ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001255 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, JULY 11, 2008 In Today's Papers The Aftermath of the Attack against the US Consulate in Istanbul All papers: An official funeral ceremony for three Turkish police officers who died in a terrorist attack on US Consulate in Istanbul was held in front of the Istanbul police department yesterday. There was wide participation at the funeral by high-level state and military officials. US Istanbul Consul General Sharon Wiener also attended the ceremony. Liberal Radikal's and tabloid Posta's headlines read "Farewell to Heroes." Mainstream Milliyet reports that the fourth suspect of the attack, an unregistered taxi driver Cebrail Kosanarslan, surrendered yesterday. The terrorists were linked to Islamist groups; in addition, the father of murdered terrorist Raif Topcil was captured in 1996 as a suspected member of Hezbollah. Interior Minister Besir Atalay said after assessing the evidence, the general belief is that the attack was a suicide attack. Mainstream Sabah quotes an unnamed high-level Justice Ministry official who blamed Ergenekon for being behind the bloody attack. "This was an attempt to take the attention away from the Ergenekon case," said the official. Mainstream Hurriyet reports that a separate commemoration ceremony was held in the garden of the US Consulate General yesterday. The US flag flew half-staff and Consul General Sharon Wiener paid a condolence visit to the policemen on duty in front of the Consulate General building. Hurriyet quotes Bahcesehir University Strategic Research Center Director and terrorist expert Ercan Citlioglu saying "US security acted appropriately. According to the Vienna Conventions, diplomatic missions are protected by the host country. The mission security cannot engage in clashes outside of the grounds of its mission. American officers did not have the authority to use firearms on Turkish soil." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "Terror experts agree the attack on the Consulate carried out by Al-Qaeda," and "The goal of the attack was to send a warning to the US and to Turkey regarding US policies in the Middle East." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak and Star say that the Consulate was chosen in order to draw more international reaction. Yeni Safak contends, "The terrorists' main target was the visa section of the Consulate and they would have carried out a massacre if they had entered the compound." U.S. Flag flies at Half Staff at Consulate Several outlets carry positive coverage of yesterday's ceremony at the U.S. Consulate at which the U.S. flag was flown at half staff in honor of the policemen who died during the attack on Wednesday. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak and leftist Taraf carry photos of the flag at half staff while mainstream Milliyet carries the headline, "She Said, 'I Wish Them Well,' in Turkish," and notes U.S. Consul General Sharon Wiener thanked the police for protecting the Consulate. Vahap Munyar of mainstream Hurriyet writes, "Sharon Wiener loves Turkey and she knows Turkey well," and he notes Wiener called the day of the attacks, "The worst day." Criticism against the Consulate for not helping the Police The front page of today's mainstream Vatan features a picture of U.S. Marine security guards alongside the headline, "The Johnnys Just Watched." The story continued, "U.S. officials receive harsh criticism for not helping the police against the terrorists and not opening their door to injured police." In addition, the paper notes, "the injured policeman who is still in the hospital refused to see Consul General Sharon Wiener because he says the Consulate failed to help him when he was injured," and, "he would not accept ANKARA 00001255 002 OF 003 her flowers." Far Right Ortadogu reports in "The Americans Didn't Open the Door," that injured policeman Osman Dagli told reporters, "We died and they didn't open the door." Hikmet Bila in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes, "These people (meaning the Americans) turn into hawks when it comes to their own interests. But they shut themselves down automatically when any kind of sacrifice is expected from them. They continue to live in their castle in peace by shutting their automatic doors without worrying about the bloody incidents outside their walls." Hakan Celik of mainstream tabloid Posta writes, "The U.S. Embassy spokesperson reminded yesterday that the American security personnel are responsible only for the security of the Embassy and Consulate staff. Of course, this is a normal procedure; however, after all. Those policemen were there to protect the people inside the building! It deeply hurt the Turkish public to see the Americans abandoning the Turkish police out there. The U.S. popularity in Turkey might be very low. However, the people of this country never left the U.S. alone in the fight against terrorism." Editorial Commentary: "The Martyred Policemen" Derya Sazak writes in mainstream Milliyet (7/11): "It has been reported that, during the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Consulate staff went inside the building, leaving the Turkish policemen alone with the assailants. Americans must not have done so with the aim of leaving Turkish security members to stand alone against al-Qaeda attackers. They must have done what they were required them to do. Years ago, I joined a night patrol with the Cleveland, Ohio police. Unlike the courageous 'sheriffs' we see in the movies, I noticed that when American policemen get to the scene of a crime, they don't move an inch before first securing themselves. Our young policemen lost their lives in the clash with assailants on the street while their nearby bulletproof cabins withstood the attack. A traffic cop who began working only 15 days ago lost his life together with two of his colleagues. The Istanbul Administration, which loves to use proportionate force, could have provided 'proportionate' security outside the Consulate." "The Target was not the U.S., but Turkey" Yusuf Kaplan writes in the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak (7/11): "The target of the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul was not the Americans but the police, thus the target was Turkey. It is significant to note that this attack took place while the 'Ergenekon' investigation against a nationalist/fascist gang continues. The U.S. Ambassador immediately announced the attack had targeted the U.S. and was conducted by al-Qaeda, and the secularist media immediately accepted this explanation. However, news reports that the attack was by al-Qaeda and targeted the U.S. Consulate aims to divert from the true target. The actual target was the Turkish security, thus Turkey run by the AKP." Ergenekon Indictment Hurriyet reports that the indictment of Ergenekon investigation written by three public prosecutors might be submitted to Chief Public Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin today. Engin said "I am expecting the indictment to be submitted to me today. When it is submitted, I will announce it to the public in front of the TV cameras." The indictment has been prepared by the Public prosecutors Zekeriya Oz, Mehmet Ali Pekguzel and Nihat Taskin, adds Hurriyet. NTV 12 o'clock news just announced that deputy chief prosecutor told the journalists that the indictment will be announced on Monday at ¶11. Prime Minister Visits Iraq All paper: Prime Minister Erdogan went to Iraq yesterday on a one day visit. He met with President Talabani, PM Maliki, Parliament Speaker Meshadani, Vice Presidents Abdulmehdi and Hasimi. ANKARA 00001255 003 OF 003 Cumhuriyet says the "Strategic Relations High Council Agreement" was signed with Iraq during the visit. Under the agreement, the prime ministers of Turkey and Iraq will meet once a year, and relevant ministers of both countries will meet three times a year. At the Press Conference after the meeting with Iraqi PM Maliki, PM Erdogan said that they discussed several issues including water, Kirkuk, fight against terrorism and thanked the Iraqi central government and the regional administration in northern Iraq for their support in the fight against the PKK. Media outlets report on the positive outcomes of Prime Minister Erdogan's official visit to Baghdad. Mainstream dailies Sabah and Milliyet report, "The main goal of the two countries is to end the PKK." Mainstream Hurriyet carries the headline, "A Thank You to northern Iraq," and notes, "Erdogan was welcomed by Iraqi ministers who rolled out the red carpet for him at the airport," and later, "Erdogan thanked northern Iraq for its cooperation in the fight against terror." Islamist Zaman reports Erdogan, "Sent important messages of regional peace and support for Iraq's stability." Liberal Radikal points out, "The Strategic Agreement does not outline concrete plans, but rather establishes a mechanism to facilitate future projects such as officer and teacher trainings." Economic daily Referans writes, "Cooperation between Turkey and Iraq will improve the outlook of the region." President Gul Meets Retired General Ozkok Sabah, Milliyet, Radikal, Turkiye and others: President Gul received former Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok at the Presidential Palace yesterday. The meeting lasted for two and a half hours. After the meeting, Ozkok told reporters that he had explained his views about the current situation of the country. Ozkok said that in an interview with Milliyet's Fikret Bila he had listed his proposals and that he had elaborated on them at the meeting with the President. TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - A 4.9 Magnitude quake is reported in Balikesir. - NTV, CNN Turk, and Kanal D all report that the Gendarme of the Agri region have closed off Mr. Ararat and launched operations on Mt. Ararat in order to rescue the German mountaineers from the PKK. In addition, CNN Turk notes, "Ankara rejects speculations that the German government was in touch with the PKK who kidnapped the Germans." - Eight soldiers and a village guard were wounded when the PKK detonated a remote control mine in Semdinli town of Hakkari - A Turkish driver was killed in attack on a Turkish convoy in Mosul. International News - Armenia formally invites Turkish President Gul to watch a soccer match in Yerevan. - Disarmament talks with North Korea resume in Beijing after a nine-month pause due to the isolated regime's refusal to provide a complete list of its nuclear facilities WILSON