ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001370 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, JULY 30, 2008 In Today's Papers Erdogan, Baykal on Istanbul Bombings, Talabani Phones Gul All papers continue coverage of the aftermath of Sunday's bomb attack in Istanbul's Gungoren neighborhood which claimed 17 lives. Interior Minister Besir Atalay said the explosive used in the bombing was TNT. Atalay said victims of the bombings will be compensated. Prime Minister Erdogan called for "unity against terror" in his party group meeting yesterday. "They will never be able to drag Turkey into instability through terrorism and murder," Erdogan told a meeting of his AKP parliament group. The PM also asked the press to not "name the terrorists," and thus refrain from spreading terrorist propaganda. The main opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal, addressing his party group in parliament, disagreed with Erdogan, saying the "naming" of terrorists was to condemn their actions. Meanwhile, papers report Iraqi President Jalal Talabani phoned President Abdullah Gul to condemn the terror attack in Istanbul. Talabani also gave Gul details about Monday's bomb attacks in Kirkuk which killed 32 Kurds and wounded hundreds. The Iraqi President condemned the attack on the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) building after the attack, and said "all ethnic groups in Kirkuk should learn to live together in peace." Gul thanked Talabani and expressed his condolences for the Iraqis killed in the Kirkuk bombing. Court Expected to Rule on AKP Closure before Weekend All papers report the Constitutional Court's deliberations on whether to ban the AKP continued Tuesday. On Monday, the court met for 12 hours, and yesterday's sessions lasted 13 hours. In yesterday's deliberations, the court members examined the evidence compiled by the prosecutor to see whether it supports charges that the AKP had become a "focal point of activities against secularism." Several papers expect the court to complete case deliberations by Wednesday or Thursday, and a ruling to be handed down by Friday. Mainstream Sabah says the Constitutional Court was expected to make a verdict before the High Military Council (YAS) meeting that begins August 1. Papers speculate the court might stop short of closure and merely opt to cut state funding to the party. Intelligence Report: Baykal Affiliated to 'Ergenekon' Leftist Taraf reports on its font page that opposition CHP leader ;Deniz Baykal's name was mentioned as a member of the 'Ergenekon' gang in a report written by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT). The MIT report on the gang was submitted to the Turkish General Staff (TGS) and Prime Ministry in 2003. The report also includes several other prominent politicians and journalists names supposedly affiliated to 'Ergenekon.' The report will be added to the 'Ergenekon' indictment, according to Taraf. Babacan Meets Iranians in Tehran All papers report Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, in Tehran for the Nonaligned Movement summit, told the press before his departure from Ankara that the Turks were working on setting up a visit of Iranian President Ahmadinejad to Turkey, but no date has been fixed. Press reports have claimed Ahmadinejad will come to Turkey on August 14. In Tehran, Babacan came together with Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Babacan reportedly gave Iranians the message nuclear talks between Iran and the West were "important," and that this process should continue. Islamist-oriented Zaman says Iran considers recent proposals coming from the West important. The paper claims "the Iranian side is seriously considering the incentives offered by the West, and attaches great importance to the new process." Mainstream Milliyet carries the headline, "Nuclear Diplomacy," and says "Babacan stressed the importance of continuing the talks on nuclear negotiations." Editorial Commentary on Iran, Iraq/Kirkuk ANKARA 00001370 002 OF 003 "War or Peace?" Erdal Safak wrote in mainstream Sabah (7/30): "While the talks between Syria and Israel through Turkey's mediation continued with its fourth round, Foreign Minister Babacan left for Iran. Though the purpose of his visit seems to be attendance at the Non-Aligned Conference, the Iranian nuclear program is his real purpose. There is caution in both Western circles and Russia about Turkey's role in the Iranian nuclear crisis. There are warnings that Ankara may regret its actions in the end since Iran knows how to gain time without actually doing anything. In fact, Turkey's role is not a direct mediation, but more of a message carrier between sides. Yet there will be a serious consequence for Turkey if Iran does not respond positively to the negotiations by August 2nd. When that happens, Ankara will be forced to take a clear side in this dispute. The initial phase of Israel-Syria talks was not very encouraging, but ultimately efforts toward peace prevailed. Let's hope that FM Babacan comes back from Tehran with a similar positive tone." "The Kirkuk Bombing" Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet (7/30): "The suicide bombing in Kirkuk brings some question marks along with it: Is this only a suicide attack against the protestors or is there a greater goal of creating chaos and anarchy in Kirkuk? Based on previous terrorist incidents in Kirkuk - which is a relatively calm area of Iraq - Iraqi and American suspect al-Qaeda as the perpetrator. Regardless of who has done it and what the real purpose might be, this bombing caused a serious blow to the delicate balance among Kirkuk's ethnic groups, particularly between Turkmens and Kurds. The controversial election law provided an opportunity for equal local parliamentary representation of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens, but Kurds rejected it, because they don't want to lose the privileges of being a majority. After President Talabani's veto, the election law must be debated again. Given these conditions, there may be no election by the end of this year. The attacks against Turkmen right after the suicide bombing is actually the most worrying aspect of the Kirkuk incident. It looks as if some Kurds are planning to demolish the ethnic tranquility and balance in Kirkuk through violence. If this is the genuine intention, not only does it pose a threat to ethnic harmony in Kirkuk, it also threatens the future of Iraq." Foreign Experts on Drug-Trafficking in Afghanistan Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak refers to a Financial Times' report on Afghan dealers importing Turkish chemists to process heroin. The paper says "according to a UN Drug and Crime Office warning, drug dealers are importing chemists from Turkey, Pakistan and Iran and smuggling in illegal chemicals to produce high quality heroin. Liberal Radikal writes in "Turkish Chemist Under Afghan Heroin's Service" that "Afghanistan, which still carries a narco-state identity after the U.S. invasion, conducts drug-trafficking in a sophisticated way by employing foreign chemists." UN Envoy Downer Meets Cypriot Leaders Liberal Radikal writes "Downer is Hopeful for a Solution," and reports there are good signs for the future of Cyprus because "after his first meetings with the two leaders of the island, Turkish Cypriot President Talat and Greek Cypriot counterpart Christofias, the UN Secretary-General's new Special Envoy for Cyprus, Alexander Downer stated that he's encouraged about the future of Cyprus." TV News: NTV Domestic News - On Tuesday, Turkish fighter jets struck a group of 30-40 PKK terrorists around Mount Kandil in northern Iraq. - Turkey's High Military Board is to convene in Ankara from August 1-4. ANKARA 00001370 003 OF 003 - Turkish papers report on Sunday, Prime Minister Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul held a 'secret' five hour meeting in the house of Gul's brother-in-law in Ankara. International News - Thousands of far-right nationalists rallied in Belgrade to protest the arrest of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. - Thousands of Kurds rallied in the city of Erbil in northern Iraq in protest against a provincial elections law. - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel and the US both agreed that no option should be taken off the table in dealing with the Iranian threat. WILSON