Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA215
2007-02-01 15:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO5039 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #0215/01 0321534 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011534Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0799 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7780 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2038 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1606 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5711 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5451 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2089 RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39OSS 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 03 ANKARA 000215
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
FEBRUARY 1, 2007
In Today's Papers
Papers Want Police Chiefs Removed in Dink Case
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan, Radikal, Cumhuriyet and others
lash out at the ruling AKP government for not removing from office
police chiefs Celalettin Cerrah and Ramazan Akyurek during the
investigation of the killing of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink.
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu has said he will not sack the two
before the investigation is completed. Cumhuriyet reports Ramazan
Akyurek, the head of the police intelligence department, is known to
be close to the Fettullah Gulen community. On Wednesday, a seventh
suspect, Salih Hacisalihoglu, was detained in the Black Sea city of
Trabzon for the Dink murder. Papers say that if Yasin Hayal, the
man behind the hitman Ogun Samast, had been given a heavier penalty
for his 2004 bombing of a McDonald's restaurant in Trabzon, he would
have been blocked from preparing for the murder of Dink. Hayal was
released from prison after serving merely 10 months.
Ralston Meets Buyukanit, Departs Turkey
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others report the US anti-terror special envoy Joseph Ralston
proposed at yesterday's meeting with Turkish General Staff (TGS)
Chief Yasar Buyukanit dialogue with the northern Iraqi Kurdish
administration against the PKK. Buyukanit said the US must take
concrete steps forward for persuading the Turkish nation that
Americans are actually struggling against the PKK. Cumhuriyet
claims Ralston has suggested the regional Kurdish government
"president" Massoud Barzani that peshmerge forces be used against
the PKK in northern Iraq. Barzani, however, rejected the
suggestion, and instead wants a general amnesty for the PKK as well
as dialogue between Turkey and the Kurdish administration in the
north. Turkish diplomatic sources told Cumhuriyet the US was
pressing Baghdad to appoint a Kurd as Iraq's special envoy for
countering the PKK. Hurriyet says Ralston mentioned to Turks three
new measures against the PKK; that the US will take hardline action
to cut the financial support flowing to the PKK from Europe, that
the logistic support extended to the PKK by Kurdish groups in
northern Iraq will be cut, and that the PKK militants will not be
allowed to go to towns and villages in northern for food and medical
treatment.
Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Iraq Oil Dispute, Turkey-Northern
Iraq Ties
Soli Ozel comments in the mass appeal Sabah: "Turkey prefers to
remain distant and to stay away from coming up with new strategies
and new policies when it comes to dealing with unpleasant realities.
This attitude simply ties Turkey's hands. On the Iraq issue, there
are many hard-line messages given to the public which make the use
of reasonable options practically out of question. During the
recent oil issue with Iraq, a Turkish businessman felt tired of the
lack of a proper strategy and could not help but complain, saying
'We have to come up with a strategy -- Kurdistan is becoming a
reality and Turkey is still dragging on with the usual rhetoric.
You cannot solve anything with aggressive language.' The Arab part
of Iraq is rapidly moving toward a civil war, and Turkey continues
to fail to analyze the current reality with common sense and reason.
What is our policy if Turkey is faced with terrorism, refugees,
increasing economic problems and radicalism in the region? This is
the time when we are in need of common wisdom to be able to discuss
even the most unacceptable and out-of-the-ordinary scenarios."
Sami Kohen comments in the mainstream Milliyet: "Turkey continues
to engage in direct trade relations with Northern Iraq, yet at the
same time tends to ignore and avoid the official figures there.
Ankara pursues a double standard on Iraq because we recognize the
Iraqi regime as legitimate but disapprove of the regional
administration in the north which was shaped by the constitution of
Iraq. Characterization of Iraqi Kurds as 'our kin' just like the
Turkmen, yet treating them like enemies is another example of double
ANKARA 00000215 002 OF 003
talk. Turkey needs the help of the Northern Iraqi administration in
order to end the presence of the PKK there. However Turkey also
fails to let them play their role within the Special Envoy
mechanism. Turkey's Iraq policy requires fine tuning based on the
realities of Iraq and also requires efforts to establish
constructive dialogue as well as new approaches."
Syrian FM Visits Ankara
All papers report visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim met
with President Sezer, Prime Minister Erdogan, and Foreign Minister
Gul in Ankara. Papers say Muallim conveyed a message from President
Assad to Erdogan that Syria and Turkey should be "more active"
concerning Iraq. He told the press before departing Ankara
yesterday that President Bush's new Iraq strategy will not solve any
problem through increasing troops in the region. Muallim said there
is an extremely complicated structure in Iraq which cannot be
handled by a single country, including the US.
Armenian Genocide Bill Likely Strain to Turkey-US Ties
Sabah expects Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to convey three messages
to the US Administration during an upcoming visit to Washington on
February 4-9: The approval of the Armenian genocide bill will end
the strategic partnership between Turkey and the US; that Armenia
should also open its archives to researchers; and that the US should
back the Turkish proposal for forming a joint commission of
historians. Gul is expected to meet Secretary Rice, National
Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and the head of foreign relations
committee Tom Lantos. Meanwhile, papers report US Ambassador to
Turkey, Ross Wilson, said in a statement Wednesday that the Bush
administration's position on the Armenian genocide issue has not
changed. "The Administration will be actively involved with the
Congress to oppose this resolution," said Wilson.
Turkey Warns over Oil Crisis between Cypriots
Despite Turkish warnings, Milliyet reports the Greek Cypriots have
sent a delegation to Texas in an effort to seek cooperation with US
oil giants with regard to oil exploration in eastern Mediterranean.
Nicosia has earlier signed oil exploration agreements with Lebanon
and Syria, but the two countries have been warned by Turkey not to
proceed with the deals, stressing that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots
also had rights in the region.
Turkish Cyprus "Prime Minister" Ferdi Sabit Soyer warned President
Papadopoulos regarding oil reserves predicted to be around Cyprus.
"Papadopoulos has invited evil to Mediterranean, offering the USD
400 billion worth of oil to countries such as France, China, and
Russia in an effort to strengthen his position in the UN Security
Council. The US, UK, and Israel will not remain bystanders to the
developments. This policy will drag Cyprus into a conflict in the
type of the Middle East and Iraq," Soyer emphasized. On Thursday,
Turkish televisions reported Turkey sent warships to east
Mediterranean offshore Cyprus to patrol the disputed areas. Turkish
General Staff chief (TGS) General Yasar Buyukanit denied reports,
saying Turkey already had warships in the region. Papers also
report Cyprus said it will protest Turkey's warnings over Nicosia's
oil exploration plans with littoral Mediterranean states at the UN
and EU platforms.
Matt Bryza Urges Turkey to be Patient on PKK Issue
Hurriyet reports that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt
Bryza talked to Hurriyet in Washington and said "We have not
produced a concrete result on the PKK yet, but we know very well
what we should be doing. If you have some patience, you will see
the results soon." Bryza added that there will be no need for
Turkey to send troops to Northern Iraq if the US produces some
concrete results. The north is the safest part of Iraq. Naturally,
we don't want Turkish interference there. Therefore, we should
fulfill our promises on the elimination of the PKK, Bryza stressed.
On the so-called Armenian genocide issue, Bryza said "The November 7
elections have changed everything. We have to be engaged at the top
levels through new tactics. We are doing our best. I, personally,
ANKARA 00000215 003 OF 003
spend every minute of my free time thinking of ways to obstruct the
passage of the resolution. In any case, I can say that there will
be no changes in President Bush's traditional April 24 speech."
Bryza reiterated that the US Administration trusts Turkish democracy
and that "the annulment of Article 301 would strengthen Turkey on
every front."
Prof. Kaboglu's Request for Protection Rejected
Radikal reports that Istanbul Governorate rejected the former
chairman of the Prime Ministry Human Rights Commission, Prof Ibrahim
Kaboglu's request for protection. Just like Hrant Dink, Kaboglu as
well, was tried under the Article 301 for preparing a "Report on
Minorities." During his trial, Kaboglu received countless threats
through phone and e-mail. These threats forced him to request
protection in January 2006. However, his request was rejected by
the Istanbul Governorate, and he still is not under protection.
TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- A row between Turkey and Iraq over the shipment of petroleum
products has been resolved after Iraq's state oil company SOMO said
in a letter to Ankara the old regime will be applied regarding oil
trade between the two countries.
- Professor Baskin Oran says he feared for his life because of a
speech describing the Kurds in Turkey as a minority. Oran was given
close police protection over the death threats he received after
Hrant Dink was murdered.
- German publishers said on Wednesday Nobel-prize winning novelist
Orhan Pamuk had cancelled a trip to Berlin and other German cities
over concerns for his personal safety. On Thursday, Pamuk
reportedly cancelled another trip to Belgium due to threats he
received.
- Turkey's foreign trade deficit reached USD 51 billion in 2006,
breaking a new record.
International News
- An EU delegation visits Turkish Cyprus to research possibilities
for direct trade through Famagusta port.
- Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will hear the problems of
Muslim Turks during a visit to Western Thrace on February 5-6.
- Iraq has invited Turkey to join a March meeting of neighboring
countries in Baghdad. The US reportedly opposes that Iran and Syria
be invited to the meetings.
- Former State Secretary James A. Baker III called on the Bush
administration to open dialogue with Syria which would eliminate a
major hurdle for peace, Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel.
- British police have arrested nine suspects in a major security
swoop which involved a plot to kidnap and kill a Muslim British
soldier.
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
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
FEBRUARY 1, 2007
In Today's Papers
Papers Want Police Chiefs Removed in Dink Case
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan, Radikal, Cumhuriyet and others
lash out at the ruling AKP government for not removing from office
police chiefs Celalettin Cerrah and Ramazan Akyurek during the
investigation of the killing of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink.
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu has said he will not sack the two
before the investigation is completed. Cumhuriyet reports Ramazan
Akyurek, the head of the police intelligence department, is known to
be close to the Fettullah Gulen community. On Wednesday, a seventh
suspect, Salih Hacisalihoglu, was detained in the Black Sea city of
Trabzon for the Dink murder. Papers say that if Yasin Hayal, the
man behind the hitman Ogun Samast, had been given a heavier penalty
for his 2004 bombing of a McDonald's restaurant in Trabzon, he would
have been blocked from preparing for the murder of Dink. Hayal was
released from prison after serving merely 10 months.
Ralston Meets Buyukanit, Departs Turkey
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others report the US anti-terror special envoy Joseph Ralston
proposed at yesterday's meeting with Turkish General Staff (TGS)
Chief Yasar Buyukanit dialogue with the northern Iraqi Kurdish
administration against the PKK. Buyukanit said the US must take
concrete steps forward for persuading the Turkish nation that
Americans are actually struggling against the PKK. Cumhuriyet
claims Ralston has suggested the regional Kurdish government
"president" Massoud Barzani that peshmerge forces be used against
the PKK in northern Iraq. Barzani, however, rejected the
suggestion, and instead wants a general amnesty for the PKK as well
as dialogue between Turkey and the Kurdish administration in the
north. Turkish diplomatic sources told Cumhuriyet the US was
pressing Baghdad to appoint a Kurd as Iraq's special envoy for
countering the PKK. Hurriyet says Ralston mentioned to Turks three
new measures against the PKK; that the US will take hardline action
to cut the financial support flowing to the PKK from Europe, that
the logistic support extended to the PKK by Kurdish groups in
northern Iraq will be cut, and that the PKK militants will not be
allowed to go to towns and villages in northern for food and medical
treatment.
Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Iraq Oil Dispute, Turkey-Northern
Iraq Ties
Soli Ozel comments in the mass appeal Sabah: "Turkey prefers to
remain distant and to stay away from coming up with new strategies
and new policies when it comes to dealing with unpleasant realities.
This attitude simply ties Turkey's hands. On the Iraq issue, there
are many hard-line messages given to the public which make the use
of reasonable options practically out of question. During the
recent oil issue with Iraq, a Turkish businessman felt tired of the
lack of a proper strategy and could not help but complain, saying
'We have to come up with a strategy -- Kurdistan is becoming a
reality and Turkey is still dragging on with the usual rhetoric.
You cannot solve anything with aggressive language.' The Arab part
of Iraq is rapidly moving toward a civil war, and Turkey continues
to fail to analyze the current reality with common sense and reason.
What is our policy if Turkey is faced with terrorism, refugees,
increasing economic problems and radicalism in the region? This is
the time when we are in need of common wisdom to be able to discuss
even the most unacceptable and out-of-the-ordinary scenarios."
Sami Kohen comments in the mainstream Milliyet: "Turkey continues
to engage in direct trade relations with Northern Iraq, yet at the
same time tends to ignore and avoid the official figures there.
Ankara pursues a double standard on Iraq because we recognize the
Iraqi regime as legitimate but disapprove of the regional
administration in the north which was shaped by the constitution of
Iraq. Characterization of Iraqi Kurds as 'our kin' just like the
Turkmen, yet treating them like enemies is another example of double
ANKARA 00000215 002 OF 003
talk. Turkey needs the help of the Northern Iraqi administration in
order to end the presence of the PKK there. However Turkey also
fails to let them play their role within the Special Envoy
mechanism. Turkey's Iraq policy requires fine tuning based on the
realities of Iraq and also requires efforts to establish
constructive dialogue as well as new approaches."
Syrian FM Visits Ankara
All papers report visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim met
with President Sezer, Prime Minister Erdogan, and Foreign Minister
Gul in Ankara. Papers say Muallim conveyed a message from President
Assad to Erdogan that Syria and Turkey should be "more active"
concerning Iraq. He told the press before departing Ankara
yesterday that President Bush's new Iraq strategy will not solve any
problem through increasing troops in the region. Muallim said there
is an extremely complicated structure in Iraq which cannot be
handled by a single country, including the US.
Armenian Genocide Bill Likely Strain to Turkey-US Ties
Sabah expects Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to convey three messages
to the US Administration during an upcoming visit to Washington on
February 4-9: The approval of the Armenian genocide bill will end
the strategic partnership between Turkey and the US; that Armenia
should also open its archives to researchers; and that the US should
back the Turkish proposal for forming a joint commission of
historians. Gul is expected to meet Secretary Rice, National
Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and the head of foreign relations
committee Tom Lantos. Meanwhile, papers report US Ambassador to
Turkey, Ross Wilson, said in a statement Wednesday that the Bush
administration's position on the Armenian genocide issue has not
changed. "The Administration will be actively involved with the
Congress to oppose this resolution," said Wilson.
Turkey Warns over Oil Crisis between Cypriots
Despite Turkish warnings, Milliyet reports the Greek Cypriots have
sent a delegation to Texas in an effort to seek cooperation with US
oil giants with regard to oil exploration in eastern Mediterranean.
Nicosia has earlier signed oil exploration agreements with Lebanon
and Syria, but the two countries have been warned by Turkey not to
proceed with the deals, stressing that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots
also had rights in the region.
Turkish Cyprus "Prime Minister" Ferdi Sabit Soyer warned President
Papadopoulos regarding oil reserves predicted to be around Cyprus.
"Papadopoulos has invited evil to Mediterranean, offering the USD
400 billion worth of oil to countries such as France, China, and
Russia in an effort to strengthen his position in the UN Security
Council. The US, UK, and Israel will not remain bystanders to the
developments. This policy will drag Cyprus into a conflict in the
type of the Middle East and Iraq," Soyer emphasized. On Thursday,
Turkish televisions reported Turkey sent warships to east
Mediterranean offshore Cyprus to patrol the disputed areas. Turkish
General Staff chief (TGS) General Yasar Buyukanit denied reports,
saying Turkey already had warships in the region. Papers also
report Cyprus said it will protest Turkey's warnings over Nicosia's
oil exploration plans with littoral Mediterranean states at the UN
and EU platforms.
Matt Bryza Urges Turkey to be Patient on PKK Issue
Hurriyet reports that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt
Bryza talked to Hurriyet in Washington and said "We have not
produced a concrete result on the PKK yet, but we know very well
what we should be doing. If you have some patience, you will see
the results soon." Bryza added that there will be no need for
Turkey to send troops to Northern Iraq if the US produces some
concrete results. The north is the safest part of Iraq. Naturally,
we don't want Turkish interference there. Therefore, we should
fulfill our promises on the elimination of the PKK, Bryza stressed.
On the so-called Armenian genocide issue, Bryza said "The November 7
elections have changed everything. We have to be engaged at the top
levels through new tactics. We are doing our best. I, personally,
ANKARA 00000215 003 OF 003
spend every minute of my free time thinking of ways to obstruct the
passage of the resolution. In any case, I can say that there will
be no changes in President Bush's traditional April 24 speech."
Bryza reiterated that the US Administration trusts Turkish democracy
and that "the annulment of Article 301 would strengthen Turkey on
every front."
Prof. Kaboglu's Request for Protection Rejected
Radikal reports that Istanbul Governorate rejected the former
chairman of the Prime Ministry Human Rights Commission, Prof Ibrahim
Kaboglu's request for protection. Just like Hrant Dink, Kaboglu as
well, was tried under the Article 301 for preparing a "Report on
Minorities." During his trial, Kaboglu received countless threats
through phone and e-mail. These threats forced him to request
protection in January 2006. However, his request was rejected by
the Istanbul Governorate, and he still is not under protection.
TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- A row between Turkey and Iraq over the shipment of petroleum
products has been resolved after Iraq's state oil company SOMO said
in a letter to Ankara the old regime will be applied regarding oil
trade between the two countries.
- Professor Baskin Oran says he feared for his life because of a
speech describing the Kurds in Turkey as a minority. Oran was given
close police protection over the death threats he received after
Hrant Dink was murdered.
- German publishers said on Wednesday Nobel-prize winning novelist
Orhan Pamuk had cancelled a trip to Berlin and other German cities
over concerns for his personal safety. On Thursday, Pamuk
reportedly cancelled another trip to Belgium due to threats he
received.
- Turkey's foreign trade deficit reached USD 51 billion in 2006,
breaking a new record.
International News
- An EU delegation visits Turkish Cyprus to research possibilities
for direct trade through Famagusta port.
- Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will hear the problems of
Muslim Turks during a visit to Western Thrace on February 5-6.
- Iraq has invited Turkey to join a March meeting of neighboring
countries in Baghdad. The US reportedly opposes that Iran and Syria
be invited to the meetings.
- Former State Secretary James A. Baker III called on the Bush
administration to open dialogue with Syria which would eliminate a
major hurdle for peace, Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel.
- British police have arrested nine suspects in a major security
swoop which involved a plot to kidnap and kill a Muslim British
soldier.
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON