Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA231
2007-02-02 12:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO6373 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #0231/01 0331258 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 021258Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0825 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7783 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2051 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1612 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5715 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5454 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2092 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 000231
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, FEBRUARY 2, 2007
In Today's Papers
Hrant Dink Murderer Given a Hero's Treatment by Police, Jandarma
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan, Aksam, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman
and others report Ogun Samast, the murderer of Turkish-Armenian
writer Hrant Dink, was treated "like a hero" when he was caught in
the Black Sea city of Samsun. A photograph of Samast posing in
front, of a Turkish flag and the words of Ataturk taken after he was
arrested, has become an issue of debate. The camera footage of the
photograph, aired by TGRT television yesterday, revealed that it was
taken at the gendarme post in the Samsun bus station; although a
senior gendarme officer told Hurriyet that the photos and video
footage were not shot by gendarme. The officer said the photo was
deliberately leaked to the press in an attempt to raise suspicions
about the role of the gendarme in the murder.
Cumhuriyet points out the photo showing Samast as a hero was first
published by Star daily known to be close to the ruling AKP
government. The paper also says the video footage of the photo
shoot was aired by TGRT television, recently bought by Murdoch's
Fox-TV.
Sabah reports Interior Ministry inspectors probing the murder of
Turkish Armenian writer Hrant Dink have found that the police in
Trabzon received 17 tip-offs over the past year that Yasin Hayal,
another suspect in the case, was planning to kill Dink. Turkish
newspapers say police were warned a year ago about a plot to kill
Dink but failed to act to prevent the murder.
Meanwhile, papers and television news broadcasts report Nobel
laureate Orhan Pamuk has cancelled book tours in Germany and Belgium
over security concerns and 18 other writers have been assigned
bodyguards.
NGOs to Meet to Discuss Article 301
Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others report
19 Turkish NGOs will hold a meeting to discuss changes to Article
301of the Turkish Penal Code. Groupings such as Turkish Union of
Chambers (TOBB),labor unions TISK and DISK, and professional
organizations such as Turkish doctors' union TTB will join the
meeting to be held at Turkish Bars Association TBB in Ankara today.
Papers report Foreign Minister Gul said his government's decision
about Article 301 would not be shaped under public pressure.
Article 301 is related to expressions "insulting Turkishness," and
is the statute under which writers such as Hrant Dink and Orhan
Pamuk have been prosecuted.
Cyprus-Turkey Oil Exploration Crisis
All papers report the Turkish General Staff (TGS) chief General
Yasar Buyukanit said concerning press reports that Turkey had
dispatched warships to the eastern Mediterranean as a "show of
force" against Greek Cypriot plans for oil exploration with Egypt
and Lebanon that the ships were "already in the region" and that "no
additional ships were sent." Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said
before departing for Albania yesterday the ships were in the region
for "routine and planned" activities. Sabah and Vatan report State
spokesman Sean McCormack urged the parties to remain calm, to
"refrain from any actions that might be misinterpreted by the other
side" and called for "transparency," so that there are "no
misunderstandings that might result in mishaps." Papers also
report McCormack pointed to the UN for a solution.
Gul, Buyukanit Due to Visit the US
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others report Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Turkish General
Staff (TGS) chief General Yasar Buyukanit will discuss the PKK and
cross-border issues in northern Iraq in upcoming separate visits to
the US this month. Sabah says the Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA)
and the TGS are considering possibilities for operations against the
ANKARA 00000231 002 OF 003
PKK together with the US as well as with Iraq. Some papers report
State spokesman McCormack as saying that Turkey and the US would
discuss developments in Iraq, Iran, and the EU, as well the
"cross-border problem." Buyukanit, to visit the US on February 11,
will meet the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter
Pace, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor
Stephen Hadley. Gul, due in the US on February 5, is expected to
focus on the Armenian genocide bill submitted to the US Congress.
Turkish MPs Due to US to Campaign against Armenian Genocide Bill
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report 16
members of the Turkish Parliament will travel to the US in three
separate groups from February 10-March 31 to campaign against the
Armenian genocide bill through meetings with US congressmen. The
first delegation will visit the US from February 10 -17, the second
from February 24-March 3, and the third group between March 11 -18.
Also, the Turkish Union of Chambers (TOBB) will reportedly help 32
lawmakers travel to the US to meet the representatives of leading
American companies against the genocide bill.
Editorial Commentary on Armenian Genocide Bill in the US,
US/Iraq-Iran
Sami Kohen comments in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "Introduction
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the House the other day
indicated a new crisis in the Turkish-US relationship, which was
already in a sensitive situation. This time the chances seem rather
weak for the resolution to be withdrawn or to be abolished during
debates in the commission. If the resolution is adopted by the
Congress, then, the main negative affect of it will be seen on
Turkey-US relationship. Responding to a question on the issue the
other day, Foreign Minister Gul said 'our strategic partnership will
come to an end if the resolution is adopted.' Actually, despite the
document signed last year, it is very obvious that the strategic
partnership between Turkey and the US has been immensely weakened,
lately. Nevertheless, Turkey's partnership is very important for US
regional politics. And for Ankara, US general support and its
coordination in the fight against the PKK in Iraq, is very
important. If the necessary steps are not taken immediately on the
resolution issue, the Turkey-US relationship will definitely be
damaged. This issue is too urgent and important to be left in the
hands of the Bush Administration. It should be explained to the
Congress, influential circles in the US and to the public. The
Turkish government, Parliament, political parties, NGOs,
businessmen, academicians, journalists, everyone should directly get
in-touch with their counterparts in the US immediately and start a
campaign to convince them."
Fehmi Koru observed in the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak: "The Bush
Administration is losing its support not only in Iraq but in the US
as well. One of the latest surveys in the US showed that Bush is
the most disrespected President so far. Moreover, Bush and his team
do not hesitate to announce openly their dream of attacking Iran.
As if it wasn't bad enough to attack Iraq to topple Saddam, now,
with one last effort, the Neo-crazies are exerting efforts to
convince Bush to attack Iran. The responsible team in Washington is
thinking like this: The US has 150,000 troops in Iraq. Under these
conditions it is not possible to launch an operation against Iran.
If the US is considering an operation against Iran seriously, then,
it definitely should decrease its responsibilities in Iraq. We
should evaluate the news from Iraq in light of these developments."
TV Highlights
NTV (6 a.m.)
Domestic News
- An explosion ripped through a storage tank at Turkey's largest oil
ANKARA 00000231 003 OF 003
refinery Tupras in Izmit near Istanbul, killing two South African
workers and injuring seven others. The explosion occurred when
workers were dismantling a tetraethyl tank.
- Milliyet's chief editor Abdi Ipekci, killed 28 years ago by hitman
Mehmet Ali Agca, was commemorated in Istanbul yesterday. Agca,
still imprisoned in Turkey, had attempted to kill Pope John Paul II
in 1981.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, head of the Catholic bishops in Italy,
will participate in Turkey in the ceremonies planned to commemorate
Catholic priest Andrea Santoro killed in Trabzon last year on
February 5.
- Turkey's foreign capital association YASED will host in Istanbul a
meeting of CEOs from around the world.
- Turkish Parliament's justice commission has approved a bill on
witness protection program.
International News
- The UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies reports
Turkish sources as saying the PKK was planning to strike targets in
Turkey using remote-control model planes.
- The Financial Times says Turkey weighs cross-border attacks in
northern Iraq against the PKK together with the US.
- Mark Mazower of The Financial Times calls on Turkey to start open
debates on the Armenian issue.
- Two suicide bomb attacks on a crowded outdoor market in the Iraqi
Shiite city of Hillah killed 45 people and wounded 150 others.
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
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2007
In Today's Papers
Hrant Dink Murderer Given a Hero's Treatment by Police, Jandarma
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan, Aksam, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman
and others report Ogun Samast, the murderer of Turkish-Armenian
writer Hrant Dink, was treated "like a hero" when he was caught in
the Black Sea city of Samsun. A photograph of Samast posing in
front, of a Turkish flag and the words of Ataturk taken after he was
arrested, has become an issue of debate. The camera footage of the
photograph, aired by TGRT television yesterday, revealed that it was
taken at the gendarme post in the Samsun bus station; although a
senior gendarme officer told Hurriyet that the photos and video
footage were not shot by gendarme. The officer said the photo was
deliberately leaked to the press in an attempt to raise suspicions
about the role of the gendarme in the murder.
Cumhuriyet points out the photo showing Samast as a hero was first
published by Star daily known to be close to the ruling AKP
government. The paper also says the video footage of the photo
shoot was aired by TGRT television, recently bought by Murdoch's
Fox-TV.
Sabah reports Interior Ministry inspectors probing the murder of
Turkish Armenian writer Hrant Dink have found that the police in
Trabzon received 17 tip-offs over the past year that Yasin Hayal,
another suspect in the case, was planning to kill Dink. Turkish
newspapers say police were warned a year ago about a plot to kill
Dink but failed to act to prevent the murder.
Meanwhile, papers and television news broadcasts report Nobel
laureate Orhan Pamuk has cancelled book tours in Germany and Belgium
over security concerns and 18 other writers have been assigned
bodyguards.
NGOs to Meet to Discuss Article 301
Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others report
19 Turkish NGOs will hold a meeting to discuss changes to Article
301of the Turkish Penal Code. Groupings such as Turkish Union of
Chambers (TOBB),labor unions TISK and DISK, and professional
organizations such as Turkish doctors' union TTB will join the
meeting to be held at Turkish Bars Association TBB in Ankara today.
Papers report Foreign Minister Gul said his government's decision
about Article 301 would not be shaped under public pressure.
Article 301 is related to expressions "insulting Turkishness," and
is the statute under which writers such as Hrant Dink and Orhan
Pamuk have been prosecuted.
Cyprus-Turkey Oil Exploration Crisis
All papers report the Turkish General Staff (TGS) chief General
Yasar Buyukanit said concerning press reports that Turkey had
dispatched warships to the eastern Mediterranean as a "show of
force" against Greek Cypriot plans for oil exploration with Egypt
and Lebanon that the ships were "already in the region" and that "no
additional ships were sent." Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said
before departing for Albania yesterday the ships were in the region
for "routine and planned" activities. Sabah and Vatan report State
spokesman Sean McCormack urged the parties to remain calm, to
"refrain from any actions that might be misinterpreted by the other
side" and called for "transparency," so that there are "no
misunderstandings that might result in mishaps." Papers also
report McCormack pointed to the UN for a solution.
Gul, Buyukanit Due to Visit the US
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others report Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Turkish General
Staff (TGS) chief General Yasar Buyukanit will discuss the PKK and
cross-border issues in northern Iraq in upcoming separate visits to
the US this month. Sabah says the Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA)
and the TGS are considering possibilities for operations against the
ANKARA 00000231 002 OF 003
PKK together with the US as well as with Iraq. Some papers report
State spokesman McCormack as saying that Turkey and the US would
discuss developments in Iraq, Iran, and the EU, as well the
"cross-border problem." Buyukanit, to visit the US on February 11,
will meet the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter
Pace, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor
Stephen Hadley. Gul, due in the US on February 5, is expected to
focus on the Armenian genocide bill submitted to the US Congress.
Turkish MPs Due to US to Campaign against Armenian Genocide Bill
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report 16
members of the Turkish Parliament will travel to the US in three
separate groups from February 10-March 31 to campaign against the
Armenian genocide bill through meetings with US congressmen. The
first delegation will visit the US from February 10 -17, the second
from February 24-March 3, and the third group between March 11 -18.
Also, the Turkish Union of Chambers (TOBB) will reportedly help 32
lawmakers travel to the US to meet the representatives of leading
American companies against the genocide bill.
Editorial Commentary on Armenian Genocide Bill in the US,
US/Iraq-Iran
Sami Kohen comments in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "Introduction
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the House the other day
indicated a new crisis in the Turkish-US relationship, which was
already in a sensitive situation. This time the chances seem rather
weak for the resolution to be withdrawn or to be abolished during
debates in the commission. If the resolution is adopted by the
Congress, then, the main negative affect of it will be seen on
Turkey-US relationship. Responding to a question on the issue the
other day, Foreign Minister Gul said 'our strategic partnership will
come to an end if the resolution is adopted.' Actually, despite the
document signed last year, it is very obvious that the strategic
partnership between Turkey and the US has been immensely weakened,
lately. Nevertheless, Turkey's partnership is very important for US
regional politics. And for Ankara, US general support and its
coordination in the fight against the PKK in Iraq, is very
important. If the necessary steps are not taken immediately on the
resolution issue, the Turkey-US relationship will definitely be
damaged. This issue is too urgent and important to be left in the
hands of the Bush Administration. It should be explained to the
Congress, influential circles in the US and to the public. The
Turkish government, Parliament, political parties, NGOs,
businessmen, academicians, journalists, everyone should directly get
in-touch with their counterparts in the US immediately and start a
campaign to convince them."
Fehmi Koru observed in the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak: "The Bush
Administration is losing its support not only in Iraq but in the US
as well. One of the latest surveys in the US showed that Bush is
the most disrespected President so far. Moreover, Bush and his team
do not hesitate to announce openly their dream of attacking Iran.
As if it wasn't bad enough to attack Iraq to topple Saddam, now,
with one last effort, the Neo-crazies are exerting efforts to
convince Bush to attack Iran. The responsible team in Washington is
thinking like this: The US has 150,000 troops in Iraq. Under these
conditions it is not possible to launch an operation against Iran.
If the US is considering an operation against Iran seriously, then,
it definitely should decrease its responsibilities in Iraq. We
should evaluate the news from Iraq in light of these developments."
TV Highlights
NTV (6 a.m.)
Domestic News
- An explosion ripped through a storage tank at Turkey's largest oil
ANKARA 00000231 003 OF 003
refinery Tupras in Izmit near Istanbul, killing two South African
workers and injuring seven others. The explosion occurred when
workers were dismantling a tetraethyl tank.
- Milliyet's chief editor Abdi Ipekci, killed 28 years ago by hitman
Mehmet Ali Agca, was commemorated in Istanbul yesterday. Agca,
still imprisoned in Turkey, had attempted to kill Pope John Paul II
in 1981.
- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, head of the Catholic bishops in Italy,
will participate in Turkey in the ceremonies planned to commemorate
Catholic priest Andrea Santoro killed in Trabzon last year on
February 5.
- Turkey's foreign capital association YASED will host in Istanbul a
meeting of CEOs from around the world.
- Turkish Parliament's justice commission has approved a bill on
witness protection program.
International News
- The UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies reports
Turkish sources as saying the PKK was planning to strike targets in
Turkey using remote-control model planes.
- The Financial Times says Turkey weighs cross-border attacks in
northern Iraq against the PKK together with the US.
- Mark Mazower of The Financial Times calls on Turkey to start open
debates on the Armenian issue.
- Two suicide bomb attacks on a crowded outdoor market in the Iraqi
Shiite city of Hillah killed 45 people and wounded 150 others.
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON