ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000010 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, JANUARY 4, 2007 In Today's Papers Erdogan Comments on the PKK before Lebanon Visit All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan told the Turkish press onboard his plane en route to Lebanon that the US has not kept its pledges with regard to the fight against the PKK, adding that no concrete step has yet been taken against the group. Erdogan claimed that the PKK terrorists captured by Turkey had US-made weapons. Cumhuriyet reports Erdogan as saying that the PKK offices in Iraq had not been closed down although the by the Iraqi administration announced. Yeni Safak says that Erdogan's remarks had been the strongest message to the US thus far. All papers report that following the criticism coming from Erdogan, the US Ankara Embassy said Washington "takes very seriously" the fight against the PKK. "General Joseph Ralston, working with his Turkish and Iraqi counterparts, said he will find a way to counter the PKK terrorism," said a spokesperson for the Embassy. In Beirut over the weekend, Erdogan met with Prime Minister Siniora and President Lahud. In a joint press availability with Siniora, Erdogan suggested mediating to help bring Lebanon out of political deadlock between the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition. "I have told Siniora that national interests of Lebanon should be given priority, and that the problems should be solved through dialogue among all groups," said Erdogan. Erdogan also said Turkey, Iran and Syria were ready to move together for a settlement in Iraq, adding such efforts could produce results with the support of the US. Turkish Reaction to Execution of Hussein All papers over the weekend and today continue reporting and commenting on the execution of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Several mainstream and conservative papers criticize the fact that while the hanging of Hussein sparked heated international controversy, the AKP government has declined to comment on the issue. Sunday papers see Ankara as being careful to preserve its impartiality. Dailies quote Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) officials as saying that the hanging of Hussein was Iraq's domestic issue. Diplomatic sources added Turkey supports peace and stability in Iraq, voicing concerns about a possible escalation of sectarian violence following the execution. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Erdogan said on a trip to Lebanon over the weekend that the execution of Hussein and its televised broadcast on the first day of the Muslim "Eid" feast was "a provocation." He said the hanging should not fuel hatred and retaliation. Erdogan stressed that Turkey was ready to make every contribution for the stabilization of Iraq, adding that the country had become for Turkey an issue of higher priority than the EU entry bid. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Saddam should not have been executed during a Muslim religious holiday. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said it was difficult to understand the Western support for the execution after the pressures exerted for long years on Turkey for the abolishment of the death penalty. Some leaders of the opposition DYP expressed concern that the hanging could spark more violence and terror in Iraq. Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir, a member of Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP, said he opposed capital punishment even though it was not possible to forget the crimes committed by Saddam. Editorial Commentary on Saddam Hussein Execution Writing in the economic-political daily Dunya, Zafer Atay commented: "The trial process was acceptable to a certain degree, espeically compared to the so-called traveling courts in Iran following the founding of the Islamic Republic. Saddam's tribunal was undoubtedly manipulated by the US but at least the process let him to speak up and even to insult the court. Saddam was well aware of the verdict and that must be the reason he was so careless. However the ANKARA 00000010 002 OF 003 execution took place right on the eve of the Islamic holiday which was a complete disrespect. In addition to that the execution was carried out by Shiite militants, which was ignorance at the very minimum. Even though the US claims that it has nothing to do with the execution, all the indications show just the opposite. The death of Saddam Hussein will speed up the bloody civil war in Iraq. Just by looking at the events right after the execution, we unfortunately predict more horrible days ahead. Washington, regardless of its military presence, one day will have to leave Iraq and then it will be a colossal problem for the countries in the region, including Turkey." Commenting in the mass appeal Hurriyet, Emin Colasan writes: "Saddam was a bloody dictator responsible for the death of thousands. Following his execution, everybody in Iraq had different reactions, Sunnis are sad while Shiites and Kurds are joyous. The execution of Saddam brings several questions to one's mind: First of all the US made 'no death sentence' a precondition when it handed PKK leader Ocalan to Turkey. Why did the same US have Saddam hanged? Why has the EU, which is supposed to be solidly opposed to a death sentence, kept silent on this issue and failed to show its presence? On Turkey-related issues the EU is vocal enough, but when it comes to the US, interestingly enough, we see nothing but silence. I wonder what average Iraqis would choose if the choice were between Saddam's era where there was no freedom but there was security and stability, and the US era where the violence and civil war grows. The US started the Iraq war in 2003 and ever since lost 3,000 soldiers. The puppet government did not bring any result, as the defeat in Iraq for America continues. We will all be watching what will happen next after Saddam's execution." Armenian Lobby Launches Campaign for Recognition of Genocide Claims in US Milliyet, Radikal, Zaman and others: The Armenian National Committee of Armenia (ANCA) began yesterday to launch a campaign for the recognition of the Armenian genocide claims by the US Congress. As part of the campaign, ANCA called on Armenians living in the US to write letters to congress members in their district, in which they urge congressmen to support the new Armenian resolution that will be brought to the agenda of the congress. 'With the recent changes in Washington, DC, we have the best opportunity in years to defeat Turkey's Armenian genocide denial campaign. Our Congressional friends will soon re-introduce the Armenian Genocide Resolution, to secure its adoption by April 24th', said ANCA in its e-mail message sent to the Armenians in the US. A&G Polling Milliyet published the results of A&G polling in 32 provinces. Respondents were asked whether they were optimistic or pessimistic about the New Year; 31.1 percent said that they expected a better Turkey and 29.9 percent said that they were pessimistic. Turkish-Cypriot Family Applied to ECHR for Their Property in Limasol Sabah and weekend papers: Four Turkish-Cypriot brothers and sisters have applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) complaining of denied access to their property in Limasol, which is now under Greek-Cypriot rule. The Turkish-Cypriots are claiming restitution and compensation for their property, which they inherited from their father, a missing person since 1964. The case constitutes the first example of such a legal move by Turkish Cypriots, hundreds of whom left their property in the Greek-Cypriot south, following the inter-ethnic conflict on the island during the 1960s. TV News: (NTV, 7.00 A.M.) Domestic News ANKARA 00000010 003 OF 003 - The opposition CHP lawmaker Nezir Buyukcengiz died in a traffic accident in the central Anatolian city of Konya on Sunday. The number of CHP seats dropped to 153 following the death of Buyukcengiz. - Iran turned off its daily 28 million cubic meter supply of natural gas to Turkey because cold weather has boosted domestic consumption. Iran has been supplying Turkey with gas through a pipeline from Tabriz to Ankara since 2001, under a 1996 agreement which stipulates pumping 10 billion cubic meters by 2007. - Bulgaria has ended issuing transit visas for Turkish businessmen at the border crossing. Turkish truckers are queued waiting for visa in front of the Bulgarian Consulate in Edirne. International News - Two of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants also sentenced to death in the Dujail trial will be executed Thursday, said an Iraqi government official. - President Talabani said he did not give his approval for Saddam Hussein's execution and did not know when it was to take place. - The Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he will not a seek a second term. - The EU term president Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wants to see "ever-closer economic cooperation" between the 27-nation EU and the US. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY