Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1849
2007-07-19 14:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO8952 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #1849/01 2001409 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191409Z JUL 07 ZDK DUE NUM SVCS FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3036 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 8238 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3037 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2150 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 6018 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5828 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2429 RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39OS INCIRLIK AB TU RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU
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
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