ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001390 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, AUGUST 4, 2008 In Today's Papers 'Gungoren Bombers' Arrested in Istanbul All papers reported on Sunday eight suspects were arrested Saturday evening in connection with last week's bombing that killed 18 people and wounded more than 150 in Istanbul's Gungoren neighborhood. Interior Minister Besir Atalay told the press it was now clear that the bombing was perpetrated by the PKK. Huseyin Tureli, one of the suspects arrested, reportedly said he was sent to Turkey three months ago by the PKK after receiving bomb training in northern Iraq. Monday's Taraf, however, points to the fact that the suspects were arraigned by the court on charges of membership to an outlawed organization, and not for murder. Ankara-Tehran Working to Fix a Date for Ahmadinejad's Visit to Turkey Sabah, Radikal, Taraf, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others reported over the weekend Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who reportedly planned to visit Turkey on August 14, was reluctant to visit Ataturk's Mausoleum in Ankara. Ahmadinejad prefers to visit Ankara on August 14 and attend Friday prayers in Istanbul on August 15. However, the Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) was concerned that the Iranians' demands to forego paying customary respects to Ataturk might stoke a new political controversy in Turkey, so the MFA reportedly recommends a one-day "working visit" for Ahmadinejad in Istanbul on August 14. The MFA views the demands of the Iranian side as "exaggerated," according to papers. Liberal Radikal comments Saturday, "Tehran deems special importance to the visit in its efforts to persuade the international community that Iran's nuclear program is for civilian purposes." Ahmadinejad: 'The U.S. in the Process of Destruction' All papers report Syrian Head of State Bashar Assad met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Sunday. In "The U.S. in the Process of Destruction," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes Ahmadinejad told the press in a news conference with Assad, "The U.S. and Zionist Israel's powers have entered a process of decline," adding it would cause "important political developments in the region." Assad said he did not carry any messages from the West to Tehran, and that Syria supported Iran's nuclear program within the framework of international laws. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak writes in, "Not an Atom of Concession in Ahmadinejad," that the Iranian leader, "has started a new crisis," after making his "harshest statement yet" regarding his refusal to abandon Iran's nuclear ambitions. Mainstream Hurriyet reports Assad "gave support to Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions," as the Syrian Leader paid an official visit to Tehran over the weekend. Mainstream Sabah also notes Assad's support for Iran as the two sides agreed "to continue on the same road" together regarding politics in the Middle East. Mainstream Milliyet carries the headline, "The Point of No Return on the Nuclear Road," and notes, "Assad gave support to Ahmadinejad," and "was also received by Iran's religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini." Dormitory Collapses and Kills 18 Girls All papers reported Saturday a three-storey dormitory in the Balcilar town of Konya collapsed Friday night, killing 18 female students. The building collapsed after an explosion was caused by a gas leak from an LPG storage tank in the kitchen. The building did not meet building code standards, and the school had no license or accreditation to teach summer Koran classes for girls. Mufti Mehmet Ak, the highest local religious authority, admitted he declined inspecting the building because it was affiliated to an influential Islamic sect, the Suleymancilar. In, "The AKP Protects Illegal Koran Schools," Saturday's Radikal reported that the penalty for operating unauthorized Koran courses was reduced from three years to up to one year in prison, after intervention by the ruling AKP. Mainstream Hurriyet reports former Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) head and former AKP lawmaker Tayyar Altikulac said he couldn't convince his colleagues to abandon legislation reducing the ANKARA 00001390 002 OF 003 penalties for conducting non-accredited Koran classes. Monday papers report parents of the girls who were killed have filed no complaints against the dormitory owners. Forest Fires Rage in Antalya All news outlets report efforts continue to contain the forest fires that have burned for five days straight in the Mediterranean province of Antalya. Fires have destroyed more than 4,000 hectares of woodland. Thousands of people, including fire-fighters, forestry officials and villagers, have fought the fire around the clock. The fire broke out in Serik township on July 31 and has destroyed at least 60 houses, dozens of farming buildings, a school and a mosque in Manavgat and Serik. Six villages were evacuated. One person died, and another is reported missing. The fire also destroyed livestock in the villages and millions of trees in the woodlands. Editorial Commentary on Kirkuk; AKP Closure Case Aftermath "The Escalating Crisis in Kirkuk" Ferai Tinc commented in mainstream Hurriyet (8/5): "The Kirkuk crisis has erupted again and tensions are escalating. This development comes as the AKP begins cooperation with northern Iraq on a U.S.-supported plan to solve the Kurdish problem and as the KRG are increasingly isolating the PKK. However, the Kirkuk problem must be solved in order for other political problems to be solved. On Saturday, the Iraqi President met with Kurdish leaders regarding the issue of Kirkuk. During the meeting, tensions escalated so much that, reportedly, President Talabani fainted during the meeting. That night, Talabani left for the U.S. to seek medical care. Tensions regarding Kirkuk have worsened since KRG President Massoud Barzani announced that the Kirkuk Regional Government will merge with the Kurdish Regional Government. Ankara follows all these developments closely; in fact, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan called Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Friday night regarding the attacks in Kirkuk. The KRG's stubbornness regarding Kirkuk could damage the new and fragile detente between Turkey and Iraq. It is true that Kirkuk is mainly Iraq's issue. However, anything that would deepen instability in Iraq becomes an issue for Turkey as well." "The Constitutional Court Decision on the AKP" Emre Kongar wrote in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet (8/5): "The Yargitay Chief Prosecutor fulfilled his constitutional duties by filing a case to close the AKP. The Constitutional Court also fulfilled its duty by quickly reaching a decision and announcing it to the public. Moreover, the Court agreed that the chief prosecutor was right to file a case and noted that the AKP government had engaged in activities that threatened Turkey's secularist foundations. But, nothing has changed in Turkey with this court decision. What would have changed if the Court had closed the AKP? Nothing! Why? The solution lies not only with the judiciary but with education, politics, and foreign dynamics. No one can resolve the regime problems in Turkey with only one court decision as long as a dogmatic religious education system continues to produce graduates who will work in every state institution, as long as anti-democratic mechanisms in politics are supported, and as long as the democratic, secular and social state of law is damaged by foreign dynamics." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - On Monday, Turkey's High Military Council (YAS) decisions will be announced by the outgoing military General Staff Chief General Yasar Buyukanit. - Eight PKK terrorists responsible for killing five village guards ANKARA 00001390 003 OF 003 were killed in the southeastern border province of Sirnak. One PKK militant was captured in Yuksekova in Hakkari province. - King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain will visit Ankara August 4 as the guest of President Abdullah Gul. International News - Despite intense U.S. pressure, Iraqi leaders fail to resolve differences over how to govern the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. - The Washington Post quotes an unidentified White House official as saying the White House intends to show its commitment to a diplomatic approach toward Tehran and its nuclear program. - Al-Qaeda has posted a statement on the Internet saying one of its commanders in Afghanistan was killed by a U.S. air strike. WILSON