Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4768
2006-08-16 14:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004768
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 16, 2006
In Today's Papers
Turks Debate Sending Troops to Lebanon
All papers: On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and CHP leader Deniz Baykal on Turkish
plans for dispatching peacekeeping troops to Lebanon. Baykal said
the international peacekeeping force would eventually be dragged
into clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon, warning against the danger
of getting involved in the Middle East fighting. Gul told Baykal
reluctance to take part in the international force for Lebanon would
jeopardize Turkish expectations to be given a temporary seat in the
UN Security Council for 2009-10, according to Yeni Safak.
Cumhuriyet claims there is disagreement between the Turkish
government eager to announce participation in the international
Lebanon force and the military preferring to wait for a new UN
resolution detailing the tasks of the peacekeepers. The paper says
the military had been concerned by the commitment of Prime Minister
Erdogan for sending troops in a recent phone talk with Lebanese
Prime Minister Siniora, and by the statement of Lebanese Embassy
officials that Turkey was among the countries to join the UN force.
On Wednesday, Gul, accompanied by officials from the Prime
Minister's Office and the Turkish General Staff (TGS,) left for
Lebanon to meet PM Siniora and other Lebanese officials. Gul will
attend a working luncheon hosted by Siniora which French, Malaysian
and Pakistani foreign ministers will also attend. Hurriyet claims
the Turkish delegation headed by Gul could hold indirect talks with
Hezbollah in Lebanon, whereas Sabah disagrees. Gul's visit to
Israel, however, has been postponed until Sunday since Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni is scheduled to visit New York while Gul is in
Lebanon. Gul will also meet Prime Minister Olmert and his deputy
Peres in Israel. After Israel, Gul is expected to call on Damascus.
Gul is also set to participate in reconstruction and humanitarian
aid meetings for Lebanon on August 31 and Palestine on September 1,
both to be held in Stockholm.
Editorial Commentary on Turkish Troop Dispatch to Lebanon
Zafer Atay writes in the economic/political daily Dunya that a
possible attempt by the prospective international peacekeeping force
to disarm Hezbollah would be like "playing with fire:" "After 30
days of war, Israel confessed that it couldn't beat Hezbollah. It
will be crazy to expect UN soldiers to accomplish a mission that
Israel couldn't. Besides, Hezbollah did not agree on a UN peace
force but only to a ceasefire. In the past, foreign soldiers in
Lebanon had to face violent attacks. As an example, the US lost the
biggest number of military lives in a day since the World War II, in
1983, by a suicide attack against its Embassy and Marine
headquarters in Beirut. In a suicide attack on the same day, the
French headquarters as well lost 60 lives. Therefore, Ankara is
following the right policy to wait for a second UN resolution to
determine the duties of the peacekeeping force."
Mustafa Karaalioglu of the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak believes
Turkey should help Lebanon: "All the countries willing to send
troops to Lebanon, including Turkey, are still hesitant because they
are not sure if they can trust Israel. In only one month Israel
presented the whole world with a new crisis. Israel also revealed
its rather ignorant policies when it bombed the UN office while it
was hitting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The paradox lies right here: on
one side there is the necessity of helping the people of Lebanon,
together with whom we cried for their losses during last month; and
on the other side are Israel's tactics and success in involving
other countries in its own problems. We need to debate the issue a
little more."
Tan Welcomes a US Special Coordinator for the PKK
Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) Spokesman Namik Tan told the
ANKARA 00004768 002 OF 003
Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak that the anticipated appointment of a
US special coordinator for the PKK would speed up the struggle
against terrorism. Tan said a retired military official could be
named as US coordinator. "The United States is the first country
that has declared the PKK a terrorist organization. The US has
provided Turkey significant help in the capture of Abdullah Ocalan.
Bearing all that in mind, it is not possible that the US will hold
meetings with the PKK," Tan emphasized.
Bush to Meet with Erdogan Early October
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Yeni Safak: President Bush has
responded positively to Prime Minister Erdogan's request for an
appointment at the White House, saying he could meet Erdogan on
October 5-6. Angela Merkel is expected to visit Turkey accompanied
by Turkish businessmen on that day, so Ankara is now trying to put
off the German Chancellor's visit to the second half of October.
Sabah notes the upcoming Merkel visit was important due to the
critical nature of Turkey-EU negotiations, saying Erdogan might have
to make a difficult choice between Merkel and Bush.
Government, Labor Unions Negotiate Pay Rises
All papers report that during talks with labor unions which kicked
off on Tuesday, the ruling AK Party government told public sector
employees it is ready to compensate them for losses incurred due to
rising inflation. Public sector labor unions, Kamu-Sen, Memur-Sen,
and KESK, demanded at least a 10 percent rise in civil servant
salaries, and asked that the current monthly minimum wage of YTL 477
in Turkey be raised to slightly above YTL 1,000. Collective
bargaining talks will be completed in two weeks.
TV Highlights
NTV (7 a.m.)
Domestic News
- Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal warned the dispatch of
peacekeeping troops to Lebanon would cause serious troubles for
Turkey.
- Two Turkish civil servants working on a road renovation project
in the southeastern province of Bingol were abducted by suspected
PKK terrorists on Tuesday evening.
- Two Turkish soldiers have been killed in fighting with the PKK
terrorists in the southeastern border province of Sirnak.
International News
- US State Department has released a statement to note the 22nd
anniversary of the beginning of the PKK campaign of terrorist
violence against Turkey, calling on the PKK to "cease terrorist
actions and lay down arms."
- United Nations is planning to deploy a peacekeeping force of
15,000 to the south of Lebanon, with the first troops of a phased
deployment on the ground within 10 days, officials said. Israel has
begun pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon.
- The Iraqi police on Tuesday closed down the "Ocalan Institution
for Literature and Research" in Baghdad. The office, used for
political propaganda, international contacts with the PKK
terrorists, and the treatment of injured militants, had opened seven
months ago.
- A truck rigged with explosives detonated outside the offices of
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the northern Iraqi city of
Mosul, killing nine and wounding another 36.
- The Iranian administration has launched a "Holocaust cartoon
exhibit" as a response to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published
ANKARA 00004768 003 OF 003
last year.
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 16, 2006
In Today's Papers
Turks Debate Sending Troops to Lebanon
All papers: On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and CHP leader Deniz Baykal on Turkish
plans for dispatching peacekeeping troops to Lebanon. Baykal said
the international peacekeeping force would eventually be dragged
into clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon, warning against the danger
of getting involved in the Middle East fighting. Gul told Baykal
reluctance to take part in the international force for Lebanon would
jeopardize Turkish expectations to be given a temporary seat in the
UN Security Council for 2009-10, according to Yeni Safak.
Cumhuriyet claims there is disagreement between the Turkish
government eager to announce participation in the international
Lebanon force and the military preferring to wait for a new UN
resolution detailing the tasks of the peacekeepers. The paper says
the military had been concerned by the commitment of Prime Minister
Erdogan for sending troops in a recent phone talk with Lebanese
Prime Minister Siniora, and by the statement of Lebanese Embassy
officials that Turkey was among the countries to join the UN force.
On Wednesday, Gul, accompanied by officials from the Prime
Minister's Office and the Turkish General Staff (TGS,) left for
Lebanon to meet PM Siniora and other Lebanese officials. Gul will
attend a working luncheon hosted by Siniora which French, Malaysian
and Pakistani foreign ministers will also attend. Hurriyet claims
the Turkish delegation headed by Gul could hold indirect talks with
Hezbollah in Lebanon, whereas Sabah disagrees. Gul's visit to
Israel, however, has been postponed until Sunday since Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni is scheduled to visit New York while Gul is in
Lebanon. Gul will also meet Prime Minister Olmert and his deputy
Peres in Israel. After Israel, Gul is expected to call on Damascus.
Gul is also set to participate in reconstruction and humanitarian
aid meetings for Lebanon on August 31 and Palestine on September 1,
both to be held in Stockholm.
Editorial Commentary on Turkish Troop Dispatch to Lebanon
Zafer Atay writes in the economic/political daily Dunya that a
possible attempt by the prospective international peacekeeping force
to disarm Hezbollah would be like "playing with fire:" "After 30
days of war, Israel confessed that it couldn't beat Hezbollah. It
will be crazy to expect UN soldiers to accomplish a mission that
Israel couldn't. Besides, Hezbollah did not agree on a UN peace
force but only to a ceasefire. In the past, foreign soldiers in
Lebanon had to face violent attacks. As an example, the US lost the
biggest number of military lives in a day since the World War II, in
1983, by a suicide attack against its Embassy and Marine
headquarters in Beirut. In a suicide attack on the same day, the
French headquarters as well lost 60 lives. Therefore, Ankara is
following the right policy to wait for a second UN resolution to
determine the duties of the peacekeeping force."
Mustafa Karaalioglu of the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak believes
Turkey should help Lebanon: "All the countries willing to send
troops to Lebanon, including Turkey, are still hesitant because they
are not sure if they can trust Israel. In only one month Israel
presented the whole world with a new crisis. Israel also revealed
its rather ignorant policies when it bombed the UN office while it
was hitting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The paradox lies right here: on
one side there is the necessity of helping the people of Lebanon,
together with whom we cried for their losses during last month; and
on the other side are Israel's tactics and success in involving
other countries in its own problems. We need to debate the issue a
little more."
Tan Welcomes a US Special Coordinator for the PKK
Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) Spokesman Namik Tan told the
ANKARA 00004768 002 OF 003
Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak that the anticipated appointment of a
US special coordinator for the PKK would speed up the struggle
against terrorism. Tan said a retired military official could be
named as US coordinator. "The United States is the first country
that has declared the PKK a terrorist organization. The US has
provided Turkey significant help in the capture of Abdullah Ocalan.
Bearing all that in mind, it is not possible that the US will hold
meetings with the PKK," Tan emphasized.
Bush to Meet with Erdogan Early October
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Yeni Safak: President Bush has
responded positively to Prime Minister Erdogan's request for an
appointment at the White House, saying he could meet Erdogan on
October 5-6. Angela Merkel is expected to visit Turkey accompanied
by Turkish businessmen on that day, so Ankara is now trying to put
off the German Chancellor's visit to the second half of October.
Sabah notes the upcoming Merkel visit was important due to the
critical nature of Turkey-EU negotiations, saying Erdogan might have
to make a difficult choice between Merkel and Bush.
Government, Labor Unions Negotiate Pay Rises
All papers report that during talks with labor unions which kicked
off on Tuesday, the ruling AK Party government told public sector
employees it is ready to compensate them for losses incurred due to
rising inflation. Public sector labor unions, Kamu-Sen, Memur-Sen,
and KESK, demanded at least a 10 percent rise in civil servant
salaries, and asked that the current monthly minimum wage of YTL 477
in Turkey be raised to slightly above YTL 1,000. Collective
bargaining talks will be completed in two weeks.
TV Highlights
NTV (7 a.m.)
Domestic News
- Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal warned the dispatch of
peacekeeping troops to Lebanon would cause serious troubles for
Turkey.
- Two Turkish civil servants working on a road renovation project
in the southeastern province of Bingol were abducted by suspected
PKK terrorists on Tuesday evening.
- Two Turkish soldiers have been killed in fighting with the PKK
terrorists in the southeastern border province of Sirnak.
International News
- US State Department has released a statement to note the 22nd
anniversary of the beginning of the PKK campaign of terrorist
violence against Turkey, calling on the PKK to "cease terrorist
actions and lay down arms."
- United Nations is planning to deploy a peacekeeping force of
15,000 to the south of Lebanon, with the first troops of a phased
deployment on the ground within 10 days, officials said. Israel has
begun pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon.
- The Iraqi police on Tuesday closed down the "Ocalan Institution
for Literature and Research" in Baghdad. The office, used for
political propaganda, international contacts with the PKK
terrorists, and the treatment of injured militants, had opened seven
months ago.
- A truck rigged with explosives detonated outside the offices of
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the northern Iraqi city of
Mosul, killing nine and wounding another 36.
- The Iranian administration has launched a "Holocaust cartoon
exhibit" as a response to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published
ANKARA 00004768 003 OF 003
last year.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON