ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003200 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 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 SIPDIS 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 ANKARA 00003200 002 OF 003 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 ANKARA 00003200 003 OF 003 - 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