ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002846 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 28, 2007 In Today's Papers Congressman Shays Meets Kurdish Politicians in Ankara All papers report that Tuesday, US Ambassador Ross Wilson met Kurdish lawmakers at a working breakfast for Congressman Shays to discuss ways to improve Kurdish democratic participation and to eliminate the PKK. According to reports from mainstream Hurriyet and Islamist oriented Zaman, parliamentarians from the Kurdish DTP and far right MHP were not invited. AKP parliamentarians Ihsan Arslan, Abdurrahman Kurt and Afif Demirkiran participated in the meeting. In addition, Sertac Bucak, leader of the pro-Kurdish party Hak-Par and Serafettin Elici, leader of pro-Kurdish KADEP, and former parliamentarians Hasim Hasimi and Mesut Deger participated. Liberal Radikal, leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet and Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak report the meeting sought to "take the pulse" of the Kurds in Turkey. According to Islamist-oriented Zaman and mainstream Hurriyet, the meeting addressed increasing democratic rights and freedoms for the Kurds and eliminating the PKK in the region. The ruling AKP lawmakers said they were working to add provisions to the new constitution in order to protect the rights and freedoms of the Kurds. Hurriyet reports that Ambassador Wilson said the Kurdish issue could be resolved through democratic and peaceful means, but that the PKK is the obstacle blocking efforts for normalization in the region. He stressed that a democratic structure had to be introduced in the region, and there would be no place for the PKK in this structure. "The PKK is our common enemy and must be eliminated," Wilson said. Hurriyet, Vatan, and Zaman report Congressman Shays' comments that the DTP's presence in the parliament is a major opportunity for Turkey. Also, Shays continued, the DTP should be given a chance to launch initiatives for solving the Kurdish issue, even though the party has failed to play a positive role in efforts so far. Mainstream Cumhuriyet says that, when Shays expressed his desire to visit the family of a PKK terrorist, the participants asked him to visit the family of a PKK victim as well. All papers report that Kurdish parliamentarians also said a Turkish cross-border operation into northern Iraq "would not help" solve the problems. They opposed the efforts for the closure of DTP, noting that it would only benefit the PKK. Editorial Commentary on the PKK/Counterterrorism Sami Kohen commented in the mainstream Milliyet (11/28): "About two weeks ago, it was not possible to see pictures of US troops and Peshmerge working together in northern Iraq to secure the border region. The US and the Kurdish Administrations used to ignore Turkey's calls on the PKK issue. Turkey's parliamentary resolution on a cross-border operation, the military's intense activities and the long awaited Erdogan-Bush meeting changed the opinions of the US, Iraq, and the Kurdish Regional Administration. Ankara is pleased with these positive developments, but awaits concrete developments in order to meet Turkey's expectations. Turkey gained international support for a possible cross-border operation through diplomatic measures. However, the most important development in this issue is the change in Washington's strategy that transpired following the Bush-Erdogan meeting. The US did not only reactivate its cooperation with Turkey against the PKK, but pressured the Barzani administration to act in conjunction with Turkey and the US. This opens up a new perspective. After showing its determination with its intense military activities, Turkey was able to launch pick-point operations across the border. Also, a more comprehensive military operation remains on the agenda. According to some observers, everyone is aware that Turkey will launch a military operation if PKK attacks continue and if Turkey's expectations are not fulfilled. Perhaps this will act as a deterrent and allow Ankara to benefit from more concrete steps." Abdulhamit Bilici wrote in the Islamist oriented Zaman (11/28): "People are wondering why the world is so understanding regarding a possible cross-border operation against the PKK. How, and why, is ANKARA 00002846 002 OF 003 the elimination of the PKK discussed so openly in the international arena, even by some countries that supported the PKK in the past? My opinion is that the recently implemented democratic reforms play a great role in this change of opinion. Turkey's efforts toward democracy during the last five years are being noticed by the international public. The sincere democratic efforts of the government are protecting Turkey against terrorism. The same countries that used to dismiss Turkey, on the basis of its prior poor human rights records, are now criticizing the PKK. Don't listen to allegations that democracy will increase security risks in Turkey. Democracy is the only way to economic prosperity and political stability." The Annapolis Summit for Middle East Peace Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others cover the Annapolis summit talks for the Middle East peace process. Papers see the conference as one more attempt at peace, and note that expectations were not high about the outcome of the meeting. Papers report Foreign Minister Ali Babacan stated a "cautious optimism" over the summit. Nationalist Cumhuriyet, liberal Radikal , mainstream Milliyet and others say even though the talks announced a "peace partnership," the critical problems such as the return of Palestinians from exile and the status of Jerusalem were not addressed. Reports note that Israel and Palestine have agreed to begin work in an effort towards peace before the end of 2008, and a "steering committee" would gather December 12 to that end. Several papers point to the Hamas-al-Fatah division and the "weak" position of Prime Minister Olmert in Israel, adding that it won't be easy for Washington to push Israel far enough for a settlement in an election year. Papers report that addressing the summit, Foreign Minister Babacan said "two democratic states" should live side by side "within recognized and secure borders." He told Turkish reporters that Turkey had four main principles which are "political dialogue in resolution of problems, security for all, economic relations, and the preservation of the multi-cultural structure of the region." On the attitude of Iran and Hamas toward the process, Babacan said, "It is not possible to obtain a result through violence and extremism. Many countries and international organizations attended this conference, which proves that the international community supports this process." Pointing to Ankara's efforts on building an industry zone in Palestinian land for the use of Israel and Palestine, Babacan said he proposed the establishment of a medical university and a hospital for both Israelis and Palestinians. Guler on Shah Sea Natural Gas to Europe Liberal Radikal, Islamist-oriented Zaman and others report that Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told the press Tuesday that if EU countries do not want Russian or Iranian natural gas, Shah Sea natural gas could be transported to Europe. Guler said that Shah Sea natural gas was an alternative to Turkey-Bulgaria- Romania-Hungary-Austria gas pipeline project and pointed out that gas coming from Shah Sea started flowing to Europe through the Turkey-Greece pipeline inaugurated on November 18. TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - The ruling AKP presented a new proposal to parliament debating, without delay, requests for lifting the immunities of lawmakers charged with crimes against the unity of the state. - Huseyin Kalkan, the Kurdish mayor of Batman, said the closure of the pro-Kurdish DTP would force people to go to the mountains. - The Turkish military is to buy 468 armored MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles against the PKK landmines. ANKARA 00002846 003 OF 003 - The 2007 UN Human Development Index shows Iceland has overtaken Norway as the world's most desirable country to live in. Of the 177 countries on the list, Turkey is number 84. International News - With less than a week before legislative elections, a Russian court has rejected an appeal to the five-day jailing of Russian opposition head and former chess champion Garry Kasparov. - The EU has warned Turkish Cyprus against adopting the Euro as official currency without receiving the approval of Brussels. - On Tuesday, Greek journalists joined thousands who were marching through central Athens protesting country's pension system. - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says embargoes imposed by the UN Security Council after the end of the Cold War had been "ineffective." WILSON