ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002716 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 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2007 In Today's Papers Abducted Turkish Soldiers Return Home All papers report that the 8 Turkish soldiers, abducted 14 days ago during an attack by the PKK, were released and brought home to Turkey on Sunday. Mainstream Sabah reports that the hostages were brought to Irbil in a motor vehicle, transferred from Irbil's Ankawa air-field to Mossul's Barmeri airport, and then transported by helicopter to Diyarbakir military base in Southern Turkey. Iraqi Defense Minister Casim and the commandant of the coalition forces in Iraq, General Petraeus, also accompanied the soldiers to Turkey. Meanwhile, the Turkish General Staff web site announced that the soldiers re-joined the Turkish Armed Forces. Papers also highlight US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack's remarks that the US welcomes the return of the eight soldiers to Turkey. Erdogan-Bush Summit All papers report that during his meeting with President Bush, Prime Minister Erdogan will explain Turkey's determination to take measures to eliminate the PKK in Northern Iraq, including the possibility of a cross border operation. In addition, he will urge the US to take concrete steps on this issue. Mainstream Milliyet notes that the US Administration, in order to convince Turkey not to launch a cross-border operation into Northern Iraq, intensified its pressure on Iraqi Government and Northern Iraqi Administration. Papers note that the release of the 8 kidnapped Turkish soldiers and the raids against the PKK offices indicate US determination just before Erdogan-Bush meeting. President Bush is expected to promise to work with Turkey in its fight against the PKK, namely by sharing intelligence. EDITORIAL OPINION: Bush-Erdogan Meeting Gungor Mengi commented in the mainstream daily Vatan (11/5): "The abducted soldiers are free, which is very good news. However the development of recent events related to the abduction and the release make us to think whether this was part of a game for the upcoming Bush-Erdogan meeting. Because so far, the US has said they do not know the whereabouts of PKK while Northern Iraqi leaders claim that it was impossible to track down the PKK militants. Yet both of them could made contact with PKK as the soldiers were handed over. The US has been objecting to a cross border operation and now �0A;the administration has a good excuse since the soldiers are now free. This unanswered question remains: Did President Bush gain politically from the timing of this handover and/or was it, indeed, a staged event to help him out?" Semih Idiz commented in the mainstream Milliyet (11/5): "Latest developments indicate that Iraqi Kurds are trying to put President Bush in a stronger position vis-`-vis PM Erdogan during the upcoming meeting. Although, release of the Turkish soldiers and closure of the PKK offices in Northern Iraq are positive developments but definitely not fully satisfactory for Turkey. Ankara considers these developments as having secondary importance and not convincing enough to prevent Turkey from launching a cross-border operation into Northern Iraq. The Erdogan-Bush meeting will have a determining role on the issue of elimination of the PKK presence in the Kandil Mountains." Washington-based Ali Aslan wrote in the Islamist-leaning daily Zaman: "The US administration has been pressuring Turkey not to carry out a cross-border operation. In return, Turkey is also putting pressure on Washington regarding the PKK. Secretary Rice reiterated the US stance against a cross-border operation in Ankara, and now PM Erdogan will repeat his pressure concerning action against the PKK at the White House meeting. Washington has managed to stall Turkey's actions on this issue so far. However it seems things have changed and the US has taken the PKK issue very seriously, more seriously than ever before. Turkey stood united with its civilian and military, which was a good signal for ANKARA 00002716 002 OF 002 Washington to take this issue up seriously. At this point, the US may arrest some of the identified members of PKK and hand them over to Turkey, which may work as image-saver. If that is not possible, Washington will most likely not object Turkey's limited operations, including air bombardment of Kandil Mountain. There is a Kurdish lobby in the US, which constantly advises that PKK should not be touched so that the stability of Northern Iraq will not be harmed. Nowadays this lobby is losing its influence over Washington. Many Americans are now aware of the fact that the consequences of not touching PKK will be very dangerous and that the US will suffer from a potential loss in Turkish-American bilateral ties and continued instability in Northern Iraq." TV News: NTV Domestic News - Former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Erdal Inonu was laid to rest in Istanbul over the weekend in a funeral attended by thousands of people. - Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said Turkey has not yet imposed any electricity sanctions on Iraq. - The Turkish Bar Association has released its own alternative version of constitutional reforms which focuses on fundamental rights and freedoms. - The Turkish Parliament is to discuss this week a draft for the construction of nuclear power plants in the country. International News - Pakistan's President Musharraf has declared a state of emergency and postponed general elections slated for January. - Secretary Rice, during a visit to Tel Aviv, said that Turkey's fight against the PKK should not destabilize northern Iraq. - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Palestinians and Israelis might reach an agreement before the end of President Bush's term in office. - Prime Minister Erdogan is to pay a formal visit to Italy on November 6-8 to meet President Giorgio Napolitano, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema, Parliament Speaker Fausto Bertinotti, and Senate Speaker Franco Marini. WILSON