ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006498 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 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2006 In Today's Papers Pope Benedict XVI's Upcoming Visit to Turkey Yeni Safak, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others: Turkey plans tight security measures for the Pope for his upcoming visit to Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Ali Bardakoglu, head of the directorate for Religious Affairs, said that the Pope should "acknowledge the peaceful nature of Islam" during his visit to Turkey, and should stress that "religion is not the source of violence." Meanwhile, the Felicity Party (SP) is organizing a "No to the Pope" demonstration on Sunday in Istanbul. The Vatican yesterday expressed great disappointment at an ultranationalist protest against the Pope in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. Turkish Culture Minister Atilla Koc also condemned the protest saying that he "could not approve of a raid on a cultural center or a place of worship, regardless the reason." World Economic Forum (WEF) All papers: Stressing the importance of connecting regions and creating new opportunities in his opening speech at the WEF Turkey Summit, PM Erdogan said "Turkey has come to be known in the international community as the country of opportunities." He stressed that the Forum would determine problems and would suggest solutions in this framework. PM Erdogan noted that Turkey's EU entry was crucial for the alliance of civilizations. A report prepared by the WEF described Turkey as model of stability in the region and that Turkey was playing active role in preventing regional clashes and defusing tensions. Journalists, Jurists Proposal to Amend Article 301 Sabah, Zaman and others: The Turkish Journalists Society and the Turkish Penal Code (TPC) Association sent PM Erdogan a proposal regarding amendment of Turkish Penal Code, article 301, the article under which several prominent journalists and writers have been prosecuted for "insulting Turkishness." According to the proposal, the word "Turkishness" in the controversial article 301 of the TCK should be replaced with the term "Turkish Nation" to underline citizenship bonds. President Sezer Remarks at the OIC All papers: Speaking at the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC COMCEC),President Sezer urged the international community to end the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots. President Sezer expressed Turkey's concerns over Iraq and noted that rather than a referendum, Kirkuk's status should be determined through compromise. TV Highlights NTV (6 a.m.) - Turkish lawmakers attending Turkey-EU joint parliamentary commission meetings in Brussels on November 27-28 have been given a briefing by Intelligence Undersecretary Emre Taner. "We know the hideouts of Fehriye Erdal and Dursun Karatas, but there is nothing we can do to take them," Taner said. - Two terrorists have been killed in operations in Sirnak since November 19. - The High Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) will hold a meeting with producers of morning programs targeting women on November 28. 55 percent of complaints for infringing public morality lodged to RTUK are related to morning programs for women. - Greek Foreign Minister Bakoyannis says it would be unacceptable to exclude Maras from the Finnish formula for settlement in Cyprus. ANKARA 00006498 002 OF 002 - Tens of thousands of people have bid farewell to assassinated Lebanese politician Gemayel in Beirut. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON