ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004623 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, AUGUST 10, 2006 ANKARA 00004623 001.3 OF 002 In Today's Papers CHP Slams AKP Conduct on PKK, Lebanon Sabah, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet and Yeni Safak: The main opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal criticized the ruling AK Party government's policy in the struggle against terrorism. With regard to the ongoing debate about the issue of American and Turkish special PKK coordinators, Baykal said the real purpose of the coordinator is to bring Turkey to the negotiating table with the PKK. On the Lebanon crisis, Baykal said the Turkish parliament must convene to adopt a policy regarding the growing violence in the region. "Things are moving toward a dangerous point for Americans. Anti-American sentiments are growing in the Islamic world. It is unacceptable for Turkey to dispatch troops to join an international force for Lebanon before a cease-fire is secured," Baykal said. CHP lawmaker Tacidar Seyhan asked in a motion submitted to the parliament whether weapons had been ferried to Israel from Incirlik Airbase, and whether Turkey had promised the US to support the Israeli operations in the region. CHP deputy chairman Onur Oymen said Incirlik was a NATO base, not an American base, and that the alleged transfer of ammunition from the base to the Middle East should not be allowed. "Turkey must pursue a more active policy. Where was the Turkish foreign minister when several of his colleagues paid visits to Israel and Lebanon?" Oymen maintained. Erdogan, Hashimi Discuss the PKK, Kirkuk Sabah, Radikal and Zaman report Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warned during a meeting yesterday with visiting Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi that northern Iraq must not be a shelter for the PKK organization. Erdogan urged Hashimi to take "satisfactory" measures against the terrorist organization. Erdogan also stressed that Arabs must prevent a sectarian conflict between the Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq. Erdogan maintained that the oil-rich city of Kirkuk must be given special status. Erdogan and Hashimi also discussed opening two more border crossings between the two countries. Commenting in mainstream Milliyet, Guneri Civaoglu suggests that, instead of democracy, the US should work for stability in the Middle East: "After the recent developments in the Middle East, the US should shelve its Greater Middle East Project, started after the September 11 attacks in the name of democratization. With each election in the Middle East either radical Islam gets the highest votes or, as happened in Iraq, elections lead to chaos. In the next phase, the US should try to establish more pragmatic and realistic relations in order to create stable administrations, rather than democracies." Soli Ozel writing in mainstream Sabah argues that Turkey should play an active role in helping to stabilize the region: "As an important regional power and NATO member on its way to EU membership, Turkey can guarantee Iraq's sovereignty better than the Arab countries. Prior to the Iraqi war, Turkey had concerns that the responsibility for controlling Iran's strategic stability would end up with Turkey, instead of war-tired Iraq. Now, the question is 'Will Turkey willingly assume responsibility for the stability of the Gulf Region?' Turkey to Downsize Ground Troops Hurriyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others: Turkey's new Chief of General Staff appointee General Yasar Buyukanit told Turkish Defense and Aerospace magazine that the land forces will be downsized by 30 percent over the coming years as part of a restructuring effort under a plan entitled "Force 2014." Buyukanit said the plan envisages a reduction in size but greater modernization of the land forces. Paramount Pictures to Build Disneyland in Ankara Sabah, Milliyet and Turkiye report Paramount Pictures offered to ANKARA 00004623 002 OF 002 build a giant amusement park, a "Disneyland," on a 3 million square meter parcel of land in Ankara. Prime Minister Erdogan instructed Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and other related state institutions to facilitate the process. Construction of the USD 1 billion theme park will be kicked off in 2007, creating 30,000 jobs. TV Highlights NTV, 8.00 a.m Domestic News - Prime Minister Erdogan hosted a banquet yesterday for visiting Saudi King Abdullah in Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. King Abdullah praised Turkey's efforts to defuse the conflict in Lebanon. Abdullah plans to invest USD 7-10 billion in Turkey. - Turkish military buildup on the border with Iraq continues with hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles moving toward the border towns of Yuksekova, Semdinli, and Cukurca. - Turkey will buy 50 SLAM-ER missiles from the US at USD 139 million, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said. - A construction company drilled too close to Istanbul's subway system during an excavation, nearly causing iron rods that run through the subway system to fall on trains below near the crowded Taksim Square metro station. The company was performing unauthorized drilling. International News - The Israeli cabinet has decided to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon. The US and France continue to disagree over an Israeli troop pull out of Lebanon, further delaying a UN resolution that could lead to a cease-fire. - Israeli attacks on Lebanon increase the popularity of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in Damascus where Hezbollah flags and Nasrallah t-shirts are the best selling items in the Syrian capital. - Turkish Cypriot officials slammed the UN special Cyprus representative Michael Moller for siding with the Greek Cypriots and refusing to meet with Turkish officials in the north of the divided island. - Terrorist organization PKK reportedly decided to close its offices in Iraq. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON