Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA384
2007-02-22 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO5633 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #0384/01 0531447 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 221447Z FEB 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1056 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7835 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2179 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1678 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5757 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5502 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2128 RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39OSS INCIRLIK AB TU RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000384
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
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2007
In Today's Papers
AKP Government Re-Shapes Article 301
Sabah, Hurriyet: The draft amendment of Article 301 of Turkish
Penal Code, the law that makes it a crime to "insult Turkishness,"
will be discussed at the cabinet next week and then it will be sent
to the Parliament for approval. The draft reportedly changes the
term "Turkishness" to "Turkish Nation" and also introduces the
condition that prosecutors should get permission from the Justice
Ministry before filing a court case based on this article. Also,
the highest penalty to be given based on the article is pulled down
to two years from three years. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek,
reportedly, is not favorable to these recommendations for
amendments.
DTP Head Makes Controversial Statement on Kirkuk
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report
Hilmrdisd tQned to work with Turkey and the US in fightagainst the PKK.
In other words, the US is while supporting Kurdish leaders with a
language in disbelief to General Buyukanit, at the same time
implying that Turkey should start a dialogue with the Kurdish
leaders in Northern Iraq. This proves that there are very serious
problems not only between Turkey and Iraqi Kurds, but between Turkey
and the US as well. Would it be possible to claim that General
Buyukanit's meetings in Washington were very successful under these
circumstances?"
ANKARA 00000384 002 OF 003
Turkish Parliamentarian Efforts to Halt the Passage of Armenian
Resolution
Yeni Safak, Sabah: A Turkish Parliamentary delegation attending
NATO Parliamentary Assembly meetings in Brussels cautioned the US
Congressional delegation about the negative impacts of issuance of
the draft Armenian resolution by the US Congress, on bilateral
relations. Head of the Turkish delegation Vahit Erdem gave the
message olution anddevelopments in Iraq. On the
request of the Parliamentarians, Foreign Minister Gul instruced his
staff to draft the letter.
Editorial Comment: Iran's Nuclear Program
Fikret Ertan observes in the Islamist-intellectual Zaman: "In their
latest statements, Iranian President Ahmedinejad and other
officials, vowed to pursue the uranium enrichment program despite
the UN deadline. As a matter of fact, Iran managed to advance in
this program using 'time gaining' policies. Last year Iran managed
to enrich crude uranium by 3.5 percent and reached the desired stage
in producing civilian nuclear oil. Iran had to face international
reaction several times in the past for its nuclear program.
Ignoring the UN Security Council deadline was Iran's last step in
the Iran-UN crisis. The main issue here is, despite the UN, IAEA
and others, Iran has almost reached the point where it wanted to
reach."
TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rattled
the eastern province of Elazig on Wednesday afternoon, damaging
several buildings. No casualties have been reported so far. The
earthquake was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Malatya,
Diyarbakir and Adiyaman.
- Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said security forces will not
tolerate provocations at Women's Day and Nevruz celebrations in
March.
- Prime Minister Erdogan accused The High Education Board (YOK) of
obstructing science by not allowing the opening of ten new
universities.
- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will travel to Islamabad on February
25 to meet with his counterparts from six other Muslim countries to
discuss problems in the Middle East.
- The Turkish Parliament approved Wednesday a long-delayed law to
allow the introduction of mortgages, which is expected to benefit
the banking and real estate sectors. Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullatif Sener said mortgages would allow for longer term loans
and lower rates, but added low earners were unlikely to benefit from
the law.
- The PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan's book "Prison
WrIran. urkey will be able
ANKARA 00000384 003 OF 003
to produce and sell crude oil and gas extracted in Iran.
- Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos, given a cold reception in
Athens regarding the oil exploration dispute with Turkey, said the
Greek Cypriots did not have to seek consensus with Athens in every
issue.
- The Armenian parliament has passed a law allowing diaspora
Armenians to vote in Armenian elections.
- Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain will withdraw 1,600 troops
from Iraq in the "coming months" if Iraqi forces can secure the
southern part of the country.
-
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
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
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2007
In Today's Papers
AKP Government Re-Shapes Article 301
Sabah, Hurriyet: The draft amendment of Article 301 of Turkish
Penal Code, the law that makes it a crime to "insult Turkishness,"
will be discussed at the cabinet next week and then it will be sent
to the Parliament for approval. The draft reportedly changes the
term "Turkishness" to "Turkish Nation" and also introduces the
condition that prosecutors should get permission from the Justice
Ministry before filing a court case based on this article. Also,
the highest penalty to be given based on the article is pulled down
to two years from three years. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek,
reportedly, is not favorable to these recommendations for
amendments.
DTP Head Makes Controversial Statement on Kirkuk
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report
Hilmrdisd tQned to work with Turkey and the US in fightagainst the PKK.
In other words, the US is while supporting Kurdish leaders with a
language in disbelief to General Buyukanit, at the same time
implying that Turkey should start a dialogue with the Kurdish
leaders in Northern Iraq. This proves that there are very serious
problems not only between Turkey and Iraqi Kurds, but between Turkey
and the US as well. Would it be possible to claim that General
Buyukanit's meetings in Washington were very successful under these
circumstances?"
ANKARA 00000384 002 OF 003
Turkish Parliamentarian Efforts to Halt the Passage of Armenian
Resolution
Yeni Safak, Sabah: A Turkish Parliamentary delegation attending
NATO Parliamentary Assembly meetings in Brussels cautioned the US
Congressional delegation about the negative impacts of issuance of
the draft Armenian resolution by the US Congress, on bilateral
relations. Head of the Turkish delegation Vahit Erdem gave the
message olution anddevelopments in Iraq. On the
request of the Parliamentarians, Foreign Minister Gul instruced his
staff to draft the letter.
Editorial Comment: Iran's Nuclear Program
Fikret Ertan observes in the Islamist-intellectual Zaman: "In their
latest statements, Iranian President Ahmedinejad and other
officials, vowed to pursue the uranium enrichment program despite
the UN deadline. As a matter of fact, Iran managed to advance in
this program using 'time gaining' policies. Last year Iran managed
to enrich crude uranium by 3.5 percent and reached the desired stage
in producing civilian nuclear oil. Iran had to face international
reaction several times in the past for its nuclear program.
Ignoring the UN Security Council deadline was Iran's last step in
the Iran-UN crisis. The main issue here is, despite the UN, IAEA
and others, Iran has almost reached the point where it wanted to
reach."
TV Highlights
NTV, 6.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rattled
the eastern province of Elazig on Wednesday afternoon, damaging
several buildings. No casualties have been reported so far. The
earthquake was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Malatya,
Diyarbakir and Adiyaman.
- Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said security forces will not
tolerate provocations at Women's Day and Nevruz celebrations in
March.
- Prime Minister Erdogan accused The High Education Board (YOK) of
obstructing science by not allowing the opening of ten new
universities.
- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will travel to Islamabad on February
25 to meet with his counterparts from six other Muslim countries to
discuss problems in the Middle East.
- The Turkish Parliament approved Wednesday a long-delayed law to
allow the introduction of mortgages, which is expected to benefit
the banking and real estate sectors. Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullatif Sener said mortgages would allow for longer term loans
and lower rates, but added low earners were unlikely to benefit from
the law.
- The PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan's book "Prison
WrIran. urkey will be able
ANKARA 00000384 003 OF 003
to produce and sell crude oil and gas extracted in Iran.
- Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos, given a cold reception in
Athens regarding the oil exploration dispute with Turkey, said the
Greek Cypriots did not have to seek consensus with Athens in every
issue.
- The Armenian parliament has passed a law allowing diaspora
Armenians to vote in Armenian elections.
- Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain will withdraw 1,600 troops
from Iraq in the "coming months" if Iraqi forces can secure the
southern part of the country.
-
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON