ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001926 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, JULY 27, 2007 In Today's Papers MHP Promises not to Stir Tensions on Presidential Elections Hurriyet, Sabah, Yeni Safak, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others: Papers report that MHP leader Devlet Bahceli's statement that they will be present during the parliamentary session convened to elect the President eased tension, as the presence of the MHP deputies combined with the AKP deputies would ensure the necessary quorum. Sabah quotes Bahceli as saying "My party will only participate in the voting, not give support to any of the candidates named by AKP." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that FM Gul called MHP leader Bahceli to convey condolences on the death of MHP deputy-elect Cihat Ozonder and, at the same time, thanked him for the MHP's support for the upcoming Presidential elections. MHP has asked to the High Electoral Board to allow the next candidate on MHP's list to go to parliament in place of Ozonder, who lost his life in a traffic accident yesterday. Editorial Comment: Gul as President Ismet Berkan comments in the liberal Radikal: "Following MHP's decision not to boycott the presidential voting, the election has become only a matter of procedure. Roughly speaking, Foreign Minister Gul is expected to take over the presidency from Sezer before the end of August. If we compare between political climates before and after the elections we see that things have completely changed. Three months ago, the 367 quorum was the main problem and the tension in the country was high. The rules of engagement changed following the military e-warning and everybody wondered if the presidential election process could even turn to a reason for a military coup. During this process, many political parties -- CHP, ANAP and DYP -- have committed suicide by boycotting the parliamentary presidential election session. Furthermore the main opposition party CHP shot itself in the foot by not taking a stand against the military warning statement. Fortunately, the presidential election process, given the new parliamentary composition as well as MHP's positive stance, is not a problematic matter any longer. We can at least now move on to debate the real issues of Turkey." Gas Deal Signed Between Turkey, Greece and Italy Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman and others: Turkey, Greece and Italy signed an agreement yesterday in Rome to construct a pipeline to bring natural gas from central Asia to European markets by 2011. The agreement aims at piping natural gas from the Caucasus to Western Europe through Turkey and Greece. Meanwhile, mainstream Hurriyet reports that US Ambassador Ross Wilson, answering a question on the Embassy website's "Ask the Ambassador" page, said that Turkey's signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran on energy, would "seriously set back the work that Turkey and the United States have been doing for a decade to develop Caspian Basin gas resources as well as a pipeline infrastructure to bring those resources to Turkey and to international markets." US Congressmen Remarks on the Elections and the PKK Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Zaman and others: US Congressional Helsinki Committee Co-Chairman Alcee Hastings said that PM Erdogan has made a major contribution to democracy in Turkey. Speaking at a special session where Turkey's July 22 elections were evaluated, Hastings added that PM Erdogan worked for Turkey's EU membership and this was reflected positively in the markets. Hastings noted that democracy in Turkey is very important for the US. Speaking at the same meeting, Congressman Robert Wexler said that the US did not exert enough effort to eliminate the PKK. TV Highlights ANKARA 00001926 002 OF 002 NTV, 7.00 A.M. Domestic News - A sergeant was killed in clashes between PKK terrorists and security forces in rural parts of the Black Sea province of Giresun - One non-commissioned officer was injured in a mine blast in Hakkari - Turkey rejected passage through the Bosporus of a ship carrying heavy weapons to Armenia from Albania International News - Explosion at a military depot in Syria kills 15 soldiers - Palestinian Security Chief Mohammad Dahlan resigned yesterday WILSON