ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005940 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 MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006 In Today's Papers Turkish Parliament to Discuss France's Adoption of Armenian 'Genocide' Bill Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others reported over the weekend and today that French President Jacques Chirac had called him to 'apologize' for the Armenian genocide voting, pledging help in heading off the bill. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told the press before flying to Luxembourg on Sunday to participate in the Turkey-EU Troika meeting that the whole international community and the EU circles criticized the bill. 'France is discredited; I hope French politicians will become aware of this fact,' said Gul. He said the Turkish parliament would discuss in a special meeting Tuesday the measures to be taken following the adoption of the bill. Gul said Turkey would carry the issue to the European Court of Human Rights when the French bill enters into effect. Papers expect the parliament's tomorrow meeting to publish a statement accusing France of double standards by defending freedom of expression while outlawing free speech on the Armenian issue. The main opposition CHP deputy chairman Onur Oymen said Turkey had given a weak response to the adoption of the bill in France. Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk said over the weekend after receiving the prestigious literary prize that France's adoption of a draft prohibiting the denial of the Armenian genocide went against free speech. 'Freedom of expression is a French discovery and this law is contrary to the culture of freedom of expression,' Pamuk said from New York. Most of the newspapers over the weekend praised Pamuk for winning Nobel but several others questioned whether the decision by the Swedish academy was politically motivated. Semih Idiz observed in the mainstream Milliyet (10/16): "There is a general consensus about French Parliament's bill on Armenian genocide is a stupid move which casts a serious blow against the freedom of expression. There is even a sheer double standard on the genocide stance because the very same France, last year was suggesting to let the historians discuss 'the French genocide against Algeria' when Algerian government claimed the existence of a genocide. In any case, this issue does not seem to disappear regardless of assurances from French President Chirac. Let's not forget that the two candidates for presidential elections in France next year, Sarkozy and Royal, are supportive of the genocide bill. Given the circumstances, there is only one rational way for Turkey to give a proper response to France which is expansion of freedom of expression. We should be able to demonstrate that while criticizing the wrong thing in France, we have the right thing here in Turkey. That will be best way of reprising France. " Gul to Join Turkey-EU Troika Talks in Luxembourg Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will take part in the EU Troika foreign ministers' gathering in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss EU-Turkey issues prior to the November 8 release of the progress report on Turkey. On a question concerning Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, Gul said it would be wrong to say that people can not express their views in Turkey. 'Turkey is aware of its deficiencies of which we are trying to eliminate because our people deserve it,' Gul emphasized. Responding to a question about EU term president Finland's Cyprus proposal, Gul said Turkey welcomed all goodwill efforts, and would cooperate in all constructive initiatives. 'It should not be forgotten that the island has two sides, and Turkey is not a direct party of the problem. For progress, everybody should talk to Turkish Cypriots,' Gul stressed. Meanwhile, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU was worried over the slow pace of reforms in Turkey, noting that Turkey's EU accession would take 15 to 20 years. On the other hand, Radikal and Zaman cite the Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros as claiming the US was working on plans for a ANKARA 00005940 002 OF 003 'gradual' transfer of the ghost city of Maras (Varosha) to the Greek Cypriots, quoting unidentified sources. Fileleftheros says DAS Matt Bryza explained the plan to the attendants to a dinner held the Greek Ambassador in Washington, Aleksandros Mallias. Al-Maliki's Turkey Visit Postponed Turkish televisions reported early Monday that the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki's visit to Ankara scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a sandstorm. The visit will be held in November. If the visit had not been put off, papers were expecting the Turks to urge al-Maliki to crack down on the PKK camps in Mount Kandil as well as arrest and handover some 150 PKK militants moving freely in northern Iraq. Cumhuriyet claims al-Maliki had caused strain before his Turkey visit by saying that Kirkuk was Iraq's own problem, warning other countries against meddling in the issue. Dailies expect Ankara to continue pressing for a suspension of the upcoming census and referendum on Kirkuk next year. Kamuran Ozbir commented in the nationalist Ortadogu (10/16): "According to credible Western press sources, such as British The Times, Iraq is heading toward a division. And this is going to be the primary suggestion to the US administration for the future of Iraq in an upcoming report by US Congressional Commission on Iraq. The issuanceof the report coincides with the period where atacks against American soldiers in Iraq reachd to a peak level. The US Congressional Commission, chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker, is likely to suggest a new model for Iraq under three autonomous regions -Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds- and lay out this plan as the most reasonable option for the country's future. This does not necessarily end up with an actual division of Iraq under three different entities, but it implies more governing role to the autonomous regions and limits Baghdad's authority only with foreign policy, border control and control of oil reserves. Considering the closeness of James Baker to President Bush, the upcoming report on Iraq looks like to have a serious impact on Washington." TGS Chief Buyukanit's Reaction to DYP Leader Agar's Comments on the PKK Hurriyet, Sabah, Vatan and weekend papers: The Chief of General Staff over the weekend harshly criticized the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) for his remarks on the PKK. General Buyukanit characterized Agar's call for 'politics on the plains rather than weapons in the mountains', as a call for general amnesty and said "I strongly condemn it, how would it be possible for terrorists to get involved in politics?" Agar, in return, stressed that his call for "politics on the plain" was an approach aimed at preventing young people from going up into the mountains any more. Sabah reports that, on his way to Luxembourg, FM Gul extended support to Agar by saying "Agar is an experienced politician on the security issues, therefore, his comments should be evaluated carefully." Vatan reports that ANAP (Motherland Party) Leader Erkan Mumcu said "Politicians should be criticized by the politicians only, not by the military. It is not right for the military and politicians to enter into polemics. I don't agree with Agar on his comments but I support him for commenting on the issue." TV News: (NTV, 7.00 A.M.) Domestic News - Turkish frigate Gaziantep with 19 officers and 203 non-commissioned officers and privates on board, has joined the international naval force patrolling the coast off Lebanon. Turkish ground troops will leave the Mersin port on the Mediterranean for Lebanon on October 19. - Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said he will look to the ANKARA 00005940 003 OF 003 future and seek a normalization of ties with Turkey. International News - According to the British Times, Iraq's fledgling democracy is being challenged by calls for the replacement of the existing government with a group of five strongmen who would impose martial law and dissolve the parliament. - The UN Security Council voted over the weekend unanimously on sanctions against North Korea in response to its claimed nuclear tests. - A suicide attacker exploded a powerful car bomb in the capital Kabul, wounding at least three people. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON