ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001189

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SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL
JCS PASS J-5/CDR S. WRIGHT

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2007


In Today's Papers

Turkish Parties Prepare for Elections
All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan told the ruling AKP group
meeting Wednesday the presidential election process demonstrated
that the opposition CHP "failed the democracy test," adding those
who obstructed the parliament's presidential vote would get their
answer from the nation in the elections. Erdogan said in Turkey,
those who define themselves as social democrats do not fit this
definition, and that this has been voiced by the social democratic
leaders of other countries.

Opposition parties CHP and DSP leaders Deniz Baykal and Zeki Sezer
will reportedly announce their decision regarding a possible
election alliance in a couple of days. Talks are blocked due to a
disagreement over the number of seats to be given to DSP, which
wants at least 20 whereas CHP offers not more than 12 seats in the
parliament, according to papers.

Papers speculate that the AKP will nominate retired generals,
academics, and some prominent names from all walks of life in an
effort to convince mainstream circles that the ruling party has no
problems with the military and establishment. Papers also claim the
AKP was planning to nominate some non-Muslim Turkish candidates in
the upcoming elections.

Baser Calls for Turkey-US Action against the PKK in Iraq
Hurriyet, Radikal and several television channels report retired
general Edip Baser, Turkey's special envoy for countering terrorism,
said at a conference Wednesday that Turkey, if possible in
cooperation with the US, should do whatever is necessary in Iraq.
"Joint action is not a prerequisite for intervention in northern
Iraq. Turkey may solve the problem alone, but this may pave the way
for future complications," said Baser. Baser noted a total removal
of the PKK presence in north of Iraq might happen at a future stage.
Baser also warned that using religion as a means of politics poses
a threat against national unity and domestic peace.

Plane Crash Victims Had Been Under Surveillance
All papers report Michael Newman and Zakaullah Bhangoo, British and
Pakistani nationals killed in a plane crash in mountainous terrain
in Trabzon in northeast Turkey earlier this week, had been under
Osman Gunes said. Their bodies were found on Tuesday. Papers
speculate that the two men were taking nuclear secrets from Pakistan
to Iran. The plane landed in Trabzon on May 10 for refueling but
had to wait until May 13 because of adverse weather conditions,
before leaving for Tabriz on Sunday. Bhangoo had 90 incoming
foreign telephone calls during his two days in Trabzon, say papers.


Supreme Court of Appeals Overturns Semdinli Verdict
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Zaman and others: The Supreme Court of
Appeals annulled a verdict on two non-commissioned officers Ali Kaya
and Ozcan Ildeniz in the controversial Semdinli case where the
military personnel were accused of planning a bomb attack on a book
shop owned by a Kurdish activist, on the grounds that the
investigation into the incidents in Semdinli town of the
southeastern city of Hakkari was incomplete. The court overruled 39
year prison sentences for Ali Kaya and Ozcan Ildeniz and ruled that
the case should be brought before a military court.

Bathing Suit Ads Banned Once Again by Istanbul Municipality
Cumhuriyet, Vatan, Radikal, Milliyet and others: Leading swimsuit
producers in Istanbul criticized the municipality for restricting
advertisements of their products. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet
reports that the censorship started in 2003 when Istanbul
Municipality covered up an ad at Istanbul airport featuring a top
model in a 'Zeki Triko' bikini. Bathing suit companies harshly
criticize the municipality for the censorship, asking "are we living
in Iran, the country of Mullahs, or Turkey?" Istanbul Municipality

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officials told press that there is no ban on ads, but added that
there are certain criteria in the decision-making process such as
compatibility with general moral values.

Editorial Commentary on New French President Sarkozy
Erdal Safak writes in the mainstream daily Sabah: "Sarkozy has some
very different views on certain policy issues. First, he enjoys
being labeled 'Sarko the American.' Regarding the Middle East he
gives priority to establishing strategic partnership with Israel -
he has never visited Palestine during his trips to Middle East so
far. As for the immigration issue, he pursues zero tolerance for
illegal immigrants. Since Sarkozy maintains a strong anti-Turkey
attitude regarding the EU membership process, the only hope may be
coming from his potential Foreign Minister candidate Kouchner. Yet
we should not be very optimistic about Kouchner since Sarkozy
already said that he is the boss of foreign policy. Something is
very obvious: We will dearly miss Jacques Chirac."

Ali Sirmen writes in the leftist-nationalist daily Cumhuriyet:
"When it comes to making a choice between the EU's biased attitude
toward Turkey, and Sarkozy's candor, the latter is much better for
us than the former. He at least dares to say that Turkey should not
be fooled any longer. The EU does not want Turkey in it, but nobody
is honest enough to say it. Sarkozy is the only exception. We
should not get upset with his attitude, instead we should thank him
for telling the truth."

TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.

Domestic News

- Emre Gunaydin, a key suspect, has admitted he planned the murder
of three Bible publishers in the eastern city of Malatya last month.


- The prosecutor has demanded a five-year prison sentence for former
Kurdish MP Leyla Zana for referring to Talabani, Barzani, and the
PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan as "the three leaders of
Kurdish people" in a speech during Nevruz celebrations in March.

- The members of the Turkish anti-nuclear platform have called on
President Sezer to veto the bill for the construction of a nuclear
power plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop.

- The ruling AKP government held Wednesday the first round of
collective bargaining talks with labor unions.

International News

- In a speech at the European Parliament, Turkish Cypriot leader
Mehmet Ali Talat said southern Cyprus manipulates the EU to extend
the isolation of Turkish Cyprus.

- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said President
Ahmadinejad's offer to Arab neighbors to send a team to inspect
Iran's nuclear work "is not going to fly."

- French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Berlin on Wednesday
for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in his first visit
abroad as president.

- Gordon Brown was formally confirmed Wednesday as the next leader
of the Labor Party and as Tony Blair's successor as prime minister.


WILSON