ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001257 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 WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007 In Today's Papers Blast Kills 6, Wounds 100 in Ankara All papers report a bomb at a crowded shopping center on Tuesday evening in the heart of Ankara killed six and injured more than 100 people. Some papers report that a Pakistani was among the killed and most report that six Pakistanis who were in Ankara for the defense industry fair "IDEF 2007" organized by the Turkish military were also among the wounded. Police detained eight suspects in connection with the powerful blast in the city's historic Ulus district. There are some reports that TAK, an arm of the PKK terrorist organization too credit for the blast, but other papers report that there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Most papers and TV broadcasts note the A-4 explosives used in the blast pointed to the PKK. It's not clear yet whether the bomb was placed at a bus stop or was the work of a suicide bomber. Hurriyet and Radikal note the explosion occurred along the route which General Buyukanit and many defense ministers and chiefs of staff would travel to the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2007 reception, speculating that the attack may have been an assassination attempt. Prime Minister Erdogan, opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal, and the Turkish General Staff (TGS) chief General Yasar Buyukanit visited the site, all denouncing the strike. Erdogan said "We have seen a ruthless terror attack at Ankara's busiest time. We must work together against terror in all countries around the world. We see the results of it in America, Britain, Spain, Italy and all places." Buyukanit told the press, "This was done by an organized terror group," warning, "From now on, you can expect this in any big city." Several papers and TV news broadcasts carry a statement the US Embassy Ankara released last night, in which the US expressed "shock and horror at the tragic event," and said it remains steadfast in its "determination to work together with the government of Turkey to combat terrorism in all its forms." Edip Baser Remarks following his Dismissal from the Position of Counterterrorism Special Envoy All papers report that at a press conference yesterday retired General Edip Baser who was fired on Monday by the government as the special envoy to counter terrorism, said that he was unhappy with 
the way he was dismissed and that his remarks concerning the Presidential election were the main reason. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stressed that the US special envoy for countering terrorism General Ralston will continue his duties. General Buyukanit Accuses Western Countries of Supporting the PKK Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet and others: In an article in Defense and Aviation Magazine TGS Chief General Buyukanit said that PKK terrorists are enjoying unprecedented freedom in Northern Iraq and added that an even more alarming issue than this is the support extended by Europe to PKK. Buyukanit stressed that many of the countries that ignore Turkey's fight against terrorism are NATO members. Admiral Mullen Seeks Turkish Support for Naval Security Mainstream Milliyet carries an interview with Admiral Michael Mullen, the US Chief of Naval Operations, who paid a visit to Ankara and Istanbul for talks. Mullen said during his meetings in Ankara, he asked for Turkey's contribution to the project of a "world armada" of a thousand ships which will enforce security on the seas. "Some 90 percent of immigrant, drugs, and arms trafficking is carried out on the seas. Not only Turkey, but several other countries will contribute to the partnership," Mullen said. He noted Turkey's leadership is important for the sake of naval security and information sharing in the Black Sea exercises of Blackseafor and Black Sea Harmony. Mullen also voiced support for ANKARA 00001257 002 OF 003 the transfer of two US frigates to Turkey, an issue still being discussed in the US Congress, and added that his Turkish counterpart Admiral Yener Karahanoglu, too, supported the transfer. Turkey to Host International Energy Conferences Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports Ankara will host June 5, "Turkey and the EU: Together in European Energy Politics" conference to discuss the EU's search for energy partnerships with Turkey. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, EU Expansion Commissioner Olli Rehn and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will participate in the conference to which Russia will send a high level official. In Istanbul, energy ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Israel, India and China as well as OPEC head Bin Dhalen al-Hamdi and EU officials will take part in "East Meets West: New Horizons in Energy Security" conference on June 26-28 under the auspices of President Sezer. Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan, too, will participate in the gathering. The main topic of both meetings will be the future of Turkey-Europe Natural Gas Pipeline (Nabucco,) says Cumhuriyet. Editorial Commentary on Democracy, Secularism in Turkey Mehmed Ali Birand writes in the tabloid daily Posta: "How should we interpret the unexpected midnight warning issued by Turkish army on April 27? The absence of politically motivated press briefings by the TGS such as the ones before the February 28, 1997, situation indicates that the Turkish military is staying away from direct intervention. Instead it has a new approach as evidenced by the increased communication between secularists and the Turkish. The opposition party CHP forms the political wing of this spectrum while the Higher Board of Education symbolizes the university sector. The judicial bureaucracy and secular leaning non-governmental organizations are also part of the spectrum. The secular media serves as a communication tool for public opinion. The Turkish army sometimes orchestrates these groups, and sometimes it becomes the address to respond to the demands coming from them. If we take a close look at the April 27 statement and concentrate on the developments before and after, we can conclude that the Turkish army is in the process of changing [in a non-interventionist fashion]." Hasan Cemal writes in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "Secularism should not be a taboo -- it should be a subject of discussion just like in any normal democracy. Debate on secularism does not necessarily indicate going against the regime. The definition of secularism in Turkey narrows the arena of faith and religion to private life, but in practice, the state casts a shadow on religion and controls it. Secularism requires the state to maintain an equal distance from all religions and faiths, which is not the case here in Turkey. Creating taboos and drawing undisputable areas are not only habits of totalitarian regimes, but also they pave the way for separatism. For example, the Turkish army warning issued on April 27 was the biggest separatist step in Turkey. In a democracy, everything and anything should be expressed and should be discussed. Nothing should be exempt from criticism. Otherwise Turkey moves toward more polarization which is the very root of separatism." TV Highlights NTV (6 A.M.) Domestic News - Opposition CHP MP for Hakkari Esat Canan has resigned from his party. Canan had participated in the presidential elections despite a CHP decision to boycott the voting. - A Turkish F-16 jetfighter crashed near the central Anatolian city of Konya. The pilot survived the crash with slight injuries. - Prime Minister Erdogan has rejected the invitation of CHP leader Deniz Baykal to appear together in a live TV debate. ANKARA 00001257 003 OF 003 - Retired general Armagan Kuloglu claims the counter-terrorism coordination mechanism was designed by the US to delay Turkey's fight against terrorism. International News - Bulgaria's Rights and Freedoms Movement, the majority of its members ethnic Turks, earned the right to send five deputies to the European Parliament, increasing the number of parliamentarians of Turkish origin in the Strasbourg-based assembly. - Israel has warned Hamas that none of its leaders were safe from attack after a rocket fired by Gaza militants killed a woman in the town of Sderot. - The Israeli daily Ma'ariv has published a list of names and photos of Palestinian militant leaders the Israeli forces intend to assassinate. - British prosecutors announced they would seek the extradition of Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi to charge him with poisoning Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko last November. WILSON