab and
other minority groups condemned human rights violations in
Iran and claimed Tehran seeks to eliminate minority groups
in the country.

Police Foil Possible Attack in Ankara
All papers: With the recent court attack on five judges
still unsolved, nine people, including two military
officers, were arrested in a police operation in Ankara
prompted by a tip off. C-4 and TNT explosives as well as

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handguns and bomb manufacturing equipment were found in the
suspects' houses along with a sketched map of Prime Minister
Erdogan's house in Ankara, and photographs of Foreign
Minister Gul. The suspects said they were part of the
"Atabeyler Guerilla Group" and were reportedly gathering
information about Erdogan's advisor Cuneyd Zapsu and some
lawmakers from the mainly Kurdish east and southeast Turkey.

Sezer Boycotts State Dinner
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Yeni Safak and others:
President Sezer declied to participate in a dinner in honor
of visiting Swedish King Gustav 16 and Queen Silvia in
Ankara last night due to the fact that the wives of
Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Arinc and some ministers
attending the reception were wearing headscarves. The chief
of the Turkish General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok did not
attend the dinner either. Yeni Safak writes President
Sezer's no-show at the dinner was "diplomatic rudeness."

AKP Bans Municipalities' Religious Booklets
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal report that following warnings
by Prime Minister Erdogan, the ruling AK Party HQ banned
publication of brochures about religion in a memo sent to
its provincial offices. The controversial documents
published by the municipalities on social and religious
issues contain statements such as men and women should not
shake hands, men could marry up to four women, and women had
to cover their heads with turbans.

TV Highlights
NTV, 8.00 a.m.

Domestic News

- The EU Commission Representative Hansjrg Kretschmer said
Turkey had made progress in meeting the political standards
in the EU harmonization process, but expressed concern that
people can be tried and convicted in violation of the right
to free speech in Turkey.


- The Turkish Parliament's sub-commission for justice is
debating Article 6 of the anti-terror bill that had
triggered heated debate on charges that it was designed to
release the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan from jail.

- Turkish Foreign Ministry said Greek Foreign Minister Dora
Bakoyianni is expected to participate in the June 10 Turkish-
Greek media talks to be held in Istanbul.

- A prosecutor filed a lawsuit against Mayor Osman Baydemir
for irregularities in a Diyarbakir Municipality computer
contract, demanding up to three year prison sentences for
the mayor and other municipality officials.

- Two Turkish soldiers and three village guards (Korucu)
were killed in clashes between the PKK militants and
security forces in the southeastern border province of
Sirnak. Turkish jandarma arrested a woman for being a
member of the PKK organization in the eastern city of
Elazig.

- The Izmir-based Zorlu Group sold a 75 percent stake of
Denizbank to the Belgian financial group Dexia SA for USD
2.4 billion of which it had bought for USD 66 million. With
the sale of Denizbank, 47 percent of the Turkish private
sector is owned by foreigners.

International News


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- Official results from Montenegro's referendum confirmed
victory for the pro-independence bloc, showing 55.5 percent
had voted for independence, surpassing the 55 percent target
majority set by the European Union.

- The local assembly in Germany's Westphalia has decided
women teachers will not be allowed to wear headscarves in
schools.


Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

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

WILSON