Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA774
2007-04-04 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO4574 OO RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #0774/01 0941447 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 041447Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1579 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7947 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2456 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1820 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5839 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5594 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2212 RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU RHMFIUU/39OS 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 02 ANKARA 000774
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, APRIL 4, 2007
In Today's Papers
Erdogan Meets Assad in Aleppo
All papers report on Tuesday, Prime Minister Erdogan met with
President Bashar al-Assad and Prime Minister Farouk al-Shara during
a visit to Syria to attend the inauguration of a soccer arena in
Aleppo where a friendly game between Fenerbahce and al-Ittihad,
soccer teams from both countries. Assad and Erdogan reportedly
discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told reporters in Aleppo that
Turkey and Syria were considering jointly building a dam on the
Orontes (Asi) River. Guler also said Egyptian natural gas will be
transported to Turkey through Syria.
Erdogan on Military Coup Allegations, Turkish Presidential Elections
All papers report that en route to Syria, Prime Minister Erdogan
told journalists on board his plane that prosecutors should
investigate recent allegations that a military coup against the AKP
government was planned in 2004, complaining that prosecutors were
neglecting their duties. Weekly political magazine Nokta had
recently raised the military takeover allegations by publishing a
diary attributed to retired Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ozden
Ornek.
Erdogan also said his ruling AKP's candidate for the presidency will
be determined by the party administration. Erdogan is to discuss
the matter with the heads of AKP provincial branches on April 11.
The AKP governing body meeting, scheduled to be held April 6, has
been postponed to April 18, say papers, prompting speculation that
Erdogan will wait until the last possible moment for an announcement
before the deadline for nominations, April 25. Papers say Erdogan
has been angered by reports that Inonu University (in Malatya) has
put off exams to enable students to join a rally in Ankara on April
14. The demonstration aiming to block Erdogan's presidential
aspirations will be held by the Ataturk Thought Organization with
the expected participation of over 100 NGOs.
Papers report the main opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal continued
his criticism of Erdogan and the AKP conduct on the eve of the
forthcoming presidential elections. Baykal accused the AKP
government of "besieging the media," saying "Turkey's leading media
conglomerate is under government financial investigation, and
another one has been seized by the State," [a referral to government
fund TMSF's recent seizure of the Ciner Media Group which owns over
60 media outlets including mass circulation Sabah daily and national
ATV channel due to alleged financial and management illegalities].
DTP Arrests Continue
Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report some
1000 people including eight Kurdish party DTP mayors held a
demonstration yesterday in Cizre Township in the southeastern Sirnak
province to protest the arrest of Cizre mayor Aydin Budak for
praising the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan during the
Nevruz celebrations in late March. Budak was arrested yesterday on
charges of "praising a crime and a criminal." The group released a
statement and held a short sit-in protest in front of the Cizre
Municipality, and then dispersed. Papers report another five DTP
members were detained in Cizre.
Meanwhile, 17 suspects, including Salih Karaaslan, the Ankara head
of DTP, have been taken into custody for staging, during Nevruz
celebrations in Ankara, demonstrations in which the terrorist
organization was praised.
Papers also report the Diyarbakir prosecutor has demanded up to 15
year prison sentences each for 53 DTP mayors who, last year, sent a
letter to Denmark's prime minister asking him not to close the
Copenhagen-based Roj TV, viewed as a mouthpiece for the PKK by the
ANKARA 00000774 002 OF 002
Turkish government.
PKK Members Captured in Syria
All papers report seven PKK terrorists, including their leader,
Sadik Aslan, were captured in Syria in a joint operation of Turkish
and Syrian security forces as a "goodwill gesture" on the eve of the
visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Damascus. The operation was
launched based on information provided by a PKK member, Mustafa Tas,
who was captured in Sanliurfa four months ago. Papers expect Turkey
to ask for their extradition.
Editorial Commentary: What is the US's Ultimate Aim for the Kurds?
Kamuran Ozbir writes in the nationalist Ortadogu: "US Assistant
Secretary Dan Fried says 'the PKK issue is hidden in more serious
SIPDIS
and more complicated Turk-Kurd issues.' The US considers the PKK a
terrorist organization; however, US State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack says that the US is trying to find a way to resolve the
issue without using force. In fact, there is no other terrorist
organization in the world which has such guarantees. Secretary Rice
has referred to the Turkey-Iraqi border as Turkey-Kurdistan border.
Former US Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad once referred to Northern
Iraq as Kurdistan. Moreover, the US Special envoy for Countering
the PKK, General Ralston, at a Congressional hearing said 'We
encourage Turkish side and Kurdish side to meet not with the PKK but
with the Kurdish Administration, in order to resolve some of the
issues.' The US politicians have some vision for Iraq, the Middle
East and the future of the Kurds. What is US's ultimate aim for the
Kurds?"
TV Highlights
NTV (6 A.M.)
Domestic News
- Turkey's Higher Education Board (YOK) has released a statement
denouncing a "populist" government campaign for the opening of 17
new universities despite financial and academic difficulties. YOK
will release a declaration on the presidential elections after an
extraordinary meeting of university rectors on Thursday.
- On Wednesday, visiting Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser
al-Muhammad al-Sabah will meet with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan
in Ankara.
- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, on an official visit in Germany,
will travel to Cologne on Wednesday to launch a Turkish project for
"e-consulate services."
International News
- President Bush has criticized US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip
to Syria, saying it sends "mixed signals" to the region and to the
government of President Assad.
- French presidential candidate Segolene Royal has announced support
for a bill which would bring penalties for the denial of Armenian
genocide claims.
- Turkish Cypriot presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica said a Greek
Cypriot goodwill package disclosed this week aimed at blocking
cooperation between Turkish Cyprus and the EU.
- Insurgents in Iraq holding hostage a German mother and son say in
a new video they are giving Germany a new deadline to pull troops
out of Afghanistan or the two would be killed.
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
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007
In Today's Papers
Erdogan Meets Assad in Aleppo
All papers report on Tuesday, Prime Minister Erdogan met with
President Bashar al-Assad and Prime Minister Farouk al-Shara during
a visit to Syria to attend the inauguration of a soccer arena in
Aleppo where a friendly game between Fenerbahce and al-Ittihad,
soccer teams from both countries. Assad and Erdogan reportedly
discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told reporters in Aleppo that
Turkey and Syria were considering jointly building a dam on the
Orontes (Asi) River. Guler also said Egyptian natural gas will be
transported to Turkey through Syria.
Erdogan on Military Coup Allegations, Turkish Presidential Elections
All papers report that en route to Syria, Prime Minister Erdogan
told journalists on board his plane that prosecutors should
investigate recent allegations that a military coup against the AKP
government was planned in 2004, complaining that prosecutors were
neglecting their duties. Weekly political magazine Nokta had
recently raised the military takeover allegations by publishing a
diary attributed to retired Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ozden
Ornek.
Erdogan also said his ruling AKP's candidate for the presidency will
be determined by the party administration. Erdogan is to discuss
the matter with the heads of AKP provincial branches on April 11.
The AKP governing body meeting, scheduled to be held April 6, has
been postponed to April 18, say papers, prompting speculation that
Erdogan will wait until the last possible moment for an announcement
before the deadline for nominations, April 25. Papers say Erdogan
has been angered by reports that Inonu University (in Malatya) has
put off exams to enable students to join a rally in Ankara on April
14. The demonstration aiming to block Erdogan's presidential
aspirations will be held by the Ataturk Thought Organization with
the expected participation of over 100 NGOs.
Papers report the main opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal continued
his criticism of Erdogan and the AKP conduct on the eve of the
forthcoming presidential elections. Baykal accused the AKP
government of "besieging the media," saying "Turkey's leading media
conglomerate is under government financial investigation, and
another one has been seized by the State," [a referral to government
fund TMSF's recent seizure of the Ciner Media Group which owns over
60 media outlets including mass circulation Sabah daily and national
ATV channel due to alleged financial and management illegalities].
DTP Arrests Continue
Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report some
1000 people including eight Kurdish party DTP mayors held a
demonstration yesterday in Cizre Township in the southeastern Sirnak
province to protest the arrest of Cizre mayor Aydin Budak for
praising the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan during the
Nevruz celebrations in late March. Budak was arrested yesterday on
charges of "praising a crime and a criminal." The group released a
statement and held a short sit-in protest in front of the Cizre
Municipality, and then dispersed. Papers report another five DTP
members were detained in Cizre.
Meanwhile, 17 suspects, including Salih Karaaslan, the Ankara head
of DTP, have been taken into custody for staging, during Nevruz
celebrations in Ankara, demonstrations in which the terrorist
organization was praised.
Papers also report the Diyarbakir prosecutor has demanded up to 15
year prison sentences each for 53 DTP mayors who, last year, sent a
letter to Denmark's prime minister asking him not to close the
Copenhagen-based Roj TV, viewed as a mouthpiece for the PKK by the
ANKARA 00000774 002 OF 002
Turkish government.
PKK Members Captured in Syria
All papers report seven PKK terrorists, including their leader,
Sadik Aslan, were captured in Syria in a joint operation of Turkish
and Syrian security forces as a "goodwill gesture" on the eve of the
visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Damascus. The operation was
launched based on information provided by a PKK member, Mustafa Tas,
who was captured in Sanliurfa four months ago. Papers expect Turkey
to ask for their extradition.
Editorial Commentary: What is the US's Ultimate Aim for the Kurds?
Kamuran Ozbir writes in the nationalist Ortadogu: "US Assistant
Secretary Dan Fried says 'the PKK issue is hidden in more serious
SIPDIS
and more complicated Turk-Kurd issues.' The US considers the PKK a
terrorist organization; however, US State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack says that the US is trying to find a way to resolve the
issue without using force. In fact, there is no other terrorist
organization in the world which has such guarantees. Secretary Rice
has referred to the Turkey-Iraqi border as Turkey-Kurdistan border.
Former US Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad once referred to Northern
Iraq as Kurdistan. Moreover, the US Special envoy for Countering
the PKK, General Ralston, at a Congressional hearing said 'We
encourage Turkish side and Kurdish side to meet not with the PKK but
with the Kurdish Administration, in order to resolve some of the
issues.' The US politicians have some vision for Iraq, the Middle
East and the future of the Kurds. What is US's ultimate aim for the
Kurds?"
TV Highlights
NTV (6 A.M.)
Domestic News
- Turkey's Higher Education Board (YOK) has released a statement
denouncing a "populist" government campaign for the opening of 17
new universities despite financial and academic difficulties. YOK
will release a declaration on the presidential elections after an
extraordinary meeting of university rectors on Thursday.
- On Wednesday, visiting Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser
al-Muhammad al-Sabah will meet with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan
in Ankara.
- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, on an official visit in Germany,
will travel to Cologne on Wednesday to launch a Turkish project for
"e-consulate services."
International News
- President Bush has criticized US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip
to Syria, saying it sends "mixed signals" to the region and to the
government of President Assad.
- French presidential candidate Segolene Royal has announced support
for a bill which would bring penalties for the denial of Armenian
genocide claims.
- Turkish Cypriot presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica said a Greek
Cypriot goodwill package disclosed this week aimed at blocking
cooperation between Turkish Cyprus and the EU.
- Insurgents in Iraq holding hostage a German mother and son say in
a new video they are giving Germany a new deadline to pull troops
out of Afghanistan or the two would be killed.
WILSON