ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001849 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 ANKARA 00001849 001.2 OF 002 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2007 In Today's Papers Taliban Attacks Turkish Convoy in Kabul All papers and TV channels report that a convoy of three vehicles transporting a Turkish reconstruction team and special team members was attacked by the Taliban yesterday near Kabul. A suicide bomber attempted to open the door of one of the vehicles in the convoy, when he was unable to do so, he blew himself up. Following the attack, an armed clash took place between the attackers and the Turkish Special team, injuring one Afghan civilian and one Turkish special team member. Papers highlight that this was the first ever attack launched on Turkish troops in Afghanistan. FM Gul Comments on US Weapons Used by PKK Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet, Vatan, Radikal and others: Mainstream Milliyet reports that in an interview with CNN-Turk, FM Gul said that the Pentagon had started an investigation into the issue of the PKK acquiring US weapons that had been transferred to the Iraqi army. Gul said that according to initial findings there is corruption, that it appears some US soldiers were involved and that the investigation is getting deeper. Gul said the following: "The number of American weapons captured in the possession of PKK terrorists is 1260. We have documented this and brought it to the US's attention. These are, of course, not the weapons which the US willingly gave to the terrorist organization. These are the weapons given by the US to the Iraqi army, and somehow went into the hands of PKK. We never considered that our ally the US, who declared the PKK a terrorist organization, would do such a thing. [Believing that] is an irrational thought. Currently the Pentagon is investigating this issue. Unfortunately there is some corruption and unfortunately some American soldiers are involved in it. They [the US] are certain about the involvement [of the US soldiers]. The Pentagon has informed us that it has broadened its investigation and is pursuing the matter seriously." A New Poll Predicts that AKP will win the Elections as a Single Party Liberal Radikal gives extensive front page coverage to nine surveyS conducted by KONDA within the last six months and with 25,000 people. According to the KONDA poll the ruling AKP will come to power as a single party government, gaining 42.6 percent of the votes, CHP will win 17.3 percent, and MHP 12.5 percent. Eleven percent of those polled were undecided. Post-Election Symposiums in the US Mainstream Hurriyet reports that two US think tanks will hold meetings on July 23 to discuss the results of the Turkish elections. Reportedly, the former US Ambassador to Turkey Morton Abromowitz will speak at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and that State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza, US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee Advisor Alan Makovsky and Soner Cagaptay will speak at the Washington Institute. A New Campaign from Armenian Lobby in the US Hurriyet, Yeni Safak: After receiving the backing of a majority of lawmakers in the House of Representatives, US Armenian groups are now launching a new campaign to force House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the Armenian genocide resolution to the full house. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has called on Armenians-Americans throughout the country to contact their representatives next Monday to urge them "to press for a congressional vote." TV Highlights NTV Domestic News ANKARA 00001849 002.2 OF 002 - Two soldiers were killed in a mine explosion in Cukurca town of Hakkari yesterday. - Boeing holds talks for the establishment of a maintenance plant in Konya International News - The US Military says it has captured the top Iraqi member of al-Qaeda Khaled Al-Mashhadani in Iraq - Japan orders nuclear plant to stay shut after the earthquake caused radiation leaks. WILSON