ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001762 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 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008 In Today's Papers Terror Attack Kills 5 in Diyarbakir All media outlets report that on Wednesday, five policemen were killed and 19 other people were injured when a police shuttle bus came under attack by terrorists in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir. Terrorists attacked the police bus with grenades and long range rifles. Mainstream Sabah comments the attack was a "provocation" which came on the eve of Thursday's Counter Terror High Board meeting where a proposal will be discussed regarding the declaration of emergency rule in east and southeast Turkey. Papers note that the attack came as parliament extended the mandate authorizing the military to carry out cross-border incursions against PKK targets in northern Iraq. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak underlines that the terror continues to rise on the eve of the first hearing of the 'Ergenekon' case October 20. Parliament Renews Military Authorization for Operations into northern Iraq Media outlets report that yesterday the Turkish Parliament approved a government proposal to extend the military's authority to carry out cross border operations into northern Iraq by a vote of 511 to ¶18. The pro-Kurdish DTP and leftist ODP voted against the decree. Papers note the voting came at a critical time in the struggle against terror as the PKK carried out a deadly attack on Hakkari's Aktutun military outpost, killing 17 soldiers and injuring 20 others over the weekend. Ahead of yesterday's voting, CHP MP Sukru Elekdag slammed the AKP government and the local administration in northern Iraq. Elekdag said the AKP government has a "weakness" in combating terror, adding the ruling party was acting within the limits drawn by the U.S. Elekdag called on PM Erdogan to acknowledge that Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government President Massoud Barzani was "Turkey's enemy," and called the Kurdish leader "a chief supporter of terror," who "should be forced to choose between Turkey and the PKK." Opposition far right MHP MP Deniz Bolukbasi called on the government to take concrete steps, such as implementing sanctions, on the Barzani-headed local administration in northern Iraq. Papers report Prime Minister Erdogan, commenting on a MHP proposal to set up a buffer zone along the Iraqi border, said only the military could make a decision on the matter. On Thursday, the Counter Terror Board will hold a critical meeting to discuss the measures to be taken against the PKK, including incursions into northern Iraq as well as a proposal for the formation of "buffer zones" between the two neighboring countries. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports the DTP cancelled a march scheduled for Friday from Diyarbakir to Lice to protest the parliamentary adoption of the decree. The cancellation comes due to fears of "provocative" attacks following the killing of five policemen in Diyarbakir. Editorial Commentary on PKK/Kurdish Problem Cuneyt Ulsever wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "Time is running out in Turkey's efforts to find a concrete Kurdish policy. The Aktutun attack demonstrates serious political and military weakness. Turkey must immediately formulate a comprehensive Kurdish policy that includes all elements, including the Kurds, the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government, and the PKK." Cuneyt Arcayurek wrote in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "The U.S., which is the AKP government's strategic partner, said in a statement about the latest PKK attacks that the U.S. wants 'to see the terror organization eliminated.' The U.S. makes statements to please the Turkish public while it conducts open or secret diplomatic maneuvers to protect the PKK from the Turkish military. The U.S. also prevents Turkey from destroying the traitors. The U.S. can only ANKARA 00001762 002 OF 003 fool the AKP with their friendship, and no one else." Sedat Sertoglu wrote in mainstream Aksam: "TGS Chief General Ilker Basbug said at least one third of the PKK militants in the mountains are Syrians. According to him, an estimated 1,500 Syrians currently fight in the ranks of the PKK. I don't understand why PM Erdogan doesn't talk to his friend, Syria's President Bashar Assad, about this problem. Turkey complained to Tehran regarding Iranian PKK fighters even during the days of Ayatollah Khomeini. Turkey should do the same with Syria in order to work with Damascus to prevent new militants from joining the PKK." Poll: Popular Support for AKP Declining Mainstream Vatan carries the results of a public opinion survey conducted by the A&G Company according to which undecided voters constitute the largest group of voters in Turkey (30.8 percent). If elections were held today, support for the political parties after the undecided votes are distributed would be as follows: AKP 41.3 percent, CHP 21, MHP 18.6, and DTP 6.6. Support for the AKP one month ago stood at 48.3 percent, and CHP at 19.7 percent. Vatan says the fighting between Prime Minister Erdogan and the Dogan Media Group, the bribery charges that led to the resignation of the AKP deputy chairman Saban Disli, and irregularities in the Germany-based, Islamist Deniz Feneri charity have negatively affected the ruling AKP over the last one month. The poll canvassed the views of 1834 persons in 27 provinces on October 4-5. Greece Grants Asylum to a PKK Member Mainstream Hurriyet reports in a flashy front page story that Greece granted asylum and residence privileges to PKK member Ahmet Gulabi Dere, who is listed on Interpol's Red Bulletin. Questioning the integrity and sincerity of European Union regarding the fight against PKK terrorism, Hurriyet reports some details such as "Ahmet Gulabi Dere acts as PKK's foreign relations representative and travels to European countries, attends meetings at the Council of Europe and European Parliament by using his travel document issued by Greece." Despite the Interpol bulletin, Gulabi Dere also resides in Greece as a resident political asylee. The residence permit was first issued until 2005 and later extended to 2010. Turkey made a series of demarches to have him extradited but Greece denied the extradiction, Hurriyet adds. Ahmet G. Dere has various PKK-related pending court cases in Turkey. Hurriyet also listed some of the PKK members freely living in Europe despite Ankara's efforts, adding "There are many Gulabi Dere cases in Europe which is strong proof that Europe is not helping Turkey in its fight against the PKK, and moreover Europeans are protecting those PKK members." President Gul Reaffirms EU Commitment All papers report President Gul's stated that Turkey's EU process does not stand in the way of its fight against terror. He said, "EU membership is a state strategy for Turkey, and successfully completing the process is a top priority." Emphasizing the importance of clinging to democracy during anti-terrorism campaigns, Gul said, "We will fight attacks perpetrated with weapons through weapons, but we will never lose our faith in democracy because it is democracy that isolates terrorists." The Turkish President also asked EU countries to show more support for Turkey in its fight against the PKK. Finnish President Halonen said the issue would be "a key subject during the talks between Turkey and the EU." Reiterating Turkey's commitment to reform process, President Gul noted, "Our membership process is marked by deep-rooted reforms, and it will continue. This is the transformation process of Turkey." Collective Efforts Fail to Contain Global Economic Crisis ANKARA 00001762 003 OF 003 Media outlets report on the continuing economic crisis as it spreads from the U.S. and Europe to Asia, despite the efforts of several countries to cut interest rates. CNN Turk reports, "The U.S. rescue measures are not enough to stop the crisis in the U.S. economy." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "The U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate cut is not enough to extinguish the raging fires in the markets," as "increasing volatility in U.S. and European markets spreads to Asia." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet carries the headline, "Markets are Paralyzed," as "joint interest rate cuts are not working." Mainstream Milliyet asks, "How Far Will This Go?" as "The U.S. package and the EU measures fail to contain the crisis." Mainstream Sabah reports, "The World Unites to Fight the Global Economic Crisis," as "seven major central banks slashed interest rates in a joint effort to curb the global financial crisis." Mainstream Vatan writes, "A Red Alert for the Global Crisis: Central Banks Cut Interest Rates and the UK Launches a $870 Billion Rescue Package," but "such measures are failing to bring a halt to the panic." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye reports, "Volatility in the World Markets Continues," despite a number of countries' efforts. Papers report that in Turkey, the Lira weakened to 1.42 against the Dollar. Interest rates jumped to 21 percent, and the stock exchange index dropped 2.5 percent. Economic-political daily Referans says "Turkish industrial output figures turned out to be the worst in 31 months, which is an indication that unemployment might rise." Prime Minister Erdogan said yesterday the fluctuations were temporary, and Turkey was "doing fine" compared to other countries stricken by the meltdown. Mainstream papers say markets do not share the PM's confidence, and note that the weakening of the Lira and the fall of the stock market were indicators of a looming crisis. Mainstream Sabah says the AKP government would tighten its belt while drafting the 2009 budget, and state-owned banks would curb interest rates. Editorial Commentary on Global Financial Crisis Cengiz Candar wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Even though the new American administration will have to deal with the worst economic crisis since 1929, there is still room for optimism. Barack Obama will likely be the new U.S. president and the U.S. system will be reformed, which is enough to lead to a call for optimism. But when it comes to Turkey, it is still not clear whether Turkey's leaders are really aware of the global economic crisis, and more importantly whether they have a vision for future." TV News: NTV Domestic News - Constitutional Court President Hasim Kilic said the court's justification regarding the case for banning the AKP would be ready next weekend. - On Wednesday, Prime Minister Erdogan met former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Ankara. International News - U.S.Defense Secretary Robert Gates has urged his counterparts from southeast Europe to send more troops to Afghanistan. - Iran urges Iraq to reject a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security deal, calling the agreement a "disgrace." - The UN General Assembly approves Serbia's request to ask a UN court if Kosovo's secession was legal. WILSON