ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002765 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, NOVEMBER 14, 2007 In Today's Papers Peres-Abbas Address the Turkish Parliament All papers report that Tuesday was an "historic" day for Ankara because Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abbas came together and addressed the Turkish parliament. Peres and Abbas both conveyed messages of peace, a precursor to the upcoming Annapolis summit where they will outline their conditions for peace. Peres, Abbas and Gul signed an agreement establishing an industrial investment zone in the West Bank. Turkish firms will invest in the zone, which is expected to create 10,000 jobs for Palestinians. Land will be provided by the Palestinian Authority, the compounds will be constructed by Turkey, and Israel will ensure the safety of the zone. Peres called it a "win-win" project. Gul told emphasized that the project will encourage political compromise and settlement in the Middle East. Addressing the Turkish Parliament, Peres and Abbas said the Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in late November will provide a chance to restart the peace process. As Peres addressed the Turkish Parliament, he said Jews will always remember the help that was extended to them by the Ottoman Empire. However, he noted that Iran remains a source of concern while Turkey is "a source of hope," and that both the Middle East and Europe need Turkey. He also said Turkey could work for the release of the Israeli soldiers abducted by Hezbollah last year. He also commented that Turkey could help normalize the life of Palestinians. Peres invited Turkey to join the Annapolis conference, while stressing that Israel wants a two-state solution, with Turkey as "a partner and producer" in this process. Abbas told the lawmakers he supports the American efforts to revive the peace process. Abbas said Turkey and Palestine were the members of the same camp, and that both countries support peace and reject radicalism. "We have warned many times that the expansion of Jewish settlements and the construction of a security wall would undermine peace and trust in the region. Eastern Jerusalem remains part of the territory occupied in 1967. There will be no Palestinian state in a capital other than East Jerusalem," said Abbas. Editorial Commentary on Peres-Abbas Meeting �A;Okay Gonensin wrote in the mainstream Vatan (11/14): Turkey can become the center for peace in the region "The meeting of Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Ankara, Turkey's sensitive handling of bilateral relations with Syria and Iran, and even the Saudi King's visit to Turkey are all the proof of this important vision." During the last 25 years, Turkey has proved to the world that it has a global vision. Turkey is becoming the main base for regional peace, which will strengthen Europe's regional effectiveness, as well. There is only one issue that spoils this vision - Turkey is unable to establish internal peace. Only when Turkey is fully democratic and peaceful will it be able take important responsibilities in the region." Sami Kohen commented in the mainstream Milliyet (11/14): "The hardest part of active policy in the Middle East is to walk the same path and to show the same stance all the time. Since the conjuncture and the balances in the region change very often, diplomacy is constantly subject to fine-tuning. Turkey also faces this kind of problem and, often, must fine tune its strategies. The latest example to this situation was seen during the Peres-Abbas meeting in Ankara this week. The world closely followed developments in Turkey as President Gul brought these two leaders together to sign an economic cooperation agreement and address the parliament. During this important visit, Turkey demonstrated that, from now on, it was on Abbas' side rather than standing with Hamas. ANKARA 00002765 002 OF 003 Following the AKP's rapprochement with Hamas and the dialogue established by the government last year, today we prove that Turkey fine-tuned its pragmatic stance on this issue." Papers: Turkish Jets Attack Targets in Northern Iraq All papers report Turkey made a "first test" for a cross-border operation with Turkish artillery and fighter jets hitting the PKK shelters in northern Iraq. Mainstream Milliyet says the strikes indicate the US seems to have started to supply Turkey with intelligence, reporting that yesterday American helicopters conducted reconnaissance flights over the areas attacked by Turkey. Turkish artillery shells mountainous areas in Derkar and Batufa as well as the PKK camps in Haftanin, reports Milliyet. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports Turkish fighter jets attacked empty villages in Pirbela, Birsaka, Avashin and Norgole. Prime Minister Erdogan told journalists that he did not know anything about the air strikes, and military sources have not confirmed the attacks. The chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yasar Buyukanit told journalists in Brussels that he was unaware of air strikes in northern Iraq. Erdogan: A Military Operation against Northern Iraq Near All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan said that during his meeting with Bush earlier this month, he told the US President that Washington has to choose between Barzani and Iraq or Turkey. On Tuesday, Erdogan told the AKP administrative board that a military operation into northern Iraq was "near." Erdogan said operations against the PKK will be finalized before winter approaches, and added the military general staff will soon be given political directives for operations. Erdogan also said Kurds in Turkey were not a "minority," but a fundamental element of the country, stressing it is unfortunate that members of the pro-Kurdish DTP cannot feel pride in their country and its people. "The DTP has entered a dead end street; they're obviously being manipulated," Erdogan emphasized. Turk: A Political Lynch Campaign Kicked-off against DTP All papers continue coverage of the latest developments with regard to some of Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP lawmakers' alleged ties with the outlawed PKK. DTP lawmaker Fatma Kurtulan rejected the photo showing her as a PKK militant, and told the press she will sue the newspapers that said she was trained in a PKK camp. The party's newly elected chairman, Nurettin Demirtas, said the medical report exempting him from military service was given by a military hospital in Ankara, and that it was not forged. Addressing his party group in parliament Tuesday, DTP party group chairman Ahmet Turk said there was a "plot" against his party, which, he noted, might amount to a political lynch campaign as seen in the reports claiming Kurtulan had been trained in terror camps. Turk warned that harming the DTP will not be good for Turkey. Hamas to be Invited to Jerusalem Meeting in Istanbul Under the headline "New Hamas crisis at the doorstep," the leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports a representative of Hamas will be invited to "International Jerusalem Meeting" to be held by the Turkish Voluntary Organizations Foundation (TGTV) in Istanbul from November 15-17. Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) sources said they were not aware of the initiative, adding the meeting was organized by civic organizations. Approximately 3,000 participants including former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark will be invited to the meeting. TGTV is the umbrella organization of mostly conservative 150 NGOs, and former Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek are among the founders of the foundation, says Cumhuriyet. TV Highlights NTV Domestic News ANKARA 00002765 003 OF 003 - Four Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with the PKK terrorists in Gabar Mountains in Sirnak province on the border with Iraq on Tuesday. - Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said the government plans to amend article 301 of the penal code before the end of 2007, stressing it would not be scrapped. - Former UNSYG Kofi Annan said the Middle East cannot cope with a new conflict, warning that a Turkish cross-border incursion into northern Iraq would be an "adventure." - A delegation of the representatives of the Kurdish parties in northern Iraq has come to Turkey to discuss Turkey-Iraq ties and the fight against the PKK. International News - The "long march" from Lahore to Islamabad against the state of emergency and the suspension of the constitution starts without Benazir Bhutto who has been placed under house arrest. Bhutto said President Musharraf must resign. - French President Sarkozy told members of the European Parliament that Turkey's EU accession was an issue to be discussed after 15 years. - France is to face a transport strike that is set to last for days and could become the biggest the country has seen in over 10 years. - More than 30,000 birds and countless fish have been killed by oil spilling from a tanker that shipwrecked Sunday in the Black Sea. WILSON