ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000735 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 FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2007 In Today's Papers Erdogan Details Meetings with Talabani, Mottaki in Riyadh All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan told journalists on the way back from the Arab League Summit in Riyadh that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani suggested a Turkish delegation travel to Kirkuk to investigate the situation there. "Send a delegation to Kirkuk to look into whether the records of deeds have been erased, and let them carry out demographic inspections as well. Turkey's Mosul Consulate can look into the situation there," Talabani told Erdogan. Erdogan welcomed the proposal, saying Ankara will make a decision soon. Erdogan also claimed Talabani said they need Turkey. "We cannot deny the things you have done for us. We have made some mistakes, but then, so have you," Erdogan quoted Talabanimas saying, noting the Kurds were particularly uncomfortable with the negative attitude of the Turkish media. Erdogan also said Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchecr Mottaki agreed to release a female British sailor captured alongside 14 others in the Gulf region last week. "After discussing the matter with Mottaki, I called Tony Blair and told him about the promise to set the female sailor free. I also told the British PM that our Tehran ambassador would be allowed to visit the other sailors," said Erdogan. Editorial Commentary on Iran-Britain Hostage Crisis Fikret Bila observed in mainstream daily Milliyet (3/30): "Iran continues to pursue the crisis which started with the capture of 15 British sailors. Using the fine details of international law and diplomacy cleverly, Iran escalates, and then backs off. One can easily say that Iran is a using these captured sailors as a psychological operation to send delicate messages to the US, UK, and the administrations of regional powers. Iran is trying to show to the US and the UK that they are not scared of international pressure. Iran is sending the message that it will be using all the rights given to it by international law, and that American and British troops will not be allowed to enter Iranian territory as they did in Iraq. Iran is showing its experience by ending such operations through diplomatic means right after the expected target is reached. The tension between Iran and the US-UK impacts the war in Iraq immensely. The Iraq war directly increased the influence of Shiites and indirectly increased the influence of Iran in Iraqi affairs, obstructing the ability of the US to obtain success in Iraq. With its influence in Iraq, the Tehran regime prevents the completion of the US mission in Iraq and dissuades it from turning next to deal with Iran. In other words, Iran is showing to the US and the UK how tough it is." Yilmaz Oztuna commented in the conservative-nationalist Turkiye (3/30): "There are strong allegations that the lost Iranian general is in the hands of British intelligence. The 15 British sailors captured in the Gulf by Iran will now be used as bargaining chips for this Iranian general. At the moment, Iran is challenging far too many countries and is acting as if there are no regimes, ideologies, administrations or policies other than their own. Iran has no sympathy for Turkey now, and for centuries it never has. Iran dislikes Turkey for being a NATO member, ally of the US and, recently because of its European identity. But, the fact is, Iran is a Persian-Turkic state and it has been one for the centuries. After Turkey, Iran is the country where the Turkish language is most used. I believe that because of this reason Turkey tries to protect Iran. In reality, Turkey's allies are the US and the UK, not Iran. Iran hopes that the western world will not interfere with it because of its development of nuclear power. Let us all wait and see what the developments in the region will be, and let us all remember that Turkey is placed in the south-west point of the Asian continent - the most strategic position." UNHCR Briefs Turkish MPs on Makhmour Camp ANKARA 00000735 002 OF 003 Cumhuriyet and Yeni Safak report in a briefing yesterday, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Turkey representative Metin Corabatir told parliamentary human rights commission members there was an agreement to close down Mahmour Camp in northern Iraq, adding that refugees in the camp should be given a chance to return to Turkey. UN will survey the 12,000 inhabitants of the camp to see if they want to return to Turkey. For the returnees, temporary housing will be established in seven provinces, namely Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Van, Erzurum, Kayseri, and Kirklareli. The US, EU, and UN will provide financial support to Turkey in connection with the construction of housing. Corabatir explained the CHP members of the commission whom have claimed the camp was under PKK control that a recent UN survey indicated 51 percent of camp inhabitants were women and the remaining children, stressing "they are not terrorists." Edelman on the PKK, Armenian Genocide Resolution The intellectual Islamist-oriented Zaman reports US Undersecretary of Defense for policy Eric Edelman told Samanyolu TV in Washington that although it was a matter to be decided by Turkey, he didn't expect a Turkish cross-border military incursion into northern Iraq. Edelman believes the troubled days of March 1 decree are now an issue of the past. He said Turkish concerns over the PKK presence in northern Iraq have increased, stressing the US has been working hard towards a solution. "The difficulty stems from geographical reasons; we don't have enough American troop presence in northern Iraq. General Ralston and General Baser have been striving to resolve the question. They have made progress, and I believe they will manage to make more. We have forced our European friends to cut the financial sources of the PKK in Europe. As you've seen, some arrests have been made, and these can be seen as the first fruits of our labor," Edelman emphasized. On the Armenian genocide resolution, Edelman stressed that the Bush Administration maintains its previous position with regard to the matter, but that he could not guess the US Congress' decision. "We believe this is an issue to be evaluated by historians, not politicians, and I hope the Congress understands that," said Edelman. Baser-Ralston Meet at ATC Sabah, Cumhuriyet and Yeni Safak report the Turkish anti-terror special envoy Edip Baser met with his US counterpart Joseph Ralston on the sidelines of the American-Turkish Council's (ATC) annual conference in Washington. "Things are proceeding slowly, but there is progress regarding the fight against the PKK. We're going in a good direction," Baser told the press after the meeting, adding, "I believe that the US is honest in its commitment. We just have different views on the matter, based on the two sides' priorities." Baser stressed that it will be "the Turkish state and its related institutions to decide on a military cross-border operation against the PKK," say papers. Turkey Reopens Akhtamar Church All papers report the ancient Akhtamar Church -- known as Church of Surp Khach, or the Holy Cross -- has been reopened in Van with the participation of a 20-member Armenian delegation led by deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan, the spiritual leader of Turkey's Armenians Patriarch Mesrob II, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Nancy McEldowney, and Israeli Ambassador Pinhas Avivi as well as other Armenians who traveled to Turkey for the occasion. Cumhuriyet reports archbishops Museg Mardirosyian and Sempad Lapaciyan from Los Angeles, and Hacag Barsamyan from New York also participated in the ceremony. The Akhtamar Church, located on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van in eastern Turkey, will serve as a "monument-museum." Patriarch Mesrob II called for legal permission to use the church for religious services at least one day a year and for an annual festival on the island. Turkish Culture Minister Atilla Koc said he could not decide the issue alone. Earlier this week, the head of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Karekin II, refused to attend the reopening because ANKARA 00000735 003 OF 003 the church will operate as a museum. TV Highlights NTV (6 a.m.) Domestic News - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has decided to boycott the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Bremen following EU term president Germany's exclusion of Turkey from EU's 50th birthday celebrations. - European Commission representative Ambassador Marc Pierini has urged Ankara to focus on gathering public support for Turkey's EU entry bid. - A gas tank exploded at a five-star hotel in Turkey's Mediterranean tourist resort of Belek, killing one person and injuring 11 others. - Prime Minister Erdogan will travel to Syria on April 3 for the opening of Aleppo soccer arena. International News - British media call on the Blair government to step up diplomatic pressure for the release of 15 British sailors detained by Iran last week. - The EU on Thursday opened membership negotiations with Turkey in the enterprise and industrial policy chapter, one of 35 areas where Turkey must adjust its domestic laws with European regulations. - Ryan Crocker was sworn in as the new US Ambassador to Iraq. - A Belgian court ruled on Thursday that fugitive Turkish leftist militant Fehriye Erdal can be tried in Belgium for crimes she is charged of committing in Turkey. WILSON