ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001700 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, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 In Today's Papers 16 New Detentions in 'Ergenekon' Investigation All media outlets report that on Tuesday, 16 suspects, including television station owner Tuncay Ozkan, known for his strong opposition against the governing AKP, were taken into custody in the 'Ergenekon' investigation. Ozkan established a popular opposition platform, "How Many Are We?" He was also the former owner of nationalist Kanalturk TV, a media outlet fiercely critical of the AKP. Ozkan sold the outlet to pro-AKP figures also having close ties with the Islamist sect leader Fettullah Gulen's group, a sale which upset fellow ultra-nationalists. Mainstream Sabah says Ozkan and his group allegedly represented the "media wing" of the Ergenekon network and are suspected of using "black propaganda" methods and "disinformation" to agitate the public. Also detained were Gurbuz Capan, a columnist and shareholder in the nationalist and anti-AKP Cumhuriyet; Adnan Bulut, journalist and former board member of Kanalturk TV; Tanju Guvendiren, a retired colonel, and Adil Serdar Sacan, a retired police chief. Milliyet notes Prime Minister Erdogan and Interior Minister Besir Atalay held two-and-a-half hour meeting before yesterday's detentions happened. Islamist-oriented Zaman points to the timing of the detentions, which came one month before the first hearing in the Ergenekon trial to be held on October 20. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet finds the new wave of detentions "interesting" as it came at the time the Deniz Feneri scandal is at the top of the Turkish domestic agenda. President Gul Addresses UN General Assembly All papers: President Gul delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday. Mainstream Sabah reports that in his speech, President Gul extended support to calls for UN reform and said that the greatest task for the international community is closing the gap between the richest and poorest countries as fast as possible. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that in reference to Turkey's neighbors President Gul said "Turkey has contributed to peace in its region. In this context, I believe that the Turkey's proposed 'Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform' will be a useful framework in which to discuss regional problems in a democratic arena." Regarding the Cyprus issue, Gul urged the international community to ease economic limitations on the Turkish-Cypriots. Sabah notes that President Gul also asked for support from the General Assembly for Turkey's candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council by saying "Turkey has not been represented at the Council for nearly half a century. We believe that our foreign policy and our economic, social and cultural characteristics will help us make positive contributions to the Council's work." Meanwhile, economic daily Referans reports that in a speech at a meeting organized by the Foreign Policy Council in New York yesterday, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are determined to solve their problems. On Friday, September 26, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold a trilateral meeting in New York, the paper adds. Global Economic Meltdown All papers carry State Minister Nazim Ekren's remarks about possible impact to Turkish economy. Minister Ekren was quoted as saying "Turkey managed to organize itself through fiscal discipline and banking regulations during the 2001 crisis, therefore it is unlikely that the current crisis will hugely affect the Turkish economy. The U.S. is now trying to adopt similar measures to regulate the system. However, debts and current deficit are the two main problems we have to deal with." The economy pages feature quotes from the CEO of Turkey's Sabanci Holding, one of Turkey's leading conglomerates, and Rifat ANKARA 00001700 002 OF 003 Hisarciklioglu, chairman of Turkish Chamber of Commerce (TOBB). Guler Sabanci characterized the current crisis as the biggest tremor the world has seen, thus nothing will ever be the same again. Expressing hope for a new IMF agreement for Turkey, Ms. Sabanci added "The consequences of the current crisis will be felt in Turkey more in 2009 than today. Turkey's growth rate and liquidity will be the main areas hit by this crisis." Papers also highlight Chairman Hisarciklioglu's advice during a meeting with TOBB members: "The global crisis will hit everybody throughout the world. Nobody is safe because of the domino effect. Turkey has to focus on two goal: a strong economy and a strong democracy." Editorial Commentary on Global Economic Meltdown Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-leaning Yeni Safak: "Walking through the streets of New York and seeing the faces of people tells a lot about the ongoing crisis because it means unemployment for many New Yorkers in the very heart of American finance. The Bush Administration is trying to convince the Congress to pass the 700 million dollar bailout, a sum which is actually more than Turkey's national income. The Bush Administration's policy to shape the world played a significant role in the current economic crisis. However, it is not much of a debate here since both Republicans and Democrats agree wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were a mistake. American resources were used for the war instead of the country's economic welfare." Cukurova Media Group Gives Payment Plan to State Body Hurriyet, Sabah and Yeni Safak report that Cukurova Group, which owns a large media portfolio, has made an agreement with the banking regulatory and insurance board (TMSF) to repay its debts. The group presented a plan to repay 400 million dollars in 8 years to the Treasury and a protocol is expected to be signed soon, reports added. Cukurova Group portfolio includes dailies Aksam and Tercuman as well as Show tv. Editorial Commentary on the PM vs Media Hasan Cemal wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "Recently, PM Erdogan has been very tense. He gets very angry with all the questions from journalists. I am sure the PM is aware of the fact that the media in every democratic country makes an effort to catch the mistakes of the government. And I am sure he is aware that it is not the Turkish media's policy to be merciful in their criticism. Let me remind him of a phrase from Winston Churchill who received plenty of criticism from the media "Don't ever complain, don't ever answer back." Mr. Prime Minister, this is not the time to lose your cool, either locally or internationally." Mehmet Tezkan wrote in mainstream Vatan: "I am sure The Economist has the most upsetting question for PM Erdogan "Isn't AKP pure any longer?" But if you continue to support all the suspects of Deniz Feneri case, if you continue to say this case has no links with Turkey, if you continue to support RTUK chairman Akman and neglect initiating an investigation against him, then even foreigners will continue to ask same questions: "Isn't AKP pure any longer?" or "Isn't Erdogan acting like Putin?" Editorial Commentary on US-Pakistan Ergin Yildizoglu writes in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "The suicide bomb attack on the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad has made it easier for the Pakistani Administration to explain to its people why it is cooperating with the US. Experts who know the region and the social texture of Pakistan believe that such cooperation will drag Pakistan toward destruction. One thesis claims the US is trying to create enough instability to legitimize an American seizure of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. Another one says NATO is trying to to create a permanent presence in the region, as far as the Chinese border. Whether the Pakistani and Afghani peoples as well as others ANKARA 00001700 003 OF 003 in the region object, NATO aims to create a continuous war and a confusion zone to legitimize its presence as a security element in the whole region." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - AKP deputy chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat and CHP deputy group chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu are expected to hold a televised debate on Thursday concerning the accusations they made against each other within the Deniz Feneri scandal. - The German Embassy spokesman in Ankara said press reports claiming Turkey's main opposition party CHP accepted a donation from the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation were "not true." - Greenpeace activists staged protests at the Energy Ministry in Ankara against the bidding process for the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu in the Mediterranean province of Mersin. - Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Uc Maymun" (Three Monkeys) movie will represent Turkey in the competition for a foreign-language film category nomination at the 81st Academy Awards. International News - President Bush tells the UN General Assembly the international community needs to stand firm against the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran. - Iraq resumes oil supplies to Jordan for the first time since the 2003 US-led invasion. - Iran plans to build a car production plant in Afghanistan. WILSON