ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004992 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 TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2006 In Today's Papers Turkish Troop Deployment to Lebanon All papers: After a five-hour meeting, the Cabinet announced its decision in principle to send troops to Lebanon. The Cabinet spokesman said that decision was taken in view of Turkish interests and goes beyond domestic concerns. Asked about President Sezer's objections, he was quoted as saying, "We respect his views, but we think differently." Following the cabinet decision all eyes now turn to Parliament for its decision. Aksam says that while the government agrees on this issue, the Foreign Ministry was concerned about the developments in the Middle East. A report prepared by Turkish diplomats showed that the peacekeepers in the region might be dragged into clashes with Hezbollah. The Foreign Ministry insists that the government should focus on peaceful diplomatic solutions rather than deciding to send troops to Lebanon. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan started his 11-day Middle East Tour from Lebanon. Annan, reportedly, faced protests in south Beirut by pro-Hezbollah Lebanese people while he was touring the bomb-wrecked part of the city. Columnists from different publications remain cautious about sending Turkish soldiers to Lebanon while a few support the idea of taking a role: Yilmaz Oztuna writes in the conservative Turkiye: "From the beginning of the debate about whether or not to send troops to Lebanon, I haven't come up with a clear conclusion. Given the circumstances, being in Lebanon seems objectionable, yet not sending troops seems even more objectionable. Everything about Lebanon is dangerous, gloomy, unstable as well as constantly changing. By looking at the issue and the situation, it may sound funny but I can fully agree with both Turkish President Sezer and Prime Minister Erdogan as the former stands against the idea while the latter defends it." Gungor Mengi commenting in the mass appeal Vatan: "The government has made the right decision by moving toward dispatching troops to Lebanon. As the government spokesman noted, Turkey cannot afford to sit and watch like an outsider. The peacekeeping force is Turkey's duty for both domestic and foreign political reasons. If Turkey remains aloof to the tragedy next door, there can be no validation for us to proclaim ourselves a bridge between civilizations. Not sending troops to Lebanon also means Turkey would lose one of its strong cards for EU membership. Taking a role in Lebanon can also be used as a convincing argument toward the US in the fight against terrorism. Otherwise the US will not be enthusiastic about taking any initiative on the PKK. It is true that Hezbollah poses a potential risk for Turkish soldiers there. But elimination of this risk requires skilful diplomacy vis-`-vis Iran, not necessarily closing the door to any action." Kursat Bumin argues in the Islamist-opinion maker Yeni Safak: "Regardless of the ongoing rhetoric, the fact is that the Lebanon crisis is not about the two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah. It is not possible to comprehend the big picture without taking the US factor, or the current US administration for that matter, into account. It is also very wrong to try to analyze the Lebanon-Israel situation through religious and historical arguments instead of political motives. In fact, the masterminds of the current US administration are providing enough material to think about the political reasons. One example is Robert Kagan who defends the idea that the world is in need of a powerful organizer, and this role cannot be played by an international organization. At this point can we possibly say that the UNSC 1701 is a solid resolution which everybody will obey fully?" Handover Ceremony at the Turkish General Staff ANKARA 00004992 002 OF 002 All papers: General Yasar Buyukanit took over the position of Chief of Staff from General Ozkok in a ceremony yesterday. Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the General Staff headquarters yesterday, the new Chief of General Staff General Buyukanit was quoted as saying that "in addition to all uncertainties and risks around us, Turkey has never been face to face with this much armed separatist terrorism, and internal and external threats which I may define as unarmed terrorism. General Buyukanit emphasized that Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state of law. Outgoing Chief of Staff General Ozkok mainly touched on Turkey's security concerns and said that terrorism and fundamentalism are two major security threats that Turkey should closely be watching and taking necessary measures to counter. During the ceremony, President Sezer decorated General Ozkok with the State Medal of Honor, thanking him for his distinguished services as chief of General Staff. Bomb Blast in Antalya Kills 3 Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet,Milliyet and others: An explosion in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya yesterday killed three people and injured 87, including foreign tourists. Milliyet claims that the bomb was left at a business center by PKK militants. Meanwhile The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombings in Marmaris and Istanbul. British Ambassador Peter Westmacott visited the British citizens in a hospital in Marmaris, thanked the doctors and other officials for their assistance to the British citizens and stressed that no travel ban to Turkey would be applied. Washington Names Special Envoy for Countering PKK All papers report that the US has appointed the former Vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Ralston as special envoy for coordinating the fight against the PKK. In a written statement, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that "General Ralston will have responsibility for coordinating US engagement with the government of Turkey and the government of Iraq to eliminate the terrorist threat of the PKK and other terrorist groups operating in Northern Iraq and across the Turkey-Iraq border." TV Highlights NTV (6 A.M.) Domestic News Q A firefighting helicopter crashed into the river in Kas, Antalya. Five people on board survived the crash Q Turkey might be penalized for asking TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat to present the Grand Prix award to the winner at Sunday's F1 race in Istanbul International News Q Two Turkish citizens were killed in Afghanistan Q Fifty gunmen and 20 Iraqi soldiers died in clashes in south of Baghdad Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON