ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003451 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, JUNE 12, 2006 In Today's Papers Gul Will Not Go to EU Meeting Until Greek Cypriot Obstacle Removed All papers: Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Sunday he would not go to Luxembourg for a regular meeting with EU counterparts until the EU foreign ministers sort out uncertainty over the official opening of Turkey's accession talks on the chapter of Science and Technology. The Greek Cypriot Administration is blocking the conclusion of Turkey's first detailed accession negotiations until Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and planes. Ankara has announced that it would boycott the EU meeting if Nicosia's demand is accepted by the EU. Turkish papers expect the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis as well as Vienna and London to mediate and end the resistance of the Greek Cypriots. "We will adopt a new policy if EU foreign ministers succumb to the political problems raised by the Greek Cypriot Administration," Gul warned, saying he will not go to Luxembourg until he receives a call from the Austrian term president. Meanwhile, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn warned again over the weekend that there was a serious decline in Turkey's EU harmonization reforms. MFA Condemns Killing of Palestinian Civilians by Israel Weekend papers: The Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) on Saturday denounced the killings of seven Palestinians by the Israeli military on Friday, warning that such attacks would increase tensions in the region. "Turkey expresses deep sorrow over the killing of the seven Palestinians including two babies and one woman by an Israeli artillery shell," the MFA statement said. The MFA called on the sides to turn to the Road Map as the only alternative for peace. Bell, Boeing Want Turkish Helicopter Contract Bids Cancelled Yeni Safak reports that having been ousted from bidding on the USD 1.5 billion-valued Turkish military contract for the sale of attack helicopters, US-based Boeing and Bell are now lobbying for the cancellation of the contract, claiming the helicopters offered by Eurocopter and other companies would not meet Turkish needs. Unlike the German-French-Spanish Eurocopter, and companies from Italy, Russia and South Africa, US-based Boeing and Bell declined to meet Turkish conditions for technology transfer and direct participation of Turkish companies in the production process. Boeing and Bell's withdrawal from the bidding made Eurocopter the company with the best chance to win the deal. Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee will make a decision on June 27. Turkey Removes Some Restrictions on Kurdish Language Broadcasting Radikal reports that the Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTUK) has unanimously removed the time restrictions for Kurdish language broadcasting of films and cultural programs. RTUK has decided that there was no need for time restrictions in the airing of films and cultural programs. PKK Killed Two Soldiers in Tunceli All papers report that the PKK terrorists fired on a military convoy as it was passing through the Geyiksuyu township of Tunceli. Two soldiers were killed and four security force members were injured in the attack. The convoy reportedly was transferring three villagers from the village of Sin to Tunceli for aiding and abetting the PKK. Two of the detained villagers were reported among the injured. Turkish Textile Brands Pirated Abroad Hurriyet reports Turkish textile and ready-wear brands "Loft," "Cons," and "Little Big" are being pirated not only in Asian countries like China, India, and Pakistan, but also in developed economies such as Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The Turkish Denim Industrialists' Association said it was seeking legal sanctions against companies producing the fakes of the Turkish-patented blue jeans in Russia, Hungary and Poland. Men's ANKARA 00003451 002 OF 003 wear company Sarar, the licensed producer of Boss in Turkey, said imitations of Sarar textile products were sold in China, Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan. Turks, long accused of pirating renowned fashion brands, now see their successful textile products being pirated around the world. Editorial Comment on Post-Zarqawi Iraq Writing in the conservative daily Turkiye, Yilmaz Oztuna believes the violence will continue: "Time will show to what extent Zarqawi's death will have an impact on reducing the civil war chaos in Iraq. From the current picture we can conclude that civil war will continue until Iraqis find peaceful ways to deal with their problems. Zarqawi was a Jordanian and he was sent to Iraq by Bin Laden following the US occupation in Iraq. By using some 20,000 al-Qaeda members stationed in Iraq, Zarqawi did everything cruel and merciless against Americans as well as those deemed to be 'US collaborators' -- Shiite and Sunnis, including Turks. It is certain that Bin Laden will send some of his men to replace Zarqawi, and that means that the violence will continue." Washington-based Yasemin Congar, commenting in mainstream Milliyet, believes that concerns over vengeance attacks and the lack of general stability in Iraq mean that significant US troop withdrawals any time soon are unlikely: "Initial reactions from both Baghdad and Washington indicate that no one is expecting to see an abrupt end of violence in Iraq. On the contrary, there is a general concern about a vengeance attack by Al Qaeda. It must also be remembered that the Zarqawi group is only one of many insurgent groups. Given these factors, Washington is not entirely relieved after the murder of Zarqawi. President Bush will evaluate the situation in Iraq in a comprehensive meeting at Camp David, which Iraqi officials will join via DVC. The Baghdad government has targeted some steps to take for a stable and secure Iraq, to which Washington is committed to provide full support. Sources in Washington indicate that supporting Baghdad in its effort to achieve these targets requires the full presence of US forces in Iraq. Therefore it looks very unlikely that the US will reduce its troops below the 100,000 level by the end of this year." TV News (NTV, 8.00 a.m.) Domestic News - Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said EU pressures to open Turkish ports and airports to the Greek Cypriots were unacceptable. - Greek and Turkish foreign ministers Gul and Bakoyannis have agreed on new confidence building measures in the Aegean. - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said having eliminated Zarqawi, now Iraq and the US should show the same sensitivity in the fight against the PKK. - Two Turkish soldiers were killed and five others were injured when PKK terrorists ambushed a military convoy in the eastern province of Tunceli on Sunday. International News - Russia has recognized Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state. - Palestinian President Abbas said he would hold a referendum on July 26 on the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. ANKARA 00003451 003 OF 003 - Hamas militants fired small rockets into southern Israel, signaling the end to a 16-month cease fire. - The Guantanamo Bay prison camp for terror suspects has faced renewed criticism after three inmates hanged themselves. The suicides pose a new challenge for the Bush administration, which is already under strong pressure to close the camp from critics that include the UN, international human rights organizations, and European governments. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON