ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001000 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, MAY 28, 2008 In Today's Papers Erdogan Unveils Ambitious 'Southeast Action Plan' in Diyarbakir All news outlets report on Prime Minister Erdogan was in Diyarbakir Tuesday to unveil an "action plan" to boost social and economic development in southeast Turkey. "What we are announcing today is a well-defined, scheduled and a funded action plan to remove regional differences in economic and social development, unemployment and migration," Erdogan told a closed hall meeting in the mainly Kurdish southeastern city. Erdogan called the initiative "a turning point for Turkey." In "Erdogan Takes Important Step In The Southeast," mainstream Milliyet says the plan envisages important steps in diverse fields such as economics, social life, education and health. The paper says the cost of the package totaled 26.5 billion New Turkish Lira. Mainstream Hurriyet reports in "Erdogan Pledges USD 12.5 Billion Investment," regional provinces Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa and Gaziantep would be transformed into "attractive centers for investors." The plan is expected to create new jobs for 3.8 billion people, report Hurriyet and nationalist-oriented Cumhuriyet. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak says Erdogan described the package as a "historic liberation project." Addressing supporters in a closed hall in the city, Erdogan said the plan would boost development not only in the East and Southeast, but in all parts of Turkey. "More democracy, more freedom, more investments and increased production are the solution to all problems," said Erdogan. The PM added the government has "identified the sources for the funding, and has prepared a timetable for the implementation of the project." He noted in the last five years, the AKP government made $8 billion worth of investments in southeast Turkey, adding the investments have helped change the outlook of cities in the region. "All people living in Turkey are the free and equal citizens of the same nation," the PM emphasized. Erdogan also said Turkey's state-run television is set to broadcast around-the-clock in "local languages." "Our action plan and the new broadcast policy will constitute a social restoration to strengthen our social fabric and unity," said Erdogan. In "Turkey Responds to Roj TV With TRT-Kurd," tabloid Aksam says the new TV channel would become an alternative to the pro-PKK Roj TV broadcasts in the region. The new channel will air programs in Kurdish, Arabic and Persian 24 hours a day. The broadcasts will also reach northern Iraq and Iran, says Aksam. Mainstream Vatan notes this was the 18th package unveiled for southeast Turkey over the last 25 years. Editorial Commentary on AKP's 'Southeast Action Plan' "The Southeast Project" Ergun Babahan wrote in mainstream Sabah (5/28): "Turkey has taken a step toward bringing cultural rights and economic development to the southeast region. This is the area where, prior to this development project, Turkey has tried only military initiatives. The investment project for the southeast will put a serious burden on the overall national economy, but we have to acknowledge that this is the only way. Every step we take to make our youth return home from the mountains deserves encouragement. Cultural initiatives for this region should be diverse and a Kurdish television broadcast should be established. This is the right time for taking action in this region because Turkey has dealt a serious blow to the PKK terrorist organization. These steps are not concessions; these are rights to which our citizens are entitled. Economic development and cultural rights can prevent terrorism, and let's hope that the projects are all pursued and implemented." "All Cards on the Table" Gungor Mengi wrote in mainstream Vatan (5/28): "It comes as no surprise that major political decisions are implemented prior to important elections. The southeast project, as announced by Prime ANKARA 00001000 002 OF 003 Minister Erdogan, did not sound realistic. He was basically promising a miracle in four years time; this comes right before the local elections. The plan proposes irrigation projects on a total of 1.8 million hectares, the doubling of per capita income and the employment of 3.8 million people. Interestingly enough, it took the AKP government six years to realize this region has potential. Better late than never! The southeast project, unfortunately, has turned into a political dream card used by governments when they find it hard to stay in power. I am afraid, this one, like the previous ones of former administrations, will be another one for this file." CHP's Sav Claims He Was Wiretapped Mainstream Vatan reports the main opposition CHP Secretary General Onder Sav's May 23 meeting with the former Governor of Bolu province, Ali Serindag, was reported in detail in the Islamist Vakit on May 26. Sav expressed surprise that his meeting with Serindag on the Islamic sects, communities, and the AKP were nearly "transcribed verbadim" in the Vakit report. "There was no one else in the room. Since the governor did not tell the press about our meeting, we were definitely wiretapped," Sav said. Baykal has referred to the "Watergate" scandal while addressing his party group yesterday, saying "President Nixon was tried for wire-tapping his opponents." Gerceker: President Gul Will Help Resolve Judiciary-Government Tension All papers report Court of Appeals (Yargitay) President Hasan Gerceker told the press yesterday his meeting with President Abdullah Gul on Monday aimed at "easing tensions." "It was a fruitful meeting. I explained the problems of the judiciary. The President said he would help resolve the problems," Gerceker told reporters while commenting on his meeting with Gul. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says President Gul will also meet the Council of State (Danistay) president within the framework of his efforts to defuse tensions between the judiciary and the government. DTP Group Chairman Ahmet Turk Resigns, Expected to Lead Party Hurriyet, Zaman, Vatan, Aksam, Cumhuriyet, Sabah: Papers report that Ahmet Turk resigned as the group chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP). DTP Mardin deputy Emine Ayna replaced Turk. Hurriyet says that Turk is expected to run for DTP's leadership at the party convention in July. Investigation Launched Against Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir Hurriyet, Sabah, Milliyet, Radikal, Bugun: State investigations were launched against mainly Kurdish party DTP's Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir and party's Diyarbakir provincial party chairman Nejdet Atalay. The prosecutor is asking for five years' in prison for referring to PKK terrorists as "guerillas" in their address to a crowd at a February 23 protest against the cross border operations into northern Iraq. Meanwhile, liberal Radikal, leftist Taraf, and conservative Bugun report that singer Bulent Ersoy faces a three-year prison sentence for publicly saying "If I had a son I would not send my son to the military to fulfill his military service." TV News: NTV Domestic News - Fifty people were detained in Diyarbakir while preparing to throw eggs and tomatoes at Prime Minister Erdogan. - Huseyin Kalkan, the DTP mayor of the southeastern city of Batman, has been sentenced to ten months in prison for spreading PKK ANKARA 00001000 003 OF 003 propaganda. - Turkey's prestigious business group TUSIAD said reforms in Turkey were backtracking, and warned against "populist" implementations in the economy. International News - The Iraqi Government said in a statement on Tuesday Water Resources Minister Abdullatif Jamal Rashid visited Turkey and Syria to ask for more water to ease the drought Iraq faces this year. Rashid said he has asked from PM Erdogan for more water from the Tigris and Euphrates for Iraq. - Iraq's National Security Council has asked PM Nuri al-Maliki to ensure that a pact under discussion to extend the U.S. troop presence beyond 2008 will not harm Iraqi national interest. - UK charity Save the Children says children in post-conflict areas are being abused by the UN peacekeeping forces drafted into such zones to help look after them. WILSON