ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001719 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, SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 In Today's Papers A Gentlemen's Showdown in Parliament Media outlets give prominent and extensive coverage to yesterday's live televised debate in parliament between ruling party AKP Deputy Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat and main opposition CHP Deputy Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Noted television anchorman Ugur Dundar moderated the debate, which was carried live by 20 television stations. The event, the first of its kind in parliament's history, commenced after a series of public accusations flew between the two MPs for a week. During the debate, Kilicdaroglu accused Firat of irregularities regarding the MENAS exports company. Firat has owned up to 30% of MENAS and Kilicdaroglu presented documents which he claims implicate Firat in various court cases, audits and inspection reports regarding irregularities at the company. The discussion ended with no solid conclusion, although Firat demanded Kilicdaroglu's apology for repeatedly calling on Firat to resign. According to Hurriyet's web survey, 58.8 percent thought Kilicdaroglu won the debate, while 41.2 percent thought Firat won. Vatan's survey indicated 87.3 percent favored Kilicdaroglu, while 25.3 percent favored Firat. Zaman's survey showed 53.26 percent favored Firat and 46.74 percent favored Kilicdaroglu. Haber7's survey indicated 85.2 favored Firat over 14.9 percent for Kilicdaroglu. Editorial Commentary on TV Debate: CHP v AKP Fikret Bila wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "Kilicdaroglu was able to present concrete evidence that Firat's company MENAS was involved in fictitious exports. However, he was not able to prove Firat was involved in drug smuggling. On the other hand, Firat's denials weren't very satisfactory. In short, yesterday's debate showed us businessmen who are elected as deputies should immediately transfer their business to a trustee in order to put a concrete distance between politics and trade." Mustafa Mutlu wrote in mainstream Vatan: "Was Kilicdaroglu able to overcome his rival Firat during yesterday's debate? Kilicdaroglu injured Firat, but was not able to take him out altogether. While Kilicdaroglu presented concrete evidence regarding allegations against Firat's company MENAS, Firat failed to satisfy Kilicdaroglu with his answers on these issues. I am sure all pro-government media will praise Firat's answers. However, mending the injuries he received from yesterday's debate will take time. As I said, yesterday's debate did not destroy Firat, but seriously damaged his credibility." Mustafa Unal in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "Both Firat and Kilicdaroglu were careful to refrain from insults during yesterday's debate. We don't have a clear score to show the winner of yesterday's showdown between the two politicians. Neither side accepted defeat. We must thank Firat and Kilicdaroglu for maintaining their professional character. This debate sets the standard for possible future debates." Sener, Baykal on Deniz Feneri Fraud Case Media outlets report former deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said "Prime Minister Erdogan and other key government officials are linked to the Turks responsible for the fraud in the Germany-based Islamist-oriented Deniz Feneri charity." Sener cited German court officials' claims that those responsible for the embezzlement of money donated to Deniz Feneri were hiding in Turkey. Sener stressed those that were responsible for the fraud were being protected by the AKP government. He accused the PM of blocking investigations into the fraud. Sener, who resigned from the AKP earlier this year, was preparing to launch a new political party. Meanwhile, papers report opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal visited Parliamentary Speaker Koksal Toptan on Thursday. Baykal told Toptan ANKARA 00001719 002 OF 003 that Zahid Akman, the head of Turkey's media watchdog RTUK, should step down from his post due to the fraud charges against him. Baykal reportedly asked Toptan what would happen if the German court asked Interpol to issue an arrest warrant for Akman for fraud charges connected to the Deniz Feneri investigation. Papers also report the Turkish Union of Notaries filed a legal complaint against notary Ismet Buyukkilic, who falsely notarized an authorization on behalf of Mehmet Gurhan, the ringleader of the German-based Deniz Feneri fraud scandal. Gurhan was in prison in Germany at the time notary Buyukkilic issued the authorization in Istanbul on behalf of Gurhan. The authorization in question granted Zekeriya Karaman, the president of Islamist-oriented Kanal 7 TV, to handle Gurhan's assets in Turkey. Secretary Rice's Op-Ed on Russia in Milliyet Secretary Rice's Op-Ed on Russia was carried today in mainstream Milliyet. Under the front-page banner headline, "Rice Writes to Milliyet," in order to send "Clear Messages to Russian Leaders," the paper features the entire Op-Ed in the international news section under the headline, "We Will Not Submit to Russia's Swaggering Toughness." Journalist Punished for interviewing PKK Terrorists Mainstream Milliyet and Islamist-oriented Zaman report that Hurriyet editors Necdet Tatlican and Hasan Kilic, along with correspondent Sebati Karakurt, were fined 40,000 YTL each by the Istanbul 10th Heavy Penalty Court. The charges against the media professionals were for "spreading propaganda for the PKK terrorist organization through press and publication." In 2004, correspondent Sebati Karakurt interviewed some members of the PKK terrorist organization on Kandil Mountain and this interview was published in Hurriyet's Sunday supplement on October 10, 2004. Editorial Commentary on Global Economic Meltdown, UNGA, Terrorism Ferai Tinc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "Nothing will ever be the same again after this current economic crisis. Some call it America's 'fiscal 9/11.' For example, the U.S. Congress now seeks more detailed accounting of the Pentagon's expenditures. There is a consensus about the post-Bush period - no matter who wins the presidential elections, Iraq and Afghanistan will be a burden for the country." Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-leaning Yeni Safak: "Turkey is lobbying heavily for membership to the UN Security Council. Rival candidates Iceland and Austria rely on the potential support from specific blocs; Iceland is relying on the Scandinavian bloc while Austria is relying on the EU bloc. Unlike these two, Turkey is lobbying with all of the UN members across the board. Turkish diplomats are optimistic Turkey will win, although they don't take it for granted." Mustafa Balbay in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "The PKK terror organization lures young people, especially those aged 14-18. Every reasonable person, including terror experts, sees a need to prevent young people from joining the organization. The government enacted seven laws aimed at convincing organization members not involved in armed violence to return home. Turkey, on the one hand, tries to keep its people from becoming PKK terrorists, while on the other, breeds a brand new terrorist organization [i.e. Ergenekon] into all segments of the society." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - On Friday, the military General Staff (TGS) will hold its first regular press briefing for journalists at TGS HQ in Ankara. ANKARA 00001719 003 OF 003 - Yasar Ozturk, MP from the central Anatolian province of Yozgat, resigned from the ruling AKP on Thursday. - Tevfik Bilgin, the head of banking watchdog BDDK, says Turkish banks were stronger in capital and liquidity than banks in many European countries. International News - On Friday, Turkish, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers will meet in New York to discuss problems between the three countries. - Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders Talat and Christofias will address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg next week. - Greek daily Elefterotipia reports Athens is concerned over Russia's sale of 80 Kornet-E laser-guided anti-tank missile systems to Turkey. WILSON