ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000830 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 TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007 In Today's Papers Turkish Leaders React to Barzani Remarks All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan issued a stern warning on Monday to the regional president of the Iraqi Kurdish administration Massoud Barzani for saying in televised remarks over the weekend if Turkey intervenes in northern Iraq, the Iraqi Kurds would intervene in the cities in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. "They should be very careful in their use of words; otherwise they will be crushed by those words. Barzani has again exceeded the limits," Erdogan told the press. Papers report the Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) has presented an "ultimatum-like" note of protest to Iraq, demanding urgent and decisive action against the PKK, stressing that otherwise Turkey will invoke its rights stemming from international treaties. Government spokesman Cemil Cicek said northern Iraq extends support to ethnic terror, adding the subject would be raised at the Turkish National Security Council (MGK) meeting today. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul telephoned Secretary Rice, requesting Barzani be given a "warning for his arrogant statements." Iraqi President Talabani called Erdogan on Monday, "apologizing" to the PM for Barzani's statement. Talabani said he attached importance to relations with Turkey, stressing they were ready for a joint fight against the PKK. Papers also report State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said with regard to Barzani remarks, "We think that those kinds of statements are really unhelpful, and they certainly do not further the goal of greater Turkish-Iraqi cooperation on issues of common concern, including fighting the PKK." "Iraqi leaders should focus on how they might work together closely with the Turkish government to further their mutual interests," McCormack said. Several papers point out that McCormack referred to the Kurdish leader as "Mr. Barzani," without describing him as head of the regional government in northern Iraq. Papers speculate that at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting today, Turkish leaders will discuss possible measures against the northern Iraqi Kurdish administration such as shifting Turkish trucks delivering goods to Iraq to a crossing in Ovakoy on the border with Iraq, "bypassing" the Habur bordergate in an effort to deprive Barzani of USD 500 million gains annually. Other measures would include blocking civilian flights to and from the Kurdish region by closing Turkish airspace. Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Northern Iraq, Barzani Remarks Writing in the mainstream daily Vatan, Mehmet Tezkan criticizes Turkey's Iraq policy: "Kurdish leader Barzani quietly supports the PKK terrorists' activities in Turkey, while in the last three days Turkey gave up ten martyrs to PKK terrorism. While they are doing so much damage to Turkey, there are 913 Turkish firms working in nrthern Iraq at the moment trying to rebuild the towns from scratch. Turkey managed to enter Iraq economically but not politically. We couldn't manage to get the Peshmerge's support. Barzani threatens Turkey and what do we do? We ask US Secretary of State Rice to pull Barzani's ear! In dealing with the PKK as well, we are not very successful. PM Erdogan already announced that the PKK coordinator mechanism was not successful. In other words, we couldn't enter nrthern Iraq politically and could not establish good relations. Our military should enter, not to settle down there, but to eliminate the PKK. Unfortunately, we missed that opportunity on March 1, 2003, when we refused to allow Americans to enter Iraq through Turkey." Asli Aydintasbas comments in the mainstream daily Sabah that understanding Barzani's psyche might be helpful: "How should Turkey deal with Barzani? First of all we should do a personality analysis: Barzani is a proud tribal leader and the controlling ANKARA 00000830 002 OF 003 power in his region. The founder of the first independent Kurdish establishment, the Republic of Mahabad, was Barzani's father, Mollah Mustafa Barzani. Barzani has a strange complex after fighting against the PKK for years together with Turkey. He feels like a king in his own territory but every remark that comes from Turkey, such as he is a 'leader of a few tribes;' peshmerge;' 'for years he carried a Turkish passport;' and 'he was like our servant at our door,' hurts his ego immensely. So, could Turkey continue its policy of dialogue with Northern Iraq by praising Barzani's ego? Probably yes, if you agree with his targets. Barzani is a powerful Kurdish nationalist. He believes that he has a historic mission (the formation of an independent Kurdish state) and he doesn't want to miss the opportunity his father missed. He doesn't hide his main aim. And, he is stubborn. Under these conditions I will ask you to answer this question: Is it possible for the relationship between Ankara and Barzani to improve within the next 15 years?" Security Operations against the PKK Continue All papers report some 13,000 Turkish troops backed by helicopters launched operations against PKK militants in southeast Turkey. Eight PKK members were killed in operations in Bingol and Tunceli, and four members of the leftist DHKP-C were killed in fighting with security forces in Tunceli. Thousands of troops from around Turkey are being deployed to the Hakkari-Sirnak border for the operations across the southeast. Funerals were held with the participation of 5,000 in Corum as well as in Adiyaman, Van, and Samsun for the members of security forces killed in skirmishes with the terrorists. Turkish National Security Council to Meet Today All papers report the Turkish National Security Council (MGK) will discuss recent Barzani remarks, the PKK activities, the fundamentalist threat in Turkey, and the Turkish presidential elections at a meeting Tuesday. President Sezer will attend today's meeting for the last time before his term in office expires next month. At the meeting Sezer is expected to present a report on Islamic activities in Turkey. Debate over Presidency Continues All papers report Prime Minister Erdogan continues his round of talks with groups of the ruling AKP lawmakers. Reports say AKP is firmly behind Erdogan becoming the country's next president. The leader of the opposition DYP, Mehmet Agar, said the controversial requirement of 367 MPs to be present for the first two rounds of voting in the parliament was not necessary. Agar said the presence of 184 MPs would be enough during the election process. Government spokesman Cemil Cicek said the 367 requirement, supported by the main opposition CHP, would amount to an "exploitation of law." Meanwhile, secularist NGOs and groups, worrying that Erdogan as president would undermine Turkey's regime, plan a protest rally in Ankara on April 14 with participation of over 300 organizations. TV Highlights NTV, 7.00 A.M. Domestic News - Government spokesman Cemil Cicek said prosecutors in Istanbul have launched a probe into the weekly magazine Nokta for stories alleging military takeover plots by high-level commanders in 2004. - State banking fund TMSF chairman Ahmet Erturk said the sale of Sabah media group would be raised after the presidential elections. - Four children drowned after falling into a 3-meter deep waterhole in Yuksekova in the mainly Kurdish southeastern province of Hakkari. A 4-year-old child drowned when he fell into a waterhole in the Mediterranean tourist city of Antalya. ANKARA 00000830 003 OF 003 - The fourth World Mayors Summit will be held in Istanbul from April 12-15. - The ruling AKP government is preparing to open 84 schools on the 84th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. International News - Tens of thousands of supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets of the holy city of Najaf on Monday, the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, to demand an end to the American military presence in Iraq. - Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned cooperation with Iraq could deteriorate if five Iranian diplomats detained by US troops in Iraq are not set free. - Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas claimed Turkish strategy in Cyprus aims for the division of the island. - The kidnappers of two Turkish engineers contacted the Turkish Embassy in Abuja and Italian firm Merpa demanding ransom. WILSON