ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002419 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 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 In Today's Papers Turkey-Iraq to Sign Anti-Terror Deal Thursday All papers report that Turkey and Iraq are expected to sign an anti-terror agreement today as a follow up to the memorandum of understanding that was agreed on in an August visit to Turkey by Prime Minister al-Maliki. The agreement is expected to include Turkey's right to "hot pursuit" of PKK terrorists across the border. Milliyet says the deal will also include the establishment of liaison offices in the Iraqi Embassy in Turkey and the Turkish Embassy in Iraq for anti-terrorism coordination. Vatan and Cumhuriyet say "coordination offices" will be set up on the Turkey-Iraq border. Cumhuriyet also says that in order to implement a "hot pursuit" operation, Ankara will have to get permission from President Talabani and regional Kurdish administration leader Massoud Barzani. Visiting Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani and his Turkish counterpart Besir Atalay are expected to sign the deal Thursday. Meanwhile, Zaman reports Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan in New York that the Iraqi government supports the memorandum. Zebari also welcomed Turkish plans to open a consulate in Basra. The two foreign ministers have agreed to work for the success of the expanded Iraq neighbors' meeting to take place in Istanbul in October. Erdogan Meets Ahmadinejad, Livni in New York All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan was invited to join a "roundtable meeting of democracy partners" held under the auspices of President Bush. Turkish diplomatic sources said Turkey was invited to join the meeting of countries with "fledgling democracies" as an "exemplary model of democracy." Erdogan also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and asked her to convince Washington to invite Turkey to the Middle East conference to be held in November. Radikal says Livni gave Erdogan details about a recent Israeli air attack against Syria. Erdogan also came together with Iranian President Ahmadinejad to discuss Iraq and Iran's nuclear program. Papers point to the fact that the meeting took place the day US House adopted a decision to sanction international companies that invest in Iran. Several papers note that Turkey and Iran have recently agreed that the state-owned Turkish oil company TPAO would invest around USD 12 billion in Iran. Sabah says the two leaders also discussed the US reaction to Iran-Turkey energy cooperation. Before meeting with Ahmadinejad, Erdogan came together with a delegation of Jewish representatives, from whom the PM asked support against the Armenian genocide bill in the US Congress, papers report. US Senate Adopts Bill for a 'Loose Federation' in Iraq Sabah, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Yeni Safak and others report that US Senate has approved a bill submitted by Senator Joe Biden, which calls for a "loose federation" of three semi-autonomous regions in Iraq. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says even though the bill is not binding, it paves the way for the disintegration of Iraq in the future. Paper: Turkish Military Wants a Prospective Kurdish State Blocked Tabloid Aksam, commenting on recent remarks by Turkish Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug who had issued "tough" messages to the US on the PKK, says the military sees prevention of the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq as a top priority for Turkey. The military is ready to take all risks including fighting with the US to prevent such a development, according to the paper. Basbug also warned the US that in combating the PKK Turkey wanted to see US action and not words. ANKARA 00002419 002 OF 003 Editorial Commentary on US-Turkey Relations and the PKK Fikret Bila writes in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "When the Land Forces Commander General Basbug made those very harsh remarks against the US, he was trying to underline the ongoing uneasiness with the situation in Iraq and with cooperation with the US against the PKK. The Turkish military expects to see tangible signs of sincerity from the US regarding Iraqi territorial integrity and the fight against terrorism. Iraq's territorial integrity is an issue related to the threat assessment of the Turkish military. The military considers an independent state in Iraq's north as a primary threat from a strategic point of view. Such a development is assessed as a 'vital threat against the Turkish state' and the army remains committed to reacting at a whatever-it-takes level. Regarding threat assessments, Kirkuk is number two and PKK is the third, in the Turkish military's priority order. The Turkish military continues operations against the PKK in the region yet absolute success has not been achieved. The military is aware of the fact that this problem cannot be resolved through only military means. In this context, it is also aware of the fact that a military operation by the US against the PKK will not be able to end the problem, either. However both Ankara and the military are waiting to see a clear stance from the US against the PKK, such as the capture of few chieftains to hand over to Turkey. An action as such that will not only restore the US image in Turkey, but will also diminish PKK members' hopes for US help. Some events are important simply because they happen, just like concrete action by the US against the PKK. Otherwise the Turkish army is not happy with the fact that Iraq and PKK issues are driving a wedge between Turkey and the US." Sukru Kucuksahin writes in the mainstream daily Hurriyet: "General Basbug gave very a serious message to the US when he called for 'deeds not words.' It is no secret that the Turkish military is highly disappointed by the lack of the expected level of support from the US regarding the fight against the PKK. Such concrete support would have a positive impact on restoring the US image in Turkey which is as low as 7 percent. Currently the US is being presented with a very big opportunity to do that. Ongoing operations against the PKK by the Turkish army can be supported by concrete action of the US. For example if the US captures a few PKK leaders and hands them over to Turkey, this will create significant demoralization within the terrorist organization. Such an action will certainly not end the PKK problem but it will definitely be a morale boost for the Turkish army. The Turkish army is also very clear about taking every possible action at all costs if a separate state in Northern Iraq is established, and wants this to be known by the entire world, including by the US. If the US makes a gesture like handing over PKK leaders, it will ease things and help to create a positive image among the Turkish public. A restored American image in Turkey will make the Turkish military very happy, for sure." US State Senators Group Visits Istanbul Mainstream Sabah reports 22 US state senators have arrived in Istanbul September 24 in a tour organized by Senate Presidents' Forum for meetings with business leaders such as elite business grouping TUSIAD's honorary chair Rahmi Koc, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu and TUSIAD deputy chairperson Umit Boyner. Fred Risser (Wisconsin,) John Revens (Rhode Island,) David Williams (Kentucky,) and Rosa Franklin (Washington) are among the members of the group which also has some 30 representatives of US food, medicine and liquor companies such as Novartis, Unilever, Anheuser-Busch, and Tyco. The delegation is to leave Istanbul September 30. TV Highlights NTV Domestic News ANKARA 00002419 003 OF 003 - AKP deputy chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said in response to a motion his party has not made any payments to the scholars who prepared a draft constitution on behalf of the AKP. - Kurdish party DTP complained in a statement that heated controversy and increasing polarization over the draft new constitution has made the DTP a target. - Turkey ranks 64 in Transparency International's anti-corruption index based on perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories. - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said oil and natural gas imports for 2008 were expected to amount to USD 35 billion. International News - Fighting between demonstrators and riot police in Myanmar have left five people dead and many more injured. - The German Interior Minister said fuses intended for use in a suspected plot to bomb US installations in Germany came from Syria through Turkey. - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said a census was needed before holding a referendum in Kirkuk. - European Union lawmakers on Wednesday backed plans for an EU-wide work permit to attract skilled workers to offset labor shortages in the 27-nation bloc due to falling birth rates and demographic shifts. WILSON