ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002288 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 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 In Today's Papers Parliament Debates AKP Government Program All papers report the Turkish Parliament debated the ruling AKP government's program on Monday, ahead of a vote of confidence to be held September 5. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, deputy chairman of the CHP parliamentary group, said on behalf of his party that the program forgot about future goals and over-praised past practices. "The AKP government failed to control the shadow economy, and they did not explain how the struggle against corruption will be conducted," Kilicdaroglu said. He also criticized PM Erdogan for putting the press under pressure. Devlet Bahceli, the leader of far-right MHP, said the greatest challenge Turkey faces today was "terror and ethnic separatism." "Turkey has become a country of corruption, irregular gain, and lawlessness. Religious beliefs should not be used against the republic of Turkey," Bahceli emphasized. Main Kurdish party DTP leader Ahmet Turk slammed the AKP government for not realizing the importance of votes it received from citizens in eastern and southeastern Turkey. "We are seeking a solution without debating Turkey's unity," Turk said, "we want to contribute to a Turkey that has resolved its Kurdish problem, developed its democracy, established a strong economy and has become an example of peace and freedoms in the region." Prime Minister Erdogan said in defense of the program that the AKP votes have increased because the nation sees it as a successful government. The PM urged DTP lawmakers to classify the PKK as a terrorist organization. "The EU and the US accept the PKK as a terrorist organization, but some in this assembly do not," Erdogan said. Responding to DTP claims that the votes the AKP received in southeast Turkey would prove "transient," Erdogan said those who claim this should have entered the general elections under their own party, referring to the fact that DTP candidates ran as independents in the elections. President Gul's Social Calendar Hurriyet, Milliyet, Vatan, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report that on Tuesday, newly-installed President Abdullah Gul will hold a reception for state officials at the presidential palace. The main opposition CHP said its members would not attend the reception. The far-right MHP is reportedly still evaluating whether or not to participate. Pro-Kurdish DTP will participate, papers report, whereas center-left DSP leader Zeki Sezer said he would be out of town and unable to attend. Papers say Gul is to hold another reception at the palace for media, civic organizations, and business representatives September 7. Meanwhile, papers report Gul is planning to attend the UN General Assembly meeting in New York at the end of the month. Claims of Chemical Weapons Used against the PKK Investigated Milliyet, Vatan, Radikal and others report the prosecutor's office in Uludere in the southeastern province of Sirnak will launch an investigation into Kurdish party DTP's claims that Turkish military used chemical weapons against PKK members during an operation in the region August 24. US-Made Weapons Seized in Hakkari Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others report police in Hakkari seized 30 weapons and 34 cartridges smuggled from Iraq during a security operation in the southeastern city. Two suspects were arrested. Editorial Commentary: Turkey's Image after Presidential Election Sami Kohen commented in the mainstream Milliyet: "Even though secularism and religious factors did not determine the result of the latest election, the election brought these issues to the surface indirectly, exhibiting a new image of Turkey. At the moment, the ANKARA 00002288 002 OF 002 only new thing is the headscarf of the new first lady. However, the foreign press continues commenting on the new era in Turkey: seeing a strengthening of Islamic powers and declining secularism. What will the impact of this kind of image on Turkey's foreign relations be? The European public will consider this new image, with its bent toward an Islamic regime, rather repulsive. However, this opinion changes when it comes to government policies. Within this framework, Gul's presidency will not have a negative impact on the EU. On the contrary, the signals coming from Brussels and the other EU capitals reflect the governments' trust that the AKP government and President Gul will accelerate the EU membership process. In other words, EU officials, for now at least, are not able to see the diminishing secularism and approaching Islamic regime in Turkey. If we are not wrong in our feelings, this situation is valid for the US and for many other countries. Especially for Washington, the most important thing is to have an administration in Ankara which will continue to have democracy and stability in the country, will be in harmony with the western world and won't cause any problems in bilateral relations. The Islamic world embraces Turkey's new image very willingly." TV News: (NTV, 6 A.M.) Domestic News - On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband will arrive in Turkey for a two-day official visit to meet with President Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Babacan. - Turkey Peace Assembly, a civilian group aiming for a solution to the Kurdish problem through peaceful and democratic channels, held its first convention over the weekend. The Assembly called for affirmative action for economic development in southeast Turkey and the establishment of a parliamentary commission to deal with the Kurdish question. - Turkish security reported Monday 159 terrorists were killed and 203 were captured during operations since January. International News - President Bush paid a surprise visit to al-Anbar Province in Iraq where he signaled US withdrawal as British troops pull out of Basra. - Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders Papadopoulos and Talat are to meet in Nicosia on September 5 in a first gathering between the two in a year. - Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) Spokesman Levent Bilman welcomed the US Defense Department statement that Pentagon chief inspector retired General Claude Kicklighter will go to Baghdad to investigate the missing US-origin weapons in Iraq. MCELDOWNEY