ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001603 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 FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2007 In Today's Papers Intense Diplomatic Traffic in Ankara Causes Speculation All papers report on 'dazzling' diplomatic traffic in Ankara on Thursday, with Ambassador Ross Wilson meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener after Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called on the Turkish General Staff (TGS) chief Yasar Buyukanit earlier in the day. After his meeting with the Ambassador, Sener went to the presidential palace, sparking speculation that Turkey had adopted a decision for a cross-border military incursion into northern Iraq. Liberal Radikal says the busy traffic yesterday caused various conspiracy theories, but the meetings held yesterday were 'not linked to each other.' Cumhuriyet says Erdogan and Gul were briefed at the TGS with regard to PKK moves as well as Turkish military attempts to counter the terrorist organization. The military also gave details about the location of PKK camps along the border in Iraqi territory. Military officials added that an incursion into northern Iraq is inevitable, and that Washington could be persuaded 'while the army was in motion.' Military plans include three possible options against the PKK -- air operations, extensive air and ground operations, and pinpoint attacks, according to Cumhuriyet. General Ralston Comments at CSIS Milliyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet: Speaking at a panel at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, General (ret.) Joseph Ralston, Special Envoy to Counter the PKK, said he would like to see Kurds in Northern Iraq impose pressure on the PKK and kick terrorists out from the area. PKK terrorists are murderers and all countries in the world, including the US, should treat them as murderers. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reported that General Ralston criticized Danish authorities for allowing PKK linked Roj TV to broadcast from their countries. Editorial Commentary on Hudson Institute Turkey Scenarios Ismet Berkan commented in the liberal-intellectual daily Radikal: "The Hudson Institute meeting is absolutely an ordinary event because think-tanks need to brainstorm. Creating futuristic scenarios, even in the extreme sense, is a necessity for brainstorm. Meetings of this nature should be considered as part of the culture of freedom of expression. However, the incorrect government reaction to this meeting, in which officials blasted the military for attending, was followed by a TGS statement that was equally wrong. The Turkish military not only tried to argue that it had 'limited participation,' but it also agreed with the argument that attendance at such meetings should be considered 'betrayal.' The Turkish military itself organizes numerous war games and exercises. Don't they realize that all of those exercises are based on scenarios including a possible crisis? Can't the military see that any war game is designed based on fictional war or chaos scenarios? It seems Turkey has a very long way to go towards adopting a mentality of free thought." US Congress Report Mainstream Hurriyet reports that according to a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, PM Erdogan's mistaken evaluation of opposition parties contributed to one of the biggest political crises in Turkish political history. The report posited that the AKP, by nominating someone from among themselves as the Presidential candidate, escalated tension in the country. The report adds that if the AKP tries the same method again after the upcoming elections, it is inevitable that the country would face a second tense period. In evaluating the various parties participating in the elections, the report characterized PM Erdogan as authoritarian and overly sensitive to criticism, indicated by his litiginous activities towards the press, indicates he does not fully understand freedom of speech. Erdogan Sees 'Deep Turkey' v 'Deep State' ANKARA 00001603 002 OF 003 All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan yesterday claimed that a recent investigation into activities of a criminal ring - including members who are former military officials -caught with explosives pointed to the existence of 'deep state' structures in Turkey. "But thank God, in opposition to them we have 'deep Turkey' which loves this nation. We must see that deep Turkey emerges as victorious in its fight against deep state," Erdogan said. Hamas Calls for Turkish Mediation among Palestinian Groups The conservative-Islamist-oriented Zaman reports Hamas' number two official, Mahmoud Zahar, the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian government sacked by President Abbas, called on Turkey to act as an intermediary among the fighting groups in Palestine. He also asked for Turkish help in the Palestinians' fight against international sanctions. Zahar said the new government appointed by Abbas was illegal and they (Hamas) would not obey any of the new government's decisions. He said Fatah was 'worse than the PKK,' charging Fatah leaders of cooperating with the US and Israel. Zahar denied Hamas was manipulated by Iran, and stressed they were not planning to create an Islamic state in Palestine. Akcam to Take Article 301 to ECHR Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet and Yeni Safak report Taner Akcam, a Turkish professor at The University of Minnesota, plans to apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the abolishment of article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, the law that makes it illegal to "insult Turkishness." Akcam, long a defendant of the thesis that Ottoman Turkish forces conducted a genocide of Armenians at the beginning of the last century, said article 301 poses a threat to his academic work, is a barrier against Turkey's EU aspirations, and also constitutes an attack against the rights of Turkish Armenians. TV Highlights NTV, 7.00 A.M. Domestic News - The Turkish High Election Board said 7395 candidates, including 726 independents, are registered to run in the July 22 parliamentary elections. - Daily Milliyet's Washington correspondent Yasemin Congar, charged with bias in her report about a recent Hudson Institute meeting on Turkey, insists her reporting was well-grounded. - On June 23, NGOs will hold a silent rally in Istanbul and Zonguldak, and on June 24 in Usak, Bursa, Gaziantep and Trabzon, against terror inspired by a recent call from the chief of the Turkish General Staff to display unity against terror. - Russian President Putin will participate in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation meeting to be held in Istanbul on June 25. International News - The regional Kurdish administration is preparing to open representative offices in 15 countries, including Germany, France, Sweden, The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. - Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat blamed France and Russia for acting as 'Greek Cypriot militants' in the UN Security Council. - A four-way summit will take place in Egypt on Monday between the Palestinian, Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders. - A Taliban spokesman said militants are changing their tactics in Afghanistan and will increasing attacks in Kabul. ANKARA 00001603 003 OF 003 WILSON