Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA250
2007-02-06 14:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO9366 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #0250/01 0371400 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 061400Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0857 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7786 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2064 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1620 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5718 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5457 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2095 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 000250
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, FEBRUARY 6, 2007
In Today's Papers
Gul Meets Cheney, Hadley in Washington
All papers report Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, in the US on a
state visit, met with national security advisor Stephen Hadley and
Vice President Dick Cheney, during which he urged the US to fulfill
its obligations as a strategic partner. Gul asked Cheney for
concrete moves against the PKK, and warned the VP that a US
Congressional adoption of the Armenian genocide bill would adversely
affect bilateral ties. Sabah says that US House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, known for her close ties with the Armenians, was delaying a
meeting with Gul. Hurriyet and Aksam report that the night when the
Turkish delegation arrived in Washington, AMC TV aired the famous
anti-Turk movie "Midnight Express," which amounted to a "cold
shower" for the Turks. Papers speculate the film was broadcast due
to the pressures coming from the Armenian lobby.
Several papers speculate that Americans, bearing in mind that Gul
could become the new prime minister of Turkey, gave the FM a top
level reception. On Tuesday, Gul is scheduled to meet Secretary
Rice to discuss the Armenian bill, combating the PKK, Cyprus, Iran,
Iraq, and the Middle East.
Cumhuriyet says Prime Minister Erdogan, seeking the support of the
US Administration before the upcoming presidential and general
elections in Turkey, was testing the ground for a meeting with
President Bush in Washington. The paper claims Erdogan and his
staff were uneasy over the fact that Turkey was not given a role in
President Bush's new Iraq strategy, and that Secretary Rice did not
stop in Turkey during her Middle East tour last month. Washington's
response to Erdogan's request for a meeting with Bush will give
clues about the US attitudes regarding Turkish demands, according to
Cumhuriyet.
Hrant Dink Murder Investigation
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others report that in the investigation of the assassination of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Ahmet Ilhan Guler, Istanbul
Security intelligence desk chief, has been removed from his post.
Guler reportedly told the interior ministry inspectors that he did
not notify his superiors of the tip offs, saying they were "raw
information." Several papers see the Guler admission as an effort
to save his seniors, mainly the police chief Celalettin Cerrah, who
had earlier drawn reactions for saying that the murder was "an
individual action." Milliyet says that not only the police, but
also the gendarme were alerted about the plans of Yasin Hayal to
murder Hrant Dink. Hayal's uncle-in-law in Trabzon said he was an
informant working for the gendarme, adding that he had notified them
regarding Hayal plotting to kill Dink. Yeni Safak sees no confusion
in the Dink murder, but simply attempts to silence the gang that
organized the killing. Opposition CHP deputy group chief Haluk Koc
called on Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, a "ghost minister," to
resign. Cumhuriyet says the competition among the Tarikats (sects)
within the security directorate and the interior ministry obstructed
the investigation from reaching the "top perpetrators."
French Police Detained 13 PKK Members; AKP Deputy and US State
Department Spokesman Comment on the PKK
Sabah, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet and others: French police
yesterday detained 13 people believed to be members of the PKK on
suspicion of money laundering and financing terrorism. Sabah says
12 of the suspected were Turkish citizen Kurds and one was
Canadian.
Sabah quoted ruling AKP Balikesir Deputy Turhan Comez as saying
"I've been in constant contact with Turkmen in Kirkuk. They say
that PKK terrorists are flowing into Kirkuk carrying identities of
Barzani's KDP and Talabani's PUK." Comez, together with CHP deputy
Orhan Ziya Diren left for the US yesterday to hold series of
meetings there. Prior to their departure, at a joint press
ANKARA 00000250 002 OF 003
conference, Comez and Diren said "we will attend several conferences
at universities and meet representatives of some non governmental
organizations to explain Turkey's stance and expectations about Iraq
and Kirkuk."
Sabah quotes the State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack as saying
the "PKK entering Turkey through northern Iraq created tension.
This is a very sensitive issue and we are using diplomacy to avoid
an armed clash in northern Iraq. The PKK is a terrorist
organization and that is how we consider it. The US Special Envoy
for Countering Terrorism retired General Ralston is working on both
sidesof the border, to eliminate the tensions betwee Iraqis and
Turks."
Editorial Commentary on Iraqi Oil Law
Mustafa Balbay comments in the nationalist/leftist Cumhuriyet: "The
oil minister of the current Iraqi administration, Ibrahim Al-Uoum
has an interesting record. He was one of the attendees of the two
international conferences, one in the US and one in the UK, to
discuss the future of Iraqi oil a year before the occupation. Even
this by itself provides clear evidence of the reason and rationale
behind the Iraq occupation. When the US invaded the country and
entered Baghdad, every official building and palace was destroyed
with the exception of the Oil Ministry. After that the Iraqi Oil
Minister took over the job and he did exactly what he was supposed
to do. The oil business was given to international oil companies.
The Iraqi Constitution was crafted to serve the international
interests on energy matters. And finally 75 percent of the Iraqi
resources were transferred to foreigners by law."
Murdered Priest Santoro Commemorated
Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet and others: Italian Roman Catholic priest
Andrea Santoro, who was killed in his church in Trabzon last year,
was commemorated on Sunday at the Santa Maria Church. Among those
attending the ceremony were President of the Italian Bishop's
Committee Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Father Santoro's mother, sister
and uncle and members of the Christian Community in Trabzon.
Suspect O.A's parents as well came to the Santa Maria Church and
conveyed their condolences to Santoro's family.
Turkey Plans Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Hurriyet reports that on Tuesday, Environment Minister Osman Pepe,
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and Farming Minister Mehdi Eker will
unveil an action plan for coping with climate changes. The plan
envisages abandoning conventional irrigation methods, adopting the
Israeli type of irrigation in Turkey where 75 percent of water is
used by the agricultural sector. Farmers will also be trained on
the hazards of excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Turkey is
ranked 13th among world countries regarding greenhouse gas
emissions.
Sami Kohen comments in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "As the
recent UN report on climate change indicates, Turkey is among the
top 10 countries in polluting the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.
Given the 72 percent increase in carbon dioxide in 14 years,
Turkey's 'contribution' to global warming is becoming even more than
many industrialized nations. Turkey is not among the signatories of
Kyoto agreement because it said the country needed speedy
development. Industrialization was given priority over
environmental concerns. Now this wrong approach is a matter of open
debate. Turkey will have to adopt the Kyoto Protocol immediately
and start cooperating with the international community for
environmental protection which will definitely serve Turkey's long
term interests. At this point, the movie 'An Inconvenient Truth'
contains very important lessons. The truth regarding global warming
is shivering as well as warning. Al Gore gives a common message for
all: that we all can do something about global warming."
TV Highlights
ANKARA 00000250 003 OF 003
NTV, 6.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- President Sezer rejected recent statements by Prime Minister
Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Arinc calling for a new definition of
secularism, saying there is no ambiguity in the existing definition
of the concept.
- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met with President Sezer to
discuss Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. Musharraf called on Muslim
countries to work together to solve the Palestinian problem. He
will meet with Prime Minister Erdogan on Tuesday.
- One suspect has been arrested in Istanbul for alleged links with
the al-Qaeda network.
- One suspect thought to have links with the PKK has been arrested
in the Mediterranean city of Mersin while preparing for a bomb
attack.
- On Wednesday, the international airport constructed in Tbilisi by
the Turkish company TAV will be opened by Prime Minister Erdogan and
the presidents of Georgia and Azerbaijan.
International News
- Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas says his country
became an alternative of Turkey in the Middle East.
- An Iraqi government committee has decided to relocate the Arabs in
northern Iraq to central and southern Iraq, paying them
compensation.
- President Bush is to request USD 245 billion to finance the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan through late 2008.
- The US and Iraqi forces are preparing for a sweeping joint
operation aimed at restoring security in Baghdad.
- Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshaal said upcoming negotiations
with al-Fatah in Mecca must succeed.
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
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007
In Today's Papers
Gul Meets Cheney, Hadley in Washington
All papers report Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, in the US on a
state visit, met with national security advisor Stephen Hadley and
Vice President Dick Cheney, during which he urged the US to fulfill
its obligations as a strategic partner. Gul asked Cheney for
concrete moves against the PKK, and warned the VP that a US
Congressional adoption of the Armenian genocide bill would adversely
affect bilateral ties. Sabah says that US House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, known for her close ties with the Armenians, was delaying a
meeting with Gul. Hurriyet and Aksam report that the night when the
Turkish delegation arrived in Washington, AMC TV aired the famous
anti-Turk movie "Midnight Express," which amounted to a "cold
shower" for the Turks. Papers speculate the film was broadcast due
to the pressures coming from the Armenian lobby.
Several papers speculate that Americans, bearing in mind that Gul
could become the new prime minister of Turkey, gave the FM a top
level reception. On Tuesday, Gul is scheduled to meet Secretary
Rice to discuss the Armenian bill, combating the PKK, Cyprus, Iran,
Iraq, and the Middle East.
Cumhuriyet says Prime Minister Erdogan, seeking the support of the
US Administration before the upcoming presidential and general
elections in Turkey, was testing the ground for a meeting with
President Bush in Washington. The paper claims Erdogan and his
staff were uneasy over the fact that Turkey was not given a role in
President Bush's new Iraq strategy, and that Secretary Rice did not
stop in Turkey during her Middle East tour last month. Washington's
response to Erdogan's request for a meeting with Bush will give
clues about the US attitudes regarding Turkish demands, according to
Cumhuriyet.
Hrant Dink Murder Investigation
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak
and others report that in the investigation of the assassination of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Ahmet Ilhan Guler, Istanbul
Security intelligence desk chief, has been removed from his post.
Guler reportedly told the interior ministry inspectors that he did
not notify his superiors of the tip offs, saying they were "raw
information." Several papers see the Guler admission as an effort
to save his seniors, mainly the police chief Celalettin Cerrah, who
had earlier drawn reactions for saying that the murder was "an
individual action." Milliyet says that not only the police, but
also the gendarme were alerted about the plans of Yasin Hayal to
murder Hrant Dink. Hayal's uncle-in-law in Trabzon said he was an
informant working for the gendarme, adding that he had notified them
regarding Hayal plotting to kill Dink. Yeni Safak sees no confusion
in the Dink murder, but simply attempts to silence the gang that
organized the killing. Opposition CHP deputy group chief Haluk Koc
called on Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, a "ghost minister," to
resign. Cumhuriyet says the competition among the Tarikats (sects)
within the security directorate and the interior ministry obstructed
the investigation from reaching the "top perpetrators."
French Police Detained 13 PKK Members; AKP Deputy and US State
Department Spokesman Comment on the PKK
Sabah, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet and others: French police
yesterday detained 13 people believed to be members of the PKK on
suspicion of money laundering and financing terrorism. Sabah says
12 of the suspected were Turkish citizen Kurds and one was
Canadian.
Sabah quoted ruling AKP Balikesir Deputy Turhan Comez as saying
"I've been in constant contact with Turkmen in Kirkuk. They say
that PKK terrorists are flowing into Kirkuk carrying identities of
Barzani's KDP and Talabani's PUK." Comez, together with CHP deputy
Orhan Ziya Diren left for the US yesterday to hold series of
meetings there. Prior to their departure, at a joint press
ANKARA 00000250 002 OF 003
conference, Comez and Diren said "we will attend several conferences
at universities and meet representatives of some non governmental
organizations to explain Turkey's stance and expectations about Iraq
and Kirkuk."
Sabah quotes the State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack as saying
the "PKK entering Turkey through northern Iraq created tension.
This is a very sensitive issue and we are using diplomacy to avoid
an armed clash in northern Iraq. The PKK is a terrorist
organization and that is how we consider it. The US Special Envoy
for Countering Terrorism retired General Ralston is working on both
sidesof the border, to eliminate the tensions betwee Iraqis and
Turks."
Editorial Commentary on Iraqi Oil Law
Mustafa Balbay comments in the nationalist/leftist Cumhuriyet: "The
oil minister of the current Iraqi administration, Ibrahim Al-Uoum
has an interesting record. He was one of the attendees of the two
international conferences, one in the US and one in the UK, to
discuss the future of Iraqi oil a year before the occupation. Even
this by itself provides clear evidence of the reason and rationale
behind the Iraq occupation. When the US invaded the country and
entered Baghdad, every official building and palace was destroyed
with the exception of the Oil Ministry. After that the Iraqi Oil
Minister took over the job and he did exactly what he was supposed
to do. The oil business was given to international oil companies.
The Iraqi Constitution was crafted to serve the international
interests on energy matters. And finally 75 percent of the Iraqi
resources were transferred to foreigners by law."
Murdered Priest Santoro Commemorated
Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet and others: Italian Roman Catholic priest
Andrea Santoro, who was killed in his church in Trabzon last year,
was commemorated on Sunday at the Santa Maria Church. Among those
attending the ceremony were President of the Italian Bishop's
Committee Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Father Santoro's mother, sister
and uncle and members of the Christian Community in Trabzon.
Suspect O.A's parents as well came to the Santa Maria Church and
conveyed their condolences to Santoro's family.
Turkey Plans Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Hurriyet reports that on Tuesday, Environment Minister Osman Pepe,
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and Farming Minister Mehdi Eker will
unveil an action plan for coping with climate changes. The plan
envisages abandoning conventional irrigation methods, adopting the
Israeli type of irrigation in Turkey where 75 percent of water is
used by the agricultural sector. Farmers will also be trained on
the hazards of excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Turkey is
ranked 13th among world countries regarding greenhouse gas
emissions.
Sami Kohen comments in the mainstream daily Milliyet: "As the
recent UN report on climate change indicates, Turkey is among the
top 10 countries in polluting the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.
Given the 72 percent increase in carbon dioxide in 14 years,
Turkey's 'contribution' to global warming is becoming even more than
many industrialized nations. Turkey is not among the signatories of
Kyoto agreement because it said the country needed speedy
development. Industrialization was given priority over
environmental concerns. Now this wrong approach is a matter of open
debate. Turkey will have to adopt the Kyoto Protocol immediately
and start cooperating with the international community for
environmental protection which will definitely serve Turkey's long
term interests. At this point, the movie 'An Inconvenient Truth'
contains very important lessons. The truth regarding global warming
is shivering as well as warning. Al Gore gives a common message for
all: that we all can do something about global warming."
TV Highlights
ANKARA 00000250 003 OF 003
NTV, 6.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- President Sezer rejected recent statements by Prime Minister
Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Arinc calling for a new definition of
secularism, saying there is no ambiguity in the existing definition
of the concept.
- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met with President Sezer to
discuss Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. Musharraf called on Muslim
countries to work together to solve the Palestinian problem. He
will meet with Prime Minister Erdogan on Tuesday.
- One suspect has been arrested in Istanbul for alleged links with
the al-Qaeda network.
- One suspect thought to have links with the PKK has been arrested
in the Mediterranean city of Mersin while preparing for a bomb
attack.
- On Wednesday, the international airport constructed in Tbilisi by
the Turkish company TAV will be opened by Prime Minister Erdogan and
the presidents of Georgia and Azerbaijan.
International News
- Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas says his country
became an alternative of Turkey in the Middle East.
- An Iraqi government committee has decided to relocate the Arabs in
northern Iraq to central and southern Iraq, paying them
compensation.
- President Bush is to request USD 245 billion to finance the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan through late 2008.
- The US and Iraqi forces are preparing for a sweeping joint
operation aimed at restoring security in Baghdad.
- Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshaal said upcoming negotiations
with al-Fatah in Mecca must succeed.
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON