ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006762 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 28, 2006 In Today's Papers Lockheed Martin Gets Contract to Upgrade Turkey's F-16s Hurriyet, Zaman, Cumhuriyet, Sabah and others: Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense company, announced Tuesday that it has won an $800 million contract to upgrade Turkey's fleet of F-16 fighter jets. In a written statement Lockheed Martin said that the company will provide 216 modernization kits to upgrade Turkish F-16C and D model aircrafts in the Turkish Air Force inventory. This contract is the continuation of the initial contract signed in April 2005 between the governments of Turkey and the US. Sabah underlines that the US Special envoy for countering PKK terrorism Joseph Ralston is member of Lockheed Martin's Board of Director. Preventive Measures Package from the Interior Ministry for Honor Killings Zaman reports that the Interior Ministry launched an initiative to prevent honor killings and domestic violence. A circular under the signature of Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, already sent to the governors of all provinces, stating that every province should establish a committee headed by the governor. This committee should establish a special fund to meet the victims' needs. Moreover, the municipalities should open up shelters for women and children. The committees are also directed to ensure security units dealing with the honor killings should definitely be trained by the academicians and intellectuals. FM Gul: Turkey Reserves the Right to Conduct Cross-Border Operations to Iraq Milliyet, Sabah, Yeni Safak and others: Responding to a question from CHP deputy Erdal Karademir, FM Gul said Turkey had signed no memorandum of understanding in 2003 with the then US Secretary of State Colin Powell. Talks with Powell had focused on possible developments after the US intervention in Iraq, but, Turkey never signed any document saying that Turkey would abstain from cross-border operations into Iraq or would ask the US permission for security operations. Gul also denied the allegations that Turkish operations against the PKK were monitored by US observers to control possible abuse of force during the operations. Editorial Opinion: Saddam's Verdict Derya Sazak comments in the mainstream Milliyet that Saddam should be held accountable for his crimes, but the perpetrators of current crimes should be accountable too: "Iraq is going through the most terrible period of its history as the civil war costs hundreds of lives every day. Given the current situation in Iraq, the murder of 148 Shiites in 1982 has become like a routine daily event. Saddam was held accountable for his crimes during the dictatorship period. How about those who make up the rest of the picture in the post-Saddam period? Will they also be held accountable for their crimes in the name of bringing democracy to Iraq? Let's remember that the Bush administration has started pondering the ways of exiting Iraq since the civil war creates an impossible situation. The Baker report might be a chance in this regard. Today even the US media is mocking Bush and Cheney about their failure in Iraq. Is there another way of defining the current situation besides a crime against humanity?" Hakan Celik argues in the tabloid Posta that the execution of Saddam will incite even more violence: "Talabani is under pressure from Kurds to approve the death verdict. Some Shiite groups are also demanding the execution of the death sentence immediately. Talabani's hesitation is not a surprise because he knows the people of Iraq well. By looking at the bigger picture, he realizes the serious consequences that would result from the hanging of Saddam. It is certain that Talabani will try everything to not be a part of this decision. The death of Saddam will not bring any solution to Iraq's problems moreover it will only help to make it worse. Iraq is currently going through economic poverty and serious instability. The main reason for Iraq's occupation was the alleged link between ANKARA 00006762 002 OF 002 Al Qaeda and Saddam which was never proved. Even though the official US policy line is about the territorial integrity of Iraq, there is a de facto division of Iraq. Given the current situation, the execution of the death sentence will incite hatred between Sunnis and Shiites even more. Saddam should suffer with a life sentence but should not be hanged." Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Namik Tan Comments on the so-called Armenian Genocide Issue All papers: At his final press briefing before taking up his assignment as Ambassador to Israel, MFA spokesperson Namik Tan called on the US Administration to act with common sense against increasing prospects for adoption of an Armenian genocide resolution by US Congress now controlled by Democrats. Tan expressed Ankara's displeasure at the Armenian diaspora's efforts to take advantage of recent political developments in the US and have their genocide claims recognized in Congress. Sanliurfa Villagers Acquitted for Throwing Eggs at US Soldiers Star, Aksam and others: The Sanliurfa Penal Court acquitted Sanliurfa villagers for throwing eggs at US soldiers during their visit to the village in 2003 to collect an unexploded missile that accidentally landed in the village. TV Highlights NTV, 6.00 A.M. Domestic News -CHP Leader Deniz Baykal said his party will not participate in the voting if Erdogan decides to run for President -PM Erdogan will travel to Lebanon on January 3 -Higher Education Board (YOK) draws strong reaction in Ankara University for ignoring the preferences of academics in the appointment of new Medical Faculty dean. International News -A spokesman for President Talabani says the appeals court order for Saddam's death sentence might not require Talabani's approval to carry out the execution -Turkish Cypriot President Talat says he wants to see a settlement in Cyprus in 2007 -Former US President Gerald Ford, 93, died on Tuesday in California. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON