ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001224 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 MONDAY, JULY 7, 2008 In Today's Papers Retired Generals Charged with Links to the Ergenekon Network All news outlets reported over the weekend and today that retired Generals Sener Eruygur and Hursit Tolon were charged with "establishing and administering a terror organization" and sent to prison on July 5th by an Istanbul court. The court ordered the arrests of 10 suspects, including Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) president Sinan Aygun and retired Colonel Hasan Atilla Ugur. Meanwhile, 11 suspects were released, including leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet's Ankara Bureau Chief Mustafa Balbay and retired Admiral Ilker Guven. A total of 21 suspects, including Tolon, Eruygur, Aygun and Balbay, were detained on July 1 on suspicion of links to the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon gang, which allegedly sought to overthrow the current government. Mainstream Vatan says the documents seized in Eruygur's office contain plans to reconstruct the state after a possible military takeover. One of the alleged plans transforms the National Security Council (MGK) into a ministry. Today's Taraf says the coup plotted by Eruygur was his third coup attempt after two previous foiled coup attempts in 2003 and 2004. Papers report Eruygur is refusing to speak before he is officially indicted, while speculation indicates Tolon was allegedly in charge of garnering support for the coup from civic organizations. In addition, papers report the Ergenekon network allegedly formed a team of 30 former PKK terrorists to carry out assassinations. Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal told the private Habertuk TV Sunday night the charges in the Ergenekon probe were, "fictitious," and the investigation was, "political." Baykal claimed the investigation was "retaliation" for the closure case against the AKP, and that the PM was behind the investigation. Baykal noted a new Turkey would emerge once the Constitutional Court reaches a decision on the closure case against the AKP. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet quotes unidentified European diplomats as saying it is not clear whether the unprecedented Ergenekon detentions were "signs of democratization" or "an operation aimed at liquidating political adversaries." Weekend papers reported the Istanbul prosecutor needed additional time to prepare the indictment in the Ergenekon investigation. Balbay Released in Ergenekon Investigation All papers report that over the weekend, Cumhuriyet daily's Ankara Bureau Chief Mustafa Balbay was released after he spent five days in detention on claims of links to the Ergenekon network. Balbay said he was interrogated by the Istanbul prosecutor for many hours without knowing the charges under which he was detained. Balbay said he was a "victim of terror," according to papers. Mainstream Milliyet's front-page headline reads, "The Prosecutor Even Asked about Balbay's Lunch with the American Ambassador." However, leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports Balbay said he attended the lunch along with the Ankara representatives of Islamist-oriented Zaman, economic daily Referans, and mainstream Milliyet. Mainstream Vatan columnist Mehmet Tezkan writes the latest developments show that opposition against the government is seen as a crime. "Balbay is charged with membership in a terror organization simply because he fulfills his duties as a journalist. This is a Putin-type democracy," writes Tezkan. Editorial Commentary on Ergenekon "The Last Exit before Ergenekon" Ekrem Dumanli commented in Islamist-oriented Zaman (7/7): "The Ergenekon indictment was supposed to be released last Friday but it was postponed for one week. The 2500-page indictment will be a turning point regarding the issue of the 'deep state.' However, people have already determined the sides they will defend. Some will say 'this indictment reveals all kinds of deep dark secrets' ANKARA 00001224 002 OF 003 while others will say, 'there is nothing to the charges in the indictment.' Both attitudes here are wrong. The Ergenekon indictment is not and cannot reveal all the secret organizations within the state. Nevertheless, all media should realize that this case should not be treated lightly. First of all, this case was accepted by the prosecutor's office because of concrete incidents; certain information was confiscated which could be accepted as evidence. However, some media organizations are trying to distort the Ergenekon case. Here is my warning for them: You are facing a dangerous, secret organization. If you don't fight against them, you'll reveal your preference for a dictatorship. Let me remind you of some facts. Those who were arrested were not put into jail because of they were exercising their freedom of thought, as some media organizations claimed. These individuals were accused of terrorist acts that sought to create an environment of chaos. No matter what one's rank or mission might be, nobody should step outside the boundaries of law and use weapons, which were purchased with public tax funds, against the nation. Those who were arrested already know why they are charged. This investigation had nothing to do with alleged feelings of revenge. A new era has begun in Turkey because of the Ergenekon investigation. From now on, Turkey will not be a country where military coups take place every ten years and military officers avoid trial. If retired commanders are arrested along with journalists and businessmen for establishing a secret organization and plans for a coup, then this demonstrates the strength of the state and the nation." "A Dark Tunnel" Tufan Turenc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet (7/7): "The Ergenekon investigation is just like a dark tunnel. The prosecutor has not been able to complete the indictment for 13 months. Most of the suspects who have been in prison for the last 12 months don't even know what they are accused of. As a matter of fact, some lawyers have called for an investigation against prosecutor Zekeriya Oz for his failure to prepare the indictment. Milliyet columnist Can Dundar was also interrogated by Oz and I was horrified when I read Can's column describing the meeting with prosecutor Oz! Can Dundar says that the prosecutor continuously played with his prayer beads during 2.5 hours meeting, which struck me as suspicious. Oz is a Fethullah Gulen follower and he arrests opponents of the AKP government. I really hope that the judicial process will eliminate all the concerns about the investigation process." The 'Abant Platform' Prescribes Solution to Turkey's Kurdish Question Hurriyet, Sabah, Radikal, Taraf, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report the "Abant Platform" meeting of intellectuals, academics, activists and journalists over the weekend offered a "prescription" for resolving Turkey's Kurdish question. The final declaration of the meeting suggested that prejudices should be dispelled, all restrictions to free speech should be removed, education in mother tongues should be recognized, and economic measures should be implemented in southeast Turkey. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports the meeting also called for the Turkish government to improve ties with the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq. Talabani: The PKK Should Either Disarm or Leave Iraq All papers report Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told Elefterotipia daily in Athens, "PKK members should leave northern Iraq if they refuse to lay down their arms." Talabani also held the PKK responsible for turmoil in northern Iraq. He asked, "Would Greece, for instance, tolerate a guerrilla group that was sheltered in Albania and launched attacks from there onto Greek soil?" Mainstream Hurriyet quotes Talabani as praising the AKP, saying Turkey's ruling party has always pursued a "friendly and transparent policy" toward Iraq. He noted even if the court decides to ban AKP, a new party will replace it and would again win the majority in the Turkish Parliament. ANKARA 00001224 003 OF 003 Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Armenia "The Invite from Yerevan" Erdal Safak wrote in mainstream Sabah (7/7): The Armenian president invited President Gul to the soccer game on September 6th. Everyone wonders whether this development might lead to a process that will open the border and improve relations with Yerevan. However, Turkey did not shut down its border gate because of the 1915 controversy, but because the Armenian rebels in Nagorno-Karabakh declared their unilateral independence. Unless the Nagorno-Karabakh controversy is resolved in a way that pleases Azerbaijan, Turkey should not open the border gate or establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. The Minsk group should make both sides reach a consensus concerning Nagorno-Karabakh; otherwise a very bloody war will be inevitable soon." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - On Tuesday, the parliament will discuss a motion to extend the mandate of Turkish peacekeepers in Lebanon. - Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will represent Turkey at the "Developing 8 (D-8)" meetings in Malaysia on Monday. - The OECD says unfavorable international conditions and domestic political uncertainty will increase Turkey's risk premium. International News - Turkish Cyprus leader Mehmet Ali Talat said he "almost reached compromise" with Greek Cyprus leader Demetris Chistofias on a timetable for reunification talks on the island. - French Presidential advisor Henri Guaino said "Turkey will no doubt join the Mediterranean Union at the July 13 Mediterranean summit in Paris." - Iran says a top PJAK member was killed in an operation against the terror organization on Iran-Iraq-Turkey border. WILSON