ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

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