ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

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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
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007

In Today's Papers

Turks React to Hudson Institute's 'Turkey Scenarios'
All papers over the weekend and today report on a "controversial"
meeting held by the Hudson Institute in Washington on June 13 which
discussed possible "crisis scenarios" in Turkey. Over the weekend,
Turkish officials criticized the meeting because of its crisis
scenarios such as the assassination of the head of the
Constitutional Court and a PKK suicide attack which would kill 50
people in downtown Istanbul. The participants, including a Turkish
military delegation visiting Washington, were asked whether the
ruling AKP would lose votes or whether a Turkish military
intervention in northern Iraq would cause the Erdogan government to
lose its popularity in such probabilities. Papers report Kubat
Talabani, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's son and the
representative of the Kurdistan Regional Administration in
Washington, was also present at the meeting. On Monday, Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul told Hurriyet that the Turkish generals
attending the meeting should have walked out when the "disaster
scenario" was raised. Prime Minister Erdogan commented on CNN Turk
about the alleged scenarios, "I find it hard to understand whose
interests are served by such scenarios. We are prepared to ensure
that such scenarios do not materialize. Nevertheless, we have
witnessed such scenarios recently." Weekend papers also reported
Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) officials said such scenarios cannot
be taken seriously.

Monday's papers report Ken Weinstein, the CEO of Hudson Institute,
expressed regret that the details of an off-the-record meeting were
given to the press, adding those who leaked it only aim to increase
tension.

Editorial Commentary on Hudson Institute 'Turkey Meeting'
Semih Idiz observed in the mainstream daily Milliyet (6/18): "We
should look for the reasons of the scenarios produced by the Hudson
Institute, including the assassination of former Constitutional
Court President Tugcu, a major PKK attack in Istanbul, or the
Turkish military entering Northern Iraq, not in Washington but in
Turkey. Because when Turkey is observed from abroad, all that can
be seen is state offices in conflict, and clashes in the domestic
politics. These happenings prevent the achievement of consensus,
which is vital for the country's strategic interests. Evaluating
the meeting at the Hudson Institute, it is easy to say 'they went
beyond their limits', however, it is not possible to obstruct such
meetings because through this kind of brainstorming, Americans are
trying to collect information on developments that could affect
their strategic interests. Besides, it is a well known fact that
other countries, including Turkey (in its military think thank
organization SAREM),have such institutes to discuss such scenarios.
Actually, we should consider this scenario a useful way to reflect
on the current political situation in Turkey. If there are such
evaluations about Turkey, we should not blame Washington, but look
to Ankara which gives such complicated signals on political
developments."

Turkey Invites Iraqi PM to Discuss the PKK
Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report
Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq, Derya Kanbay, conveyed a letter of
invitation from Prime Minister Erdogan to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki to visit Turkey and discuss PKK terrorism. The message
also expressed support for Maliki's proposal to establish an
economic and commercial committee between the two countries. Maliki
reportedly emphasized willingness to prevent the PKK from operating
in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told
CNN-International in New York that Turkey's concerns over the PKK
were legitimate. "Erdogan's statement that terrorism should first
be dealt with inside Turkey encouraged us," Zebari is quoted as
saying.

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General Pittard Warns the Kurds
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Yeni Safak and
others report General Dana J. H. Pittard, working with the Iraqi
forces on the Iraq-Turkey border, told The Washington Post that the
Kurdish regional government "must help out in muzzling the PKK or
suffer the consequences." The paper also quotes an unidentified
Iraqi security official as saying the US needs to "pinch Barzani" to
take a harder line against the PKK. The Iraqi border force does not
have the power to stop Turkish troops from coming into Iraq or to
keep the PKK terrorists from pushing out to Turkey, the official
added.

AKP Delegation Fails to Secure US Support
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet on Saturday claimed a delegation of
AKP MPs, Egemen Bagis, Reha Denemec and Mevlut Cavusoglu, in
Washington last week for talks, failed to secure American support
for the AKP before the July 22 elections. In Washington, Secretary
Rice and State Department officials insist on continuing support for
the AKP, while Pentagon bureaucrats and Jewish lobby groups believe
the AKP should not be backed because of its close ties with Hamas
and Hizbullah, according to Cumhuriyet.

Editorial Commentary on Palestine
Ferai Tinc commented in mainstream daily Hurriyet (6/18): "The ones
who believed that peace could be established in the Middle East not
by resolving the problems between Israel and Palestine, but by
toppling Saddam, are mistaken once again. The US and Israel are
preparing to help Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas who is seeking
shelter in the West Bank. Would Hamas be elected today if the US
had not ignored Abbas' calls for help to solve domestic issues after
he was elected as President in 2005? Moreover, Abbas warned the US
and Israel in 2006- when they pressured Palestine for elections -
that Fatah would not be able to get the majority in the new
Parliament, but no one listened to him. Now, Washington is planning
to support an Abbas government in the West Bank by extending
financial aid. Israel is still evaluating whether it could support
Fatah against Hamas. Hamas has no plans to improve relations with
Israel because their ideology is to destroy Israel some day and
allow Palestinians to own Palestine. But could it be possible to
establish a government in the West Bank without taking into
consideration Hamas and 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza? The West
failed to help the moderate Palestinian leader Abbas in time."

TV News:
(NTV, 8 A.M.)
Domestic News

- Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a percussion
bomb blast that injured 14 people in Istanbul on June 10.

- The Turkish General Staff said Greek jetfighters intercepted
Turkish military planes three times during training flights in
international space over the Aegean.

- Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler holds contacts in Turkmenistan
to review a deadlocked deal for the transportation of natural gas
from the Caspian basin to world markets.

- Turkey is to buy the Boeing Co.-produced 51 Block II Tactical
Harpoon missiles for USD 159 million.

International News

- Coalition forces commander General David Petraeus said Sunday US
troop presence could be needed in Iraq for a decade to battle
insurgents.

- An emergency government in Palestine has been sworn in by
President Mahmoud Abbas.

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- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the US runs the risk of
creating new militias in Iraq if it arms Sunni Arab tribesmen
indiscriminately to battle al-Qaida.

- British Prime Minister Tony Blair reportedly is being actively
touted by French president Sarkozy for the position of the EU's
first full-time president.

WILSON