TURKEY REACTS TO HOSTAGE RELEASE

UNCLAS ANKARA 002717 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ US SUBJECT: TURKEY REACTS TO HOSTAGE RELEASE REF: A. ANKARA 2682 ¶B. ANKARA 2693 ¶C. ANKARA 2680 ¶D. ANKARA 2662 ¶E. ANKARA 2658 ¶1. (SBU) All media headlined the November 4 release of the eight Turkish soldiers held hostage since October 21 by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Before boarding his plane to Washington for his November 5 meeting with President Bush, PM Erdogan thanked the U.S. and Iraqi governments for their work in freeing the hostages. When asked by the press how the return of the troops would affect his visit, he commented, "I am in a positive mood...(we hope that) we will return from this meeting with positive results." ¶2. (SBU) While all are happy to see the soldiers safely home and the press highlighted the constructive role played by the USG and GOI in freeing the troops, many columnists speculated on the timing and motives surrounding the release. Most media characterized the event as a "gesture" - one designed to convince Turkey not to conduct a cross border operation (CBO) -- conspicuously executed just prior to the November 5 meeting. While pro-government daily Yeni Safak opined the U.S. wanted to "erase the image of the (July 4, 2003 detention of Turkish special forces by U.S. troops) sack incident," mainstream Milliyet viewed it as an "indication of the U.S. determination" to resolve the problem. Deputy PM and GOT Spokesman Cemil Cicek warned that the fight against terrorism should not be regarded as if it depended on a single measure, adding "There should not be the impression that only a CBO would resolve the problem." Nevertheless, the press has expressed renewed optimism for increased U.S.-Turkish cooperation following Erdogan's visit. ¶3. (SBU) The peripheral role played by three pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) deputies in securing the release of the hostages is drawing extensive public criticism. In a statement to the press, DTP chair Ahmet Turk claimed the MPs traveled to Erbil as a humanitarian, not a political, endeavor. Turk added "We believe that we had a responsibility... and tried to establish the necessary links." Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Barzani's spokesman noted that the DTP MPs only played a "limited role." Cemil Cicek dismissed DTP's participation as "solely propaganda," adding that pictures from the Erbil meeting were proof of DTP's friendly relations with the PKK. Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Vice Chair Tunca Toskay echoed Cicek's accusation when he said "The DTP was caught red handed." Meanwhile, the Ankara Chief Prosecutor has started a study (the phase before an investigation) on the three DTP MPs regarding the Erbil trip. ¶4. (SBU) Media reports also covered the GOI,s closure of several PKK-affiliated Democratic Solutions Party offices in Northern Iraq following the release of the Turkish troops. As part of his brief pre-departure comments to the press, Erdogan characterized the closures as "a positive development." Columnists viewed the action against the PKK party bureaus with greater cynicism. Hurriyet dismissed the efforts as "cosmetic measures taken to defuse tensions," and questioned how long the offices would remain shut. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY