ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002569 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 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2007 In Today's Papers Hashimi Visits Ankara, Iraq Incursion Motion to Parliament Vote All papers report the Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, visiting Ankara amid rising strains over a possible Turkish military incursion against the PKK in northern Iraq, said Wednesday Iraq should be given a chance to prevent the cross-border terrorist activities. "I got what I wanted from my talks," al-Hashimi said, "In the first place, the anti-terror memorandum of understanding signed between Iraq and Turkey should be implemented." The Turkish Parliament is due later on Wednesday to vote on a motion on cross-border operations in an open debate. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says the visit came when the Iraqi Kurdish leaders Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani requested the Iraqi government to negotiate related to the crisis with Turkey. Mainstream Milliyet expects a high-level delegation of Iraqi political and security officials to visit Turkey tomorrow. In an AKP group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Erdogan warned his ruling party lawmakers from the mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey against opposing the motion. Cumhuriyet says the AKP administration is concerned that MPs from east and southeast Turkey might not back the motion. Erdogan sent strong messages to the US, Iraq, and the pro-Kurdish DTP in parliament, saying "whatever is necessary will be done." Under the headline "War Drums," liberal Radikal says the opposition party leaders are not satisfied with a motion, and want war against Iraq declared, reporting that Erdogan said "normal rules do not apply when self-defense is at stake." The main opposition CHP head Baykal said targeting the PKK alone would not be sufficient, and "we should force those who protect them to choose between Turkey and the PKK." The head of the far-right MHP Devlet Bahceli said "an operation should target Barzani too." Bahceli also said the motion should include measures for preventing the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in the region. Editorial Commentary on Possible Turkish Operations against Iraq Erdal Safak comments in the mainstream Sabah: "In order for a possible cross-border operation to succeed, Turkey has to prepare the Turkish and foreign public for a possible operation; not use this for domestic politics; use diplomatic channels to form a front in the supporting countries; determine operation targets properly; and limit the duration of the operation to avoid occupation allegations. However, looking at the debates regarding the motion, one can see that none of these conditions have been fulfilled. On the contrary, most of them been ignored fully. MHP leader Bahceli's remark that the target should not only be the PKK but also Barzani and the Peshmerge is rather worrying. On this issue, Turkey definitely should pursue a cool-minded strategy, a strategy that will be supported internationally. Since the first and the main path for Turkey to follow goes through the Barzani-Talabani front, especially the Barzani front, Turkey should make Barzani its interlocutor rather than its target." Bilal Cetin says in the mainstream Vatan: "Even though the motion is going to be voted on in the Parliament General Assembly today, the AKP government is still hoping that there will be no need to use the motion. The government's hope is that the PKK in Northern Iraq will be eliminated without a military operation. This has been the government's stance in the past and it still is today. Even at a time when the government is running out of patience, it still hopes that the US, the Iraqi government and the Kurdish leaders in Northern Iraq will take some action against the PKK. That is why, the Turkish Government is reiterating that even after the approval of the motion, they have no intensions for immediate military operations but want to use the motion as a trump card while they are continuing diplomacy with Iraq and the US. While the government considers the operation as a last measure, there is huge pressure on the government from the public and the opposition parties. Is it possible to avoid an operation into Northern Iraq even after having the motion authorized? Of course, it is. If the US and Iraq change ANKARA 00002569 002 OF 003 their stance, stop sheltering the PKK and arrest a few of the PKK leaders and return them to Turkey, and coordinate with Turkey strongly against PKK infiltration through the border, then, it is possible to avoid the cross-border move. If this coordination is not established, then Turkey will be left with no choice but to launch an operation." Armenian Genocide Resolution All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan yesterday warned the US on the Armenian genocide resolution, telling his ruling AKP lawmakers that "the enemies of Turkey will never recover. Whatever damage Turkey suffers, its opponents will suffer ten-fold." Mainstream Sabah says this "apparent reference" was directed against the US, France, and Armenia. Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal voiced concern that if the resolution passes in the US, other countries might copy it. On Tuesday, President Abdullah Gul held a meeting with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan and Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nabi Sensoy to discuss a plan of action in case of passage of the resolution. Papers claim that if the bill passes, Ankara considers measures such as restricting US plane take-offs from Incirlik Airbase, stopping the purchase from the US of 30 F-35 jetfighters worth USD 100 billion, ceasing the maintenance of American vessels at Tasucu port on the Mediterranean, and developing ties with Iran. Meanwhile, Sensoy told the press Prime Minister Erdogan would go ahead with his visit to Washington on November 5. Sensoy, summoned to Turkey after last week's approval of the resolution, said he will return to his office in Washington after the consultations in Ankara. Syria's Assad in Ankara All papers report the visiting Syrian Head of State Bashar Assad and President Abdullah Gul will hold a meeting today to be followed by a joint press conference. Gul will later host a luncheon in honor of Assad in which Prime Minister Erdogan will also participate. Assad will also meet Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and address the Turkish Parliament later in the day. Prime Minister Erdogan will host a dinner in honor of Assad this evening. On Thursday, Assad will move on to Istanbul and meet Turkish business leaders before leaving Turkey on October 19. Kazakh Group Bid for Petkim Vetoed, Armenian Links Suspected All papers report Turkey's Privatization Administration has decided to sell the state-owned oil refiner Petkim to a consortium of Azeri energy firm Socar, Turkey's Turcas and Saudi-based Injaz Projects, the second highest bidder in the privatization tender. The highest bidder, a Kazakhstan-based consortium, Transcentral Asia Petrochemical Holding, was vetoed by the Privatization Administration because of its ties with Armenian lobby groups, according to several papers. Milliyet says the cancellation came due to the Kazakh group's failure to resolve its financial problems. The group had presented the highest bid with USD 2.05 billion. TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - The Diyarbakir prosecutor has filed a suit against Mayor Osman Baydemir, asking for 4.5 years of prison sentence for instigating hatred when he said last month "Diyarbakir is a fortress and it cannot be conquered." - Three members of the "Kurd-Der" association have been given one-year prison sentences each for attempting to march from Diyarbakir to Habur border gate to protest against a possible cross-border operation into northern Iraq. ANKARA 00002569 003 OF 003 - The Turkish Parliament Tuesday held a meeting chaired by a female speaker, opposition CHP lawmaker Guldal Mumcu, for the first time in 34 years. - The strike of some 25,000 workers of fixed-line operator Turk Telekom strikes a blow at telecommunication services and domestic and international flights. International News - On Tuesday, Russia's lower house of parliament called on Turkey not to launch a cross-border offensive against PKK terrorists in northern Iraq. - UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres warned against "any development that might lead to meaningful displacements of population in the northern governorate, or Kurdistan, saying "I sincerely wish that this motion [for Turkish cross border incursion] will never be applied." - Armenian diaspora in Europe criticizes European Parliament rapporteur Ria Oomen-Rujiten for her reluctance to mention genocide claims in her report about Turkey. WILSON