Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4626
2006-08-10 14:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004626
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
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2006
In Today's Papers
Turks Skeptical of US Efforts Against the PKK
Cumhuriyet and Vatan report that Inal Batu, a leading lawmaker from
the opposition CHP, said the US suggestion to appoint a special
coordinator was a "stalling tactic," just another way to put off
concrete action against the organization. Analysts and politicians
are skeptical of the idea of a "special coordinator," stressing
that, inspired by "the IRA model," the goal was to transform the PKK
from a terrorist organization into a political force, pressing
Turkey to negotiate with the PKK. Meanwhile, the papers report that
under growing political and military pressure, the outlawed PKK has
shifted operations to Turkey's Black Sea region, in a move also
aimed at boosting the morale of its members. Papers also report
that US troops are training in Kuwait for anti-PKK military
operations on Mount Kandil. Iran, too, reportedly stepped up
operations against the PKK.
Writing in the nationalist Ortadogu, Kamuran Ozbir warns of Turkish
government inattention to the problem, pointing out that the
appointment of a "special coordinator" is a danger signal in the
battle against the PPK: "Turkey has been receiving promises from the
US regarding the PKK since the beginning of the Iraqi war in 2003.
So far, there have been no concrete results, a situation which the
AKP government has chosen to ignore. Every country has a unit
responsible for counter-terrorism. If one side assigns a special
envoy, that means some new steps, such as a general amnesty, will be
taken bilaterally. Fighting against terrorism should be an
immediate priority, not a fight spread out over a long time. With
the assignment of a special coordinator, the Bush Administration is
trying to distract Turkey's attention once again. And,
unfortunately, our administration is continuing to ignore these
developments."
Hikmet Bila, commenting in the leftist Cumhuriyet, agrees that the
need for a "special coordinator" indicates trouble: "The US is going
to assign a special coordinator to deal with the PKK, supposedly to
coordinate the fight against the PKK. This shows that there are no
channels left between two NATO allies and friends in the fight
against terrorism. Obviously, the governments, militaries and the
embassies were not capable of resolving this issue and they decided
to assign a coordinator. The opposition in Turkey has already
warned the government that this not a good solution and if Turkey
agrees to it, Turkey will lose out. Actually, this is an historic
warning, because Turkish history is full of problems caused by
special coordinator assignments. History will be repeating itself
on the day the US assigns a special coordinator for the PKK in
Northern Iraq."
Saudi King Abdullah Visits Turkey
All papers report Saudi King Abdullah came yesterday to Turkey
accompanied by a 300-member delegation of officials and businessmen.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer hosted a dinner for King Abdullah in
Ankara at which the ongoing violence in Lebanon was discussed.
Abdullah said that the "wise" Turkish position vis-`-vis the crisis
in Lebanon was in line with the position of the Saudi Kingdom. He
also said the Middle East should be cleared of nuclear weapons.
After dinner, the sides signed six agreements to deepen bilateral
ties, agreeing to double bilateral trade, currently amounting to USD
2.8 billion. Reports speculate that Turkey and Saudi Arabia are
kicking off a period of economic strategic partnership. Turkey
offered incentives to encourage Saudi investments in the country.
Papers claim King Abdullah was interested in making USD 8 billion in
investments in Istanbul and in constructing a mall containing
health, sports and shopping facilities. Abdullah is the first Saudi
king to pay an official visit to Turkey since the foundation of the
Kingdom in 1932.
US Transfers Arms from Incirlik Airbase
ANKARA 00004626 002.3 OF 003
Sabah, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, and Yeni Safak claim 15
truckload of explosives belonging to the US Army were taken to
Tasucu port near the Mediterranean coastal city of Mersin. Papers
speculate that the arms were en route to Israel through Incirlik
Airbase in south Turkey. Yeni Safak alleges that the shipment
included GBU-28 bunker buster bombs being sent to Israel by the US.
US sources, however, have said that the shipments contained
munitions from Incirlik Airbase being returned to the US.
New Election System to Keep Kurds out of Parliament
Vatan reports the ruling AK Party is mulling changes in the election
system to prevent more pro-Kurdish lawmakers from entering the
parliament. The AKP is working on a formula to implement a
threshold for independent candidates. If the opposition CHP
supports the draft regulation, independent candidates will have to
overcome a 2 or 3 percent threshold to win seats in the parliament.
Vatan says Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP was expecting to win 40
seats in parliament through candidates running as independents in
the next general elections, but that the new formula would allow the
Kurds to get only 5 or 6 seats. CHP is negative about the proposal,
says the paper.
US Review of GSP to Hit Turkish Exporters
Hurriyet, Sabah and Dunya report Turkish exports to the United
States are at risk because the Bush administration is reviewing
trade benefits such as duty-free imports for 13 developing
countries, including Turkey. US Trade Representative Susan Schwab
said a meeting at the US Congress on August 7 noted that the least
developed countries did not benefit from General System of
Preferences (GSP) and that a review of the existing implementation
would be announced on September 5. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen
said Turkey had USD 1 billion of exports via GSP, and that if taken
off the list, Turkish exporters would be adversely affected.
TV Highlights
NTV (7 a.m.)
Domestic News
- Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc has called for the release
of the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Aziz Dweik, and
Palestinian lawmakers under custody in Israel.
- Prime Minister Erdogan will meet today with Iraqi Vice President
Tariq al-Hashimi, who is visiting Turkey as the guest of Erdogan's
top foreign policy advisor, Professor Ahmet Davutoglu.
- Eight PKK militants turned themselves in to the security forces in
the southeastern border province of Sirnak yesterday.
- The Turkish Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs has announced
that Turkish beaches are not threatened by an oil slick caused by
Israel's bombing of a Lebanese power plant.
International News
- Fifty Lebanese civilians have been killed in the latest Israeli
bombings, including at least 30 in a strike on southern Beirut.
- King Abdullah of Jordan said the US, Britain and Europe have
failed to adopt a comprehensive strategy to resolve the problems of
the Middle East and have caused great concern with regard to the
future of the region.
- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the UN
Security Council could pass this week a resolution to stop fighting
between Israel and Hezbollah.
ANKARA 00004626 003 OF 003
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
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
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2006
In Today's Papers
Turks Skeptical of US Efforts Against the PKK
Cumhuriyet and Vatan report that Inal Batu, a leading lawmaker from
the opposition CHP, said the US suggestion to appoint a special
coordinator was a "stalling tactic," just another way to put off
concrete action against the organization. Analysts and politicians
are skeptical of the idea of a "special coordinator," stressing
that, inspired by "the IRA model," the goal was to transform the PKK
from a terrorist organization into a political force, pressing
Turkey to negotiate with the PKK. Meanwhile, the papers report that
under growing political and military pressure, the outlawed PKK has
shifted operations to Turkey's Black Sea region, in a move also
aimed at boosting the morale of its members. Papers also report
that US troops are training in Kuwait for anti-PKK military
operations on Mount Kandil. Iran, too, reportedly stepped up
operations against the PKK.
Writing in the nationalist Ortadogu, Kamuran Ozbir warns of Turkish
government inattention to the problem, pointing out that the
appointment of a "special coordinator" is a danger signal in the
battle against the PPK: "Turkey has been receiving promises from the
US regarding the PKK since the beginning of the Iraqi war in 2003.
So far, there have been no concrete results, a situation which the
AKP government has chosen to ignore. Every country has a unit
responsible for counter-terrorism. If one side assigns a special
envoy, that means some new steps, such as a general amnesty, will be
taken bilaterally. Fighting against terrorism should be an
immediate priority, not a fight spread out over a long time. With
the assignment of a special coordinator, the Bush Administration is
trying to distract Turkey's attention once again. And,
unfortunately, our administration is continuing to ignore these
developments."
Hikmet Bila, commenting in the leftist Cumhuriyet, agrees that the
need for a "special coordinator" indicates trouble: "The US is going
to assign a special coordinator to deal with the PKK, supposedly to
coordinate the fight against the PKK. This shows that there are no
channels left between two NATO allies and friends in the fight
against terrorism. Obviously, the governments, militaries and the
embassies were not capable of resolving this issue and they decided
to assign a coordinator. The opposition in Turkey has already
warned the government that this not a good solution and if Turkey
agrees to it, Turkey will lose out. Actually, this is an historic
warning, because Turkish history is full of problems caused by
special coordinator assignments. History will be repeating itself
on the day the US assigns a special coordinator for the PKK in
Northern Iraq."
Saudi King Abdullah Visits Turkey
All papers report Saudi King Abdullah came yesterday to Turkey
accompanied by a 300-member delegation of officials and businessmen.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer hosted a dinner for King Abdullah in
Ankara at which the ongoing violence in Lebanon was discussed.
Abdullah said that the "wise" Turkish position vis-`-vis the crisis
in Lebanon was in line with the position of the Saudi Kingdom. He
also said the Middle East should be cleared of nuclear weapons.
After dinner, the sides signed six agreements to deepen bilateral
ties, agreeing to double bilateral trade, currently amounting to USD
2.8 billion. Reports speculate that Turkey and Saudi Arabia are
kicking off a period of economic strategic partnership. Turkey
offered incentives to encourage Saudi investments in the country.
Papers claim King Abdullah was interested in making USD 8 billion in
investments in Istanbul and in constructing a mall containing
health, sports and shopping facilities. Abdullah is the first Saudi
king to pay an official visit to Turkey since the foundation of the
Kingdom in 1932.
US Transfers Arms from Incirlik Airbase
ANKARA 00004626 002.3 OF 003
Sabah, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, and Yeni Safak claim 15
truckload of explosives belonging to the US Army were taken to
Tasucu port near the Mediterranean coastal city of Mersin. Papers
speculate that the arms were en route to Israel through Incirlik
Airbase in south Turkey. Yeni Safak alleges that the shipment
included GBU-28 bunker buster bombs being sent to Israel by the US.
US sources, however, have said that the shipments contained
munitions from Incirlik Airbase being returned to the US.
New Election System to Keep Kurds out of Parliament
Vatan reports the ruling AK Party is mulling changes in the election
system to prevent more pro-Kurdish lawmakers from entering the
parliament. The AKP is working on a formula to implement a
threshold for independent candidates. If the opposition CHP
supports the draft regulation, independent candidates will have to
overcome a 2 or 3 percent threshold to win seats in the parliament.
Vatan says Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP was expecting to win 40
seats in parliament through candidates running as independents in
the next general elections, but that the new formula would allow the
Kurds to get only 5 or 6 seats. CHP is negative about the proposal,
says the paper.
US Review of GSP to Hit Turkish Exporters
Hurriyet, Sabah and Dunya report Turkish exports to the United
States are at risk because the Bush administration is reviewing
trade benefits such as duty-free imports for 13 developing
countries, including Turkey. US Trade Representative Susan Schwab
said a meeting at the US Congress on August 7 noted that the least
developed countries did not benefit from General System of
Preferences (GSP) and that a review of the existing implementation
would be announced on September 5. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen
said Turkey had USD 1 billion of exports via GSP, and that if taken
off the list, Turkish exporters would be adversely affected.
TV Highlights
NTV (7 a.m.)
Domestic News
- Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc has called for the release
of the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Aziz Dweik, and
Palestinian lawmakers under custody in Israel.
- Prime Minister Erdogan will meet today with Iraqi Vice President
Tariq al-Hashimi, who is visiting Turkey as the guest of Erdogan's
top foreign policy advisor, Professor Ahmet Davutoglu.
- Eight PKK militants turned themselves in to the security forces in
the southeastern border province of Sirnak yesterday.
- The Turkish Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs has announced
that Turkish beaches are not threatened by an oil slick caused by
Israel's bombing of a Lebanese power plant.
International News
- Fifty Lebanese civilians have been killed in the latest Israeli
bombings, including at least 30 in a strike on southern Beirut.
- King Abdullah of Jordan said the US, Britain and Europe have
failed to adopt a comprehensive strategy to resolve the problems of
the Middle East and have caused great concern with regard to the
future of the region.
- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the UN
Security Council could pass this week a resolution to stop fighting
between Israel and Hezbollah.
ANKARA 00004626 003 OF 003
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON