ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002501 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, OCTOBER 9, 2007 In Today's Papers Fifteen Soldiers Killed in PKK Attacks; Cross-Border Operation Back on the Agenda All papers devote significant space to reporting on the deaths of 15 soldiers killed in two separate incidents in Sirnak and Diyarbakir within 24 hours on Sunday and Monday. The Council of Ministers convened on Monday and then President Gul, PM Erdogan and TGS Chief General Buyukanit held a special security meeting held at the Presidential Palace. Responding to questions after the cabinet meeting on a possible cross-border operation, government spokesman Cemil Cicek said "our government is determined to do whatever it takes." The Anti-Terror Supreme Board convened today to focus on concrete measures against the PKK as reactions against PKK terrorism increased across the country. CHP leader Deniz Baykal denounced terrorism and criticized the government for not having an effective anti-terrorism policy. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli also criticized the government and saying "launching a cross-border operation became a legitimate option." DTP, for the first time, condemned the attack, calling the victims "martyrs" and "our children." Meanwhile, in a TV interview, Turkey's former special envoy for countering terrorism retired General Edip Baser criticized the US and EU countries for not taking necessary measures against the PKK and said "if a country is not taking measures it can to help a friendly country in its fight against terrorism, it means that country is supporting terrorism and it is a terrorist state itself. Meanwhile, all papers report that the US stance against Turkey's launching a cross-border operation to Northern Iraq has not changed, reporting that in an interview with CNN-Turk, US Ambassador Ross Wilson said "our view on this issue has not changed. Security steps can be discussed among the US, Turkey and Iraq." Commentary: PKK terror/Iraq/US Gungor Mengi wrote in the mainstream daily Vatan: "Turkey has failed to emerge as a power against terrorism. The government didn't do anything about the EU's efforts to legitimize terrorists, nor did they give strong enough messages to the imprisoned PKK leader [Ocalan] so that he realizes he is being held responsible for the ongoing PKK attacks. It is ironic that now Erdogan talks about new methods, whatever they could be at this point. The grave mistake is that this government did not make it clear in the strongest possible way to northern Iraqi [Kurdish] leaders that there will be a price to pay by sheltering murderers. PM Erdogan also talks about raising this issue with Bush, as if he, Bush, does not know about the issue [implying the US is behind the Iraqi Kurdish leaders allowing the terror to continue]. What we need is to unite against terrorism and to get rid of the insecure attitude in diplomacy. We are very late in shaping a state policy on the fight against terrorism." Mainstream daily Milliyet carried this editorial on page one: "The ruling AKP should formulate a new strategy to cope with terrorism and make it a vital priority. Foreign policy is one of the most valuable tools for the new strategy. The chieftains of the PKK have stationed themselves in Northern Iraq with the highest protection of Talabani and Barzani. The US, Turkey's ally, is only watching the activities of the PKK in Northern Iraq, and is preventing Turkey from going ahead with military action. If a country watches terrorism and does not use its capacity to prevent it, it can only be called an accomplice to terror. The ruling AKP failed to pursue diplomacy to activate the US in this regard. The upcoming Congressional Armenian genocide resolution is just about to be added to the Northern Iraq issue. The Turkish government should take every action to have the US feel that both inaction against the PKK and action on the AGR will undermine US interests." Turkey's Last-Minute Efforts to Prevent Armenian Resolution Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Turkiye, Zaman and others: A parliamentary delegation led by AKP Istanbul deputy Egemen Bagis went to the US to lobby against the Armenian Genocide Resolution ANKARA 00002501 002 OF 002 (AGR). Prior to their departure, Bagis said, "The resolution should not be issued by the US House Foreign Relations Committee. We will exert every effort to prevent the bill from passing. We have several options and will decide on what to do if the bill is adopted." Meanwhile, US Ambassador Ross Wilson, in an interview with CNN-Turk, said that "the US Administration and President Bush have been exerting efforts to prevent issuance of the resolution. No matter what the result is, it is to the benefit of both countries to cooperate." In response to Bagis' remarks regarding Turkey cutting off logistic support to the US in Iraq, Ambassador Wilson said if that support were not also to the advantage of Turkey, it would not be in place, adding "Turkey needs a successful Iraq, as well" Abbas Invites Turkey to the Middle East Summit Sabah, Zaman and others: During his continuing Middle East tour, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held meetings with Palestinian leader Abbas yesterday. Abbas said that Palestine will continue to hold consultations with Turkey and said that Turkey should join the US-backed Middle East peace summit to be held in November. Meanwhile, mainstream Sabah reported that President Gul is planning to bring Syria's Esad, Israel's Peres and Palestine's Abbas together in Ankara in the upcoming weeks, prior to the summit. TV News: NTV Domestic News CHP leader Baykal calls for the annulment of the October 21 referendum on the presidential election procedures. Patriarch Barthelomeos meets with top level state officials in Ankara to highlight the sensitivity of the environmental issues TGS Chief Buyukanit hosted the Korean Chief of General Staff International News Kurdish planes resume flights from Northern Iraq to Germany, but will follow a different route to avoid Turkish airspace President Musharraf's four body guards were killed in a helicopter crash in Pakistan WILSON