ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005615 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, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006 In Today's Papers Talabani Expects the PKK to Call a Ceasefire Soon All papers report Iraqi President Talabani, in New York to attend the 61st UN General Assembly meetings, announced that the PKK was expected to declare a ceasefire within a few days. Talabani said the cease-fire would help open a new page in Iraqi ties with Turkey. The Iraqi President called on Turkey to take forward steps concerning the democratic rights of the Kurds. Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) sources told Vatan that following the visit of US special envoy for countering the PKK, Joseph Ralston, to northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdish leaders bargained with the PKK to cease attacks targeting Turkey, and in exchange have been given guarantees that they will not be handed over to Turks. Papers say that according to a provision added to the draft Kurdish constitution submitted to the Kurdish Parliament in Erbil, asylum seekers in Iraq will not be extradited under any condition. Papers expect the provision to be applied to PKK members. Turkey is alarmed by the draft in which Iraqi Turkmen are rendered to the status of a minority, papers comment. Questioning the reliability of Talabani and his remarks, Murat Yetkin wrote in the liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Remarks from Iraqi President Talabani, while in the US, attract a different kind of attention in Turkey. The international press mainly focused on his request from the US for two military bases and a permanent army unit. Yet in Turkey, the PKK related remarks are the essence of stories about him. He was saying that the PKK were convinced to declare a ceasefire, and are talking about a new chapter about to open between Turkey and Iraq relations. Talabani presented the PKK's normal procedures as a ceasefire -- the terror organization traditionally stops its attacks due to weather conditions and waits to get ready for a new series of attacks after winter. Interestingly enough Talabani was talking about it as if it were a new thing. Turkey's special representative for countering terrorism, General Edip Baser has expressed concern about Talabani's remarks, emphasizing his mistrust for both Talabani and Barzani. Baser strongly believes that if Talabani is sincere he should concentrate his energy on convincing the PKK to give up arms. It looks like the special-envoy-for-countering-PKK-terrorism mechanism, which was established because the US pushed for it, has to produce results that will ease the public opinion. The closure of PKK-related bureaus and ongoing efforts to cut off the PKK's financial links are not good enough to satisfy the expectations. There is an urgent need for concrete result otherwise the countering terrorism mechanism will be totally meaningless. This is what the Turkish envoy believes too." General Basbug on the Fundamentalist Threat on Turkey All papers report the Turkish Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug made some strong remarks about the role of the army in protecting the Turkish Republic's founding principles, predominantly territorial integrity, unity and secularism. During the opening ceremony of the new academic year at the Land Forces Academy, General Basbug said that the fundamentalism threat has reached to a worrisome level. He added that the fight against fundamentalism should be a popular movement. He also noted that religious sects became centers for movements against the Republic. General Basbug criticized the remarks by "those inside and outside" that the army should not interfere in such issues, which papers picked up as a response to the remarks by EU Representative in Ankara about the excessive involvement of the military in Turkish politics. "When it comes to protecting the founding principles of the Republic, the Army has a duty and cannot remain neutral" he added. AKP deputy group chairman Faruk Celik, in response to GEN Basbug's remarks, said "if there is fundamentalism in Turkey, it would be the government's job to fight against it first." ANKARA 00005615 002 OF 003 President Sezer, in his message to Ankara University, said that the youth should be kept away from dogmas. He noted that universities should graduate students who have the capacity to think freely and scientifically. Non-Muslim Turks Blame the Government and Opposition Milliyet reports that a group of Turkish citizens of Greek and Armenian origin released a statement blaming both the government and the opposition party CHP for their negative stance regarding a recent parliament bill which called for the return of assets seized from minority foundations. Opposition CHP asked for the postponement of the bill until the Turkish government makes sure that Greece does the same in the principle of reciprocity. Signed by more than 100 Turks of Armenian and Greek origin, the declaration says that both the government and the opposition ought to abide by the requirements of democracy, and denounces discriminative views voiced during debates in parliament. Freedom of Expression: Article 301 is Back in Action All papers report that a new law suit was filed against the editor of Agos newspaper (serves the Turkish Armenian community),Hrant Dink. Dink is accused of "insulting Turkishness." A local prosecutor in Istanbul demands up to three years for Dink due to his printed remarks in the Agos newspaper which accepts genocide as a fact. Papers remind that Dink was earlier given a suspended prison sentence for "insulting Turkishness" and he will have to serve in prison if this case turns out against him. Editorial Commentary on Pope Remarks Criticizing Islam Hasan Cemal wrote in the mainstream Milliyet: "There is no way to approve of the Pope's recent remarks. By establishing a link between Islam and violence, the Pope paved the way for provocative developments. It looks like there is a hideous political game going on. But the right approach to dealing with this plot goes through efforts for dialogue rather than conflict. This is the only way to make the plot ineffective. Providing more fuel to the fire is an irresponsible act. There are signs that demonstrate the Islamic world is not ready for discussing faith or related issues in an intellectual context. Instead we see Muslim masses provoked into more violence and conflict which is a very dangerous path. Stating Islam as a religion for peace requires a different approach than this. The Pope is going to visit Turkey in November. This visit can be a unique chance to turn an atmosphere of conflict into a platform for dialogue. Any type of provocation during this visit will not only hamper Turkey's EU accession but also will harm inter-religions dialogue." TV Highlights NTV (8 A.M.) Domestic News - A jandarma lieutenant was killed in a clash between the Turkish security forces and the PKK militants in the southeastern province of Mardin last night. - Representatives of non-Muslim minority groups have released a statement accusing the parliament, and especially opposition party CHP, of discriminating against minorities in Turkey. - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will address the parliament at the opening of the new legislative year. Sezer will address the parliament for the last time as president. - The ruling AK Party said civil servants will be granted 12.2 percent wage hike in 2007. - Anne Krueger, the former IMF first deputy managing director, urged ANKARA 00005615 003 OF 003 Turkey to continue economic stabilization reforms. International News - EU Commission President Barroso said the European Union must stop expanding after taking in Romania and Bulgaria next year. - Turkey's chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan is to kick off a tour of European countries this week. - Turkish Cypus "President" Mehmet Ali Talat has approved the coalition government formed by CTP and the newly founded Free Party (ORP). - During a meeting with Muslim envoys in Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI declined to apologize for his controversial comments about Islam, but said dialogue between Christians and Muslims was vital for global peace and stability. - Britain's Independent reports Sunni insurgents have largely taken control of the Iraqi province of Diyala, where the insurgents are believed to be close to establishing a "Taliban republic". Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON