ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006610 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 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2006 In Today's Papers Erdogan on Turkey's EU Process All papers report prior to departing for Damascus on Wednesday, Prime Minister Erdogan told the press that Turkey would wait to see the decisions to be taken at the EU meetings on December 11 and December 14-15. "In the worst case, the EU entry process might slow down, but Turkey will stick to its EU membership goal without reacting emotionally," Erdogan maintained, adding Turkey had ready "a Plan B and Plan C" if ties with the European bloc break. Erdogan slammed the French and German efforts to freeze talks with Ankara, saying France, concerned about the upcoming general elections, chose to satisfy its domestic audience by opposing Turkey joining the EU. Turkey Offers EU to Open Ports, Airport to Cyprus Turkish and international wire agencies and TVs report Thursday morning that a spokesman for Finland's EU presidency said Turkey has submitted to EU an offer to open one port and one airport to Greek Cypriot ships and planes in exchange for the opening of Ercan Airport and Maras (Varosha) port in Turkish Cyprus to international trade. Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) sources stated the proposal does not include a unilateral opening of ports. TV news broadcasts reported early in the afternoon that the Greek Cypriot administration had rejected the offer. Iraq Study Group Report Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others report the Iraq Study Group, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former US Rep. Lee Hamilton, presented President Bush with a report carrying recommendations for US troop reductions and an international support group for Iraq. The report suggests that the upcoming 2007 referendum on Kirkuk be postponed in an effort to block the spread of violence and that the diplomatic process should include Syria and Iran. It underlines that Turkey should participate in supporting the process for a solution in Iraq. Several Turkish papers highlight the report says there is "No magic formula" for Iraq. News commentaries in Cumhuriyet and the economic/political Referans point to Erdogan's recent visits to Tehran and Damascus, the latter occurring on the day when the Iraq Study Group unveiled its report, speculating that Turkey began to lay the groundwork for US policies in the Middle East. Editorial Commentary on Iraq Study Group Report Washington-based correspondent Rusen Cakir comments in the mass appeal Vatan that expectations for the report have been raised too high: "The US and almost the entire world are expecting too much from the ISG's report, hoping to find a settlement to the Iraq issue. Following the release of the report those hopes have faded. There is no miraculous solution offered in this report. The gist of the report actually presents a strong indication that the US is desperately seeking a way out in Iraq. The content of the ISG report suggests a midpoint between Democrats and Republicans and offers some plans which both parties can agree on, although nothing is new. On the other hand, the ISG report has a symbolic importance -- it shows that the US has not won the war in Iraq, and will not in the future either. This does not mean that Iraq has won the war, but Iran and Syria are certainly on the winning side of the equation. Although the report stands against the idea of a divided Iraq, the reality tells just the opposite. It is hard to predict what would happen after the withdrawal of American forces, but Iran and Syria will continue to hold the strings in Iraq as they have already gained control over Shiites and Sunnis respectively." In the conservative Bugun, columnist Cengiz Candar points out there is no "magic formula" for Iraq: "We waited for the report by Iraq Study Group as if we were waiting for Godot. For me the report has never been a subject of excitement because the Iraq problem can never be settled via miraculous ideas. Besides everything about ANKARA 00006610 002 OF 003 Iraq and the possibilities for its future have already been discussed, debated and speculated on. In other words, there is nothing left for the ISG to create idea-wise. At this point the ISG report, regardless of its suggestions, does not have a chance of implementation. The Iraq issue is directly related to the colossal transformation process in the Middle East, and by focusing on Iraq alone we simply cannot see the whole picture. There is no calendar for pull out even in the Baker-Hamilton report and President Bush is not going to commit himself to the contents of this report. The reality is far from a magical formula for Iraq. The US is suffering from an obvious weakness on Iraq while the violence mounts to an incredible dimension, and as the potential for a civil war in Lebanon grows." Baser and Ralston to Meet on December 11 Yeni Safak, Zaman, Radikal, Milliyet and others: Today's papers report that Turkey-US cooperation in countering terrorism continues. Within this framework, Turkish and US special envoys for countering PKK terrorism Baser and Ralston will meet for the fourth time, either in Germany or Belgium upon the request of Baser, on December ¶11. PM Erdogan's One Day Visit to Syria All papers report that PM Erdogan paid a one-day working visit to Damascus. He met with President Assad and PM Mohammed Naji al-Otari. Syrian PM Otari urged that both countries make joint investments. Erdogan and Syrian President Assad discussed regional matters, developments in Iraq and Lebanon, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. On his return to Turkey, PM Erdogan told the press that Iran, Syria and Turkey share the same belief regarding protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq. Survey on the Plight of Women in Southeast Turkey Milliyet and Radikal carry a survey conducted with 472 married women in 97 villages around the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, which shows 80 percent of the women are illiterate, 58 percent forced into marriage, 43 percent gave birth at the age of 14 -18, 63 percent have no social security, and girls are not sent to school. Thirty percent of the women were married when they were under the age of 15, and 44 percent of them have six or more children. The survey was conducted by Diyarbakir Municipality's Research Center for Women's Problems. A social worker from the survey team said people in the villages live in "stable-like houses" together with their sheep and cows, citing one example where she saw 24 living in a single room. Pamuk to Receive Nobel Prize on Sunday Hurriyet, Sabah, Radikal, Zaman and others report Orhan Pamuk, the first Turkish novelist to win the Nobel Prize in literature, Wednesday told around 60 journalists from various countries in Stockholm that he was pessimistic about Turkey's EU membership process. "Unfortunately, excitement in Europe and Turkey has been lost, which makes me sad," he said, noting that Turkey's accession to the EU would be an example that there is harmony among the civilizations, not clashes. Pamuk will give a speech on Thursday and attend a ceremony on Sunday where he will receive his Nobel Prize worth of USD 1.4 million. TV Highlights NTV, 6.00 A.M. Domestic News - Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said developments leading to divisions in Iraq would be harmful for the whole region. - Turkish Cyprus leader Mehmet Ali Talat will travel to The Hague at the invitation of Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot. ANKARA 00006610 003 OF 003 - Turkish Justice Ministry drafted a bill for the establishment of a national DNA bank that will facilitate the fight against crime. - Turkey's Council of State (Danistay) has suspended the decision of the Privatization Administration for the sale of state-owned Halkbank. - Four people have been killed and many others injured as more than 50 cars collided in the heavy fog near Istanbul. Eleven killed and 26 others were injured in another traffic accident on a highway near the city of Bolu. International News - Pope Benedict addressed a reception in the Vatican after his landmark trip to Turkey, expressing hope that Turkey could become a "bridge of friendship and brotherly cooperation between the West and East". - Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates said "if the US leaves Iraq in chaos," a regional conflict would break involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria, and Iran. - Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora has urged the opposition to end the street protests and return to the negotiating table, stressing he would stay in office. - France's Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Iran will face UN sanctions for refusing to halt its nuclear program. - Mortar fire on the Midan district of Baghdad killed 10 people and wounded another 54. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON