ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002364 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 18, 2007 In Today's Papers Debate over New Constitution Draft Mainstream papers report the AK Party is struggling to find an appropriate formula for the draft constitution that would ease the ban on headscarves in universities. Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said Monday the new constitution was not prepared for the AKP, but for all of Turkey. Cicek accused the critics of "sabotaging" the draft by putting all their emphasis on the controversial issue of the headscarf. Mainstream Milliyet says the headscarf issue was the focus of controversy in the new draft constitution. Mainstream Vatan says the constitution commission was inclined to allow attire "consistent with sociological realities." The final decision on the issue will be made by Prime Minister Erdogan. Papers also report the AKP is to consult with the European Union on Turkey's draft new constitution prepared by a group of academics and the ruling party members before it was made public for debates in Turkey. Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, the AKP deputy chairman in charge of the commission which drafted the constitution, will meet ambassadors of EU countries to give details about draft constitution. On Tuesday, a Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) delegation will hold a meeting with EU Troika representatives in Lisbon, detailing them about the draft. Opposition leader Deniz Baykal lashed out at the government for informing EU ambassadors in Ankara on the draft before consulting the opposition. Erdogan Due to Visit the US All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan will go to the US on Thursday to participate in UN General Assembly (UNGA) meetings. Before arriving in New York, Erdogan will visit his newly born grandson in Washington. On September 24-25 Erdogan will participate in UNGA talks in New York. The PM might hold a brief meeting with President Bush on the sidelines of the summit. Erdogan will also come together with 25 leaders including French President Sarkozy, Pakistani President Musharraf, German Chancellor Merkel, and British Prime Minister Brown. On September 26 Erdogan will open the New York Stock Exchange, and deliver a speech at the Turkish-American Association (TAA) later on the same day. On September 28 he will join a meeting at Clinton Foundation and will meet the Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton who will host a Ramadan "Iftar" dinner in his honor. Erdogan will return to Turkey on September 29. Erdogan is to pay a second visit to the US to meet with President Bush later in the year, according to papers. Editorial Commentary on Erdogan's US Visit Hakan Aygun comments in the conservative daily Bugun: "Prime Minister Erdogan is leaving soon for the United Nations General Assembly meetings. However the real purpose of this trip is to have a chat with President Bush. In other words, it is hoped that his stand up with President Bush will set the ground for a future tte-`-tte at the White House. Turkey's plan is to revive the strategic partnership which really wound down after March 1, 2003. The ruling AKP seems determined to turn it back up like the old days, and PM Erdogan wants to hear President Bush utter the words "Turkish-American strategic partnership." Considering the timing of this effort which comes right before the probable Iran operation, it seems we are just heading toward more trouble." DTP Concerned Investigations May Lead to Party Closure All papers report Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP deputy chairman Selma Irmak has expressed concern over the investigations initiated against her party, saying other parties had been disbanded as a result of similar investigations in the past. "We call for an end to the legal and societal pressures placed on our party, and for dialogue. The presence of the DTP in the parliament is a historic opportunity for Turkey," Irmak said. Turkey's top state prosecutor has recently launched a probe into the DTP over its leader Ahmet Turk's allegation that the Turkish ANKARA 00002364 002 OF 003 military used chemical weapons against PKK fighters in the mainly Kurdish southeast. The Turkish General Staff (TGS) has denied the accusation. The case opened by the chief prosecutor of Turkey's Appeals Court raises the possibility that DTP could eventually suffer the same fate as other pro-Kurdish parties and be shut down, papers comment. President Gul to Northern Cyprus Hurriyet, Vatan, Radikal and others report that on his first visit abroad as President, Abdullah Gul departs for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today. His wife Hayrunnisa Gul, who has kept a low profile so far, will accompany Gul on the visit. This will be the first time that First Lady will be part of the Presidential protocol. FM Babacan: Reform Process will Continue Zaman, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal and others: FM and Chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan met with the high level bureaucrats of all public institutions at the EU Secretariat General and said that the EU reform process will continue and a new program will be prepared for the country's EU accession process. Babacan added that for EU negotiations new detailed programs covering three-month periods will be prepared and that the EU target will let Turkey reach universal standards in issues like democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms, and supremacy of law. Editorial Commentary on Greek Elections Sami Kohen writes in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "Greek PM Karamanlis won the election with a slight margin and will be able to rule another four years. The main question is this: will he be able to make domestic reforms as promised and will he be powerful enough to take necessary actions internationally? He and his party will certainly face a more challenging period ahead since the ruling party is now going to be challenged by three opposition parties, ranging from far right to left. One of the peculiar points for Turkey was the fact that unlike previous election campaigns, neither the Karamanlis nor Papandreou parties used the Cyprus issue as a propaganda tool. The campaign primarily focused on economic issues and reforms. Let's hope that Karamanlis shows leadership and takes the necessary steps to improve bilateral ties with Turkey. The never-realized trip by Karamanlis to Turkey, hopefully, can happen this time." TV News: NTV Domestic News - The first person arrested in the case involving a foiled car bomb attack in Ankara last week is a supporter of the outlawed PKK. - Folk singer Ismail Turut's musical tribute to the killers of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink has sparked a criminal investigation and protests from human rights groups. - The prosecutor has decided to ask for a nine-year prison sentence for a police officer held responsible for the killing of Nigerian citizen Festus Okey in Beyoglu police station in the heart of Istanbul. - Security forces killed a PKK terrorist in a clash in the eastern city of Igdir, the Governor's Office said on Monday. A landmine believed to have been planted by the PKK injured three security members in the southeastern city of Sirnak. International News - The European Local and Regional Administration Congress criticized Turkey for the removal from office of the pro-Kurdish DTP mayor of Sur district in Diyarbakir, Abdullah Demirtas. ANKARA 00002364 003 OF 003 - Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said the Netherlands would support European Union sanctions over Iran's nuclear program if the UN Security Council fails to agree on new measures. - Andrey Lugovoy, former KGB operative and billionaire businessman who is wanted by Britain on suspicion of killing Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, said on Monday he would stand for election to parliament. - Microsoft has lost its appeal against a record Euro 497 million fine imposed by the European Commission in a long-running competition dispute. WILSON