ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002292 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, AUGUST 28, 2007 In Today's Papers Abdullah Gul Set to Become Turkey's 11th President in Today's Voting All papers report Abdullah Gul is set to be elected Turkey's next president in a third round of voting in the parliament on Tuesday. A simple majority of 276 votes is needed for Gul's election in the 550-member assembly. The main opposition CHP said it will continue to boycott the voting. Mainstream Milliyet said on its website Monday the 20 Kurdish DTP lawmakers have decided to support Gul in today's voting. The paper sees the sudden change in the position of DTP as the result of the AKP decision to place Kurdish language rights in a draft of constitutional changes expected to be unveiled by the government in late September. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet criticizes far-right MHP for taking part in the election process, thus enabling Gul to become the next president. Sabah reports the chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) Yasar Buyukanit and force commanders were invited to join the oath-taking ceremony to take place at 6:00 p.m. today. Gul's wife, Hayrunnisa Gul, is not expected to attend the ceremony in parliament. Editorial Commentary on Gul as Turkey's New President Hasan Cemal comments in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "There is no requirement to be pleased with Gul's presidency nor it is necessary to like the ruling AKP. All you have to do is to find alternate policies instead of working as a crisis-monger. Gul as president will be a historical breakthrough for Turkey. The country will be relieved as long as Gul proves his full commitment to democracy, the secular nature of the Republic and supremacy of law. When that happens, Turkey will be able to move forward to a progressive future. There is a lesson to learn out of the ongoing presidential election process: Nobody should consider any methods other than democracy." Gungor Mengi writes in the mainstream daily Vatan: "Gul is becoming the 11th president of Turkey. Some believe that he has a secret Islamic agenda to change the nature of the regime, while others argue that such fears are baseless because of the past record of AKP government during the last 4.5 years. It is important for Turkey that these fears and arguments come to an end as soon as possible. President Gul has a very urgent test and he has to prove his sincerity. There was a Washington Post article which was saying Gul would become president unless there was a military coup. Using a military coup as a constant reference for Turkey has a provocative and insulting tone. Turkey has just concluded a democratic election and its outcome will be implemented regardless. The antidote for fears is democratic policies within the supremacy of law not military coups. President Gul comes with a credit as he expresses commitment to the values of Turkish Republic. Let's hope that he uses this credit in a way compatible with his oath." TGS Issues Victory Day Statement on Eve of Presidential Election All papers report that on Monday, the eve of Abdullah Gul taking over the presidential post, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) released a "strongly-worded" statement to mark Victory Day to be celebrated on August 30. Allegedly penned by TGS chief General Yasar Buyukanit himself, the statement underlines the importance of secularism, pointing to "insidious plans by internal and external forces to ruin the secular and democratic structure of Turkey and undo the country's modern achievements." "The Turkish Armed Forces will never sway from its determined position while performing its duty of protecting and watching over the republic under the guidance of Ataturk's philosophy. The army will not be deterred by attacks and betrayals. As the founder of our republic Ataturk put it, 'Those who have established the Republic must also be capable of defending it,'" the statement said. Turkey's Ambassador to Israel: Use Influence Jewish Community in the ANKARA 00002292 002 OF 002 US Sabah, Star, Zaman and others: In an interview with Israel's Jerusalem Post, Turkish Ambassador to Israel Namik Tan urged the Israeli government to use its influence on US-based Jewish organizations to ensure that the US Congress does not pass the "Armenian genocide" resolution. Ambassador Tan stressed that "it is Turkey's expectation that Israel will not allow the Jewish community in the US to change their position and this is very, very important for Turkey." When reminded by the Jerusalem Post of quotes by Israeli government officials reiterating that Israel does not control American-Jewish organizations, Tan said "I cannot accept this argument. On some issues there is no such thing as 'Israel cannot do it' and this is one of those issues." Talat Accuses the US of being Responsible for Cyprus Oil Issue Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reported that, northern Cyprus "President" Talat, in a TV interview, reacted to the oil exploration in Mediterranean by the Greek-Cypriots, saying that "the US will be the responsible party if a crisis erupts on this issue." Talat added that "if the Greek Cypriots do not change their stance, anything can happen. Everyone should be cautious; everyone could suffer from the consequences." TV Highlights NTV, 7.00 A.M. Domestic News - Labor Minister Murat Basesgioglu said national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) has reached a pay deal with aviation workers union, averting a possible strike. - Huseyin Travnisi, the KDP border security commander in Zaho in northern Iraq, said the Turkish military has been striking 34 border areas since February with tanks, jetfighters and napalm bombs. - President Sezer wrapped up his farewell visits before the election of the new president. - Torrential rains are expected in Turkey's north, the Marmara region and Black Sea region. International News - Greek officials said forest fires are threatening the ancient ruins of Olympia, adding the unprecedented disaster was not yet under control. Turkey will send a JL215-type amphibian plane to Greece to help efforts to extinguish fires. - French President Sarkozy said his agreement to negotiate Turkey's EU membership would require the EU to establish a panel of ``wise men'' by the end of the year to study the future of Europe. - Climate negotiators from 191 nations assembled in Vienna on Monday with calls for a global deal beyond 2012 to replace the UN's Kyoto Protocol. - US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales handed in his resignation. MCELDOWNEY