ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001541 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 TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2008 In Today's Papers Black Sea Tensions Steadily Rise Media continue to report on increasing tensions in the Black Sea and pay particular note to the presence of U.S. ships in the sea as Russia spurs tensions by recognizing South Ossetia and Abkahzia's independence. Far right Ortadogu reports in "Tension's New Address - Poti," that the "Russians are now searching cargo ships that arrive in Poti," as, "additional U.S. ships are bound for Georgian ports." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "The USS Taylor passed through the straits to join Spanish, Polish, and German warships who are conducting military exercises in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania." Can Atakli of mainstream Vatan criticizes the Turkish government for allowing the U.S. aid ships to pass through the Bosporus, "The U.S. humanitarian aid could have been taken to Georgia by the Turkish Navy," instead of by U.S. ships. Mustafa Balbay of leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes, "The new era in the Caucasus is a new tiff between the U.S. and Russia that will turn the entire region into another Middle East," as "Turkey is now dragged into the Caucasus crisis because it allowed the U.S. ships to pass through the straits." Sami Kohen of mainstream Milliyet calls Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia "Russia's Kosovo revenge." Liberal Radikal carries the headline, "The Russian Bear Shows Its Teeth to the West," by recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independence. Mainstream Milliyet calls the Russian vote, "A Call for Division." Islamist-oriented Zaman warns NATO, "Efforts to integrate Georgia into NATO before solving the problems in South Ossetia and Abkhazia could lead to a confrontation with Russia." In addition, Zaman notes, "sanctions and pressure from the West will not make Russia bow to demands from the West," as the West is "dependent on Russian energy resources." Editorial Opinion on Montreux Treaty/Caucasus Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal Radikal: "A high-level Russian source from the Russian Embassy in Ankara expressed appreciation for Turkey's actions in accordance with the Montreux Treaty. The source told me "Russia does not hold Turkey responsible for the current situation in the Black Sea. Russia is concerned about the U.S. efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. We don't understand why war ships were used instead of planes, which would be the easiest way to deliver the aid. The Montreux Treaty should not be revised and everybody should fully respect its terms." Mustafa Balbay wrote in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "The new era in the Caucasus is marked by a U.S.-Russia tiff that will turn the entire region into another Middle East. Given Ankara's recent poorly coordinated efforts, there seems to be no working harmony between President Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan and the bureaucrats at the Foreign Ministry. The MFA allowed American warships to pass through the Straits. While Ankara believes one crisis was eliminated, in fact the passage of the ships mark the beginning of a larger crisis and Turkey is right in the middle of it. Turkey hoped to be a part of a solution to the problem, but Turkey will likely end up being part of the crisis instead." Sami Kohen commented in mainstream Milliyet: "The Russian parliament recognized the independence of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It is obvious that Moscow wants to use this issue as a trump card against the Western community. Russian support for South Ossetia and Abkhazia is not a new development. Following the establishment of a pro-U.S. government in Georgia, Russia increased its economic and military support in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Moreover, locals were issued Russia-issued passports. Earlier, Russia warned the western countries during Kosovo's independence discussions by saying "if Kosovo's independence is recognized, some day Moscow will recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia's independence." Thus, this last step Russia recognition of these two countries' independence can be seen as Russia's revenge for Kosovo." ANKARA 00001541 002 OF 003 Can Atakli noted in mainstream Vatan: "There was no need to relax tonnage requirements under the Montreux treaty to allow the U.S. ships to pass through the straits. The U.S. humanitarian aid could have been delivered to Georgia by the Turkish navy. All the goods could have been transferred to Turkish ships in the Bosporus without sparking any problems. Actually, U.S. civilian ships could also take the aid to Georgia without any problems. None of these options were considered. Instead, the Montreux rules were stretched and U.S. warships passed through the straits. Whether it was intentional or not, Turkey is caught between Russia and the U.S. I really hope that this situation won't cause huge problems for Turkey." No Delays in Nuclear Tender Cumhuriyet, Milliyet, Yeni Safak, Radikal, and others: Today's papers report that the Energy Ministry arranged a meeting with the companies participating in the tender process for Turkey's nuclear power plant. Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said that there will be no delay on the bidding date for the tender, which is scheduled for September 24th. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports that four of these companies had requested postponement on the bidding date. Education Minister Celik Goes to Iran Mainstream Sabah reports that education Minister Huseyin Celik went to Iran today to visit his Iranian counterpart Alireza Ali Ahmedi. Van Mayor Burhan Yenigun and Van AKP deputy Kayhan Turkmenoglu will accompany Minister Celik. The Ministry of Education issued a statement saying that Celik will have meetings "to improve the bilateral relations in the field of education, as well as to boost cultural cooperation between the Turkish and Iranian people." Iraqi PM Maliki says U.S. Troops will be out of Iraq by 2011 Mainstream Milliyet cites a written statement from Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki's office disclosing that during a recent meeting with tribal leaders in Baghdad's Green Zone, Maliki said "Iraq reached an agreement with the coalition forces so there will be no presence of foreign troops in Iraq after 2011." Milliyet notes that following Maliki's statement the White House issued a statement saying that a final agreement has not been finalized regarding a U.S. withdrawal. Editorial Commentary on AKP/Corruption Allegations: Oktay Eksi wrote in Hurriyet: "As one of the former AKP supporters emphasized, the AKP party founders originally suggested the creation of a system of financial transparency for all party members, but Erdogan never took a tangible legal step to implement this idea. Since the AKP came to power, no AKP politician has been investigated for corruption. Turkey is ranked 64th among 180 countries in Transparency International's most recent corruption index, in 2006 Turkey ranked four points higher. PM Erdogan's so-called 'strong stance against corruption' is nothing but empty rhetoric." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - CHP Bolu Provincial General Assembly member Fahrettin Tanyar was stabbed to death while sleeping in his bed. His wife, who told police she was in the shower during the murder, also said she saw two men leaving the house when she got out of the shower, but before she realized her husband had been murdered. - Six people were detained for black-mailing the brother of Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler. - The mastermind of the bomb attack in Izmir was captured by ANKARA 00001541 003 OF 003 security forces. - Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk's new novel is published in 30 languages. - Russian Customs officials have in effect halted Turkish exports to Russia by delaying the import procedures. International News - Both houses of the Russian parliament voted unanimously to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Israel to invigorate peace talks between Israel and Palestine. - Israel released 199 Palestinian prisoners as a good will gesture to Palestine. - Sudanese troops attack a camp for displaced people in Darfur, leaving 18 dead. SILLIMAN