ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006716

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 21, 2006


In Today's Papers

Early Election Debate
All papers report that AKP officials said on the issue of a mass
resignation from Parliament that the General Assembly had to approve
any resignation from the Parliament, meaning that the idea that the
opposition could force early elections with a parliamentary walk-out
was unrealistic. PM Erdogan claimed that only two parties would
enter the Parliament in the next elections and that the main
opposition party, the CHP, would lose votes. When asked about the
Presidential candidate, Erdogan said that they would hold polls and
listen to the views of the public, their deputies, the party
organization and the relevant institutions before reaching a
decision on a candidate. Hurriyet quoted CHP leader Deniz Baykal as
saying that the idea of a mass resignation was not rational, and
they would continue to work for an early election.

EU Agrees to Open Single Chapter in Accession Talks
All papers report that the Permanent Representatives of EU members
agreed on Wednesday to send an invitation letter to Turkey to open
talks on only one chapter, enterprise and industry policy. The
decision falls short of Turkey's expectations that talks would open
on four chapters.

Erdogan Urges US to Set Iraq Withdrawal Timetable
All papers: Today's papers covered the remarks that PM Erdogan gave
before his departure from New York. Speaking to the press, Erdogan
suggested that the US announce a timetable for withdrawing troops
from Iraq. He termed the situation in Iraq a civil war and stressed
that the number of US troops in Iraq should be reduced gradually.
Erdogan also opposed the holding of early elections in Palestine.
He noted that if the Palestinian President decides by himself to go
to elections then this would mean he was ignoring Hamas, which was
carried to power by the Palestinian people.

Cross-Border Operation: Bargaining with the US
Radikal reports that Turkey's special envoy for countering PKK
terrorism retired General Edip Baser said that at the meeting in
Stuttgart on December 11 with his American counterpart retired
General Joseph Ralston they spoke about the possibilities of a
cross-border operation into Iraq and asked the US not to oppose it
if Turkey were to decide such an action was necessary. Baser said
that the US officials showed understanding for the Turkish thesis
that if the US pressures the Iraqi government and Kurdish groups,
then the PKK camps in northern Iraq will be dispersed, arms will be
laid down, and there will be no need for a military operation,.

Commentary on Iraq
Columnist Soli Ozel, writing in the mass appeal Sabah, warns the US
against creating the impression of favoring Shiites in Iraq: "So far
Iran benefited the most from US mistakes in the region and currently
Iran is making efforts to expand its regional hegemony -- a
disturbing factor for Iraq and the other neighbors of Iran. In that
respect, the steps by the US administration for correcting the Iraq
fiasco are very important and are being watched by the regional
countries. As for the Bush administration, there are increasing
signs of Washington being stubborn once again and not making a
policy change. Yet it will be very hard for President Bush to
persuade the military to send additional troops to Iraq. Eventually
he will have to look for help and support from the countries in the
region. If and when that happens, Washington should be very careful
to not take side with the Shiites. If there is a perception of
favoring Shiites and Iran, it will only trigger a war between Sunnis
and Shiites."

Writing in the mainstream Milliyet, Sami Kohen expresses
disappointment after reading the Washington Post interview with
President Bush: "President Bush changed his rhetoric on Iraq in a
short time. Just a month ago, he was claiming victory while at

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present he talks about neither winning nor losing in Iraq. On the
other hand, President Bush still leans toward increasing the number
of US forces in Iraq temporarily. It seems the final decision on
this issue will wait until the new Secretary of Defense comes back
to Washington from Iraq. President Bush and his generals may think
of sending some more troops as a tactical move in order to avoid a
'loser' image. However political reality shows just the opposite.
If the US administration sends more forces there instead of pulling
out, the perception will be entirely against American interests
because everybody will interpret it as a sign of a permanent
American presence. Following the Baker-Hamilton report, there is an
overall expectation of change from Washington in both military and
political strategy. The recent interview by President Bush in the
Washington Post is not giving any hope in this regard."

US Senate Vetoes Ambassador Hoagland Assignment to Yerevan
Cumhuriyet reports that the US Senate has returned to the President
Richard Hoagland's nomination as Ambassador to Armenia, citing his
refusal to recognize the so-called Armenian Genocide. The Armenian
lobby in the US fiercely opposed Hoagland's nomination after the
diplomat refused to recognize the "genocide" in his statements.
Under Senate rules, the Senate cannot reconsider nominees who were
neither confirmed nor turned down until the President reintroduces
them again at the next Congressional session. When the new Congress
reconvenes after the New Year, the President can introduce a new
nominee. Alternately, while Congress is not in session he can name
Hoagland to the post in a temporary recess appointment.


TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.

Domestic News
- A doctor from Numune Hospital in Konya has been removed from his
post following his allegations that two female radiologists in the
hospital had refused to perform ultrasound scans of the testicles of
a 17 year old patient.

- Labor Minister Basesgioglu has signaled that social security
reforms might be delayed

International News
- Italian prosecutor demands prison sentences for DHKP-C militants
facing trial in Italy

- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged Middle Eastern states
to help rein in the 'forces of extremism' in IRAN and to advance
peace between Israelis and Palestinians

- The report from the Committee to Protect Journalists says at least
32 journalists have been killed in Iraq this year, adding that this
number is the highest one-year toll ever in a single country.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON