ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001766 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, OCTOBER 10, 2008 In Today's Papers Three Suspects Captured following an Attack on a Diyarbakir Police Bus All media outlets report three suspects were captured in relation to this week's terrorist attack against a Police Shuttle Bus in Diyarbakir. The alleged mastermind of the attack, Mehmet Sah Yildeniz, remains at large. Yildeniz allegedly joined the PKK in 1998 and recently crossed into Turkey from northern Iraq in order to carry out the attack. Wednesday's Diyarbakir attack came shortly after last Friday's attack on the Aktutun military border outpost in Hakkari, which killed 17 soldiers and injured 21 others. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak claims the attack in Diyarbakir "aims to undermine the AKP on the eve of the upcoming municipality elections." Meanwhile, papers report the High Board for Combating Terrorism met Thursday to discuss initiatives to reach out to the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government (KRG) in northern Iraq. In addition, economic and social efforts were discussed in order to prevent terrorist recruitment. The meeting also addressed proposals to establish a new mechanism for coordinating the fight against terror and the military's demands for more authority. Papers note opposition parties' proposals for the declaration of emergency rule in the southeast and the establishment of a "buffer zone" to prevent terrorist infiltrations into Turkey were rejected at the meeting. The board will continue discussions in a second meeting scheduled for October 14. U.S. Condemns Diyarbakir Terror Attack Liberal Radikal reports today, "The U.S. Embassy released a press statement condemning the terror attack against a police bus in Diyarbakir." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson spoke to reporters during a reception Wednesday night at the Mexican Embassy and said 'there are no problems in the intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey.'" However, Cumhuriyet notes, "Wilson did not explain why there was a failure to notice PKK preparations for the attack against the military outpost in Aktutun." Nechirvan Barzani: "Talk to us." Radikal, Zaman and Taraf carried an interview with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Stories highlighted he said, "Recent attacks by the PKK terrorist organization in Turkey seek to damage relations between Turkey and the KRG administration." PM Barzani urged Turkey to seriously consider the establishment of a cooperative dialogue. In an exclusive interview with Turkey's semi-official wire service AA, Necirvan Barzani said that recent terrorist attacks in Turkey are being watched with concern. "We try to prevent PKK terrorists from using the territory in northern Iraq to stage attacks on Turkey, and we also try to prevent the PKK from using the roads, airports and hospitals in northern Iraq. We cannot be held responsible for the PKK's terrorist acts in Turkey." Regarding Turkey's cross border operation, PM Nechirvan Barzani said "No gain is possible by cross border military operations because the (Kurdish) problem cannot be resolved through military operations." In addition, the KRG PM asked, "Turkey wants concrete steps from the KRG, but how can we help Turkey at a time when Turkey does not even talk to us?" Barzani also invited PM Erdogan to Erbil. Editorial Commentary on PKK/Kurdish Issue Cengiz Candar criticized in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "The solution to the PKK problem requires a complete change in Turkey's approach to the issue. Whenever I see angry statements against the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) that accuse them of responsibility for the PKK problem, I realize Turkey is far from ANKARA 00001766 002 OF 004 bringing a real solution to Kurdish problem. First the state must separate the Kurdish problem from the terrorism problem, and then will have to change its rhetoric and approach completely. There is no other way." Cuneyt Arcayurek commented in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "The military and civilian authorities in Turkey seem to agree on the fact that the opposition parties' proposal for setting up a buffer zone inside northern Iraq is not possible. At a press briefing on the attack in Aktutun, General Hasan Igsiz responded to a question on the probability of a security buffer region by saying such an endeavor would be 'very risky.' Long debates in the parliament over a decree for cross border military operations have shown that the AKP government thinks it knows everything and shrugs off warnings from the opposition, but its hands are tied in the face of the stance of KRG President Massoud Barzani and Baghdad. In sum, nothing has changed in the fight against terror." Mehmet Yilmaz wrote in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "Afghanistan's President Karzai called on Saudi Arabia to mediate between Kabul and the Taliban. Soon afterwards, he made a call for peace to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, and met with a representative of Hikmetyar in Saudi Arabia. I find it very interesting that the soldiers, aiming a resolution of the security question, proposed 'political dialogue' with the enemy they have been fighting against in Afghanistan. What do you think?" Ihsan Dagi argued in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "It must be understood that cross border military operations into northern Iraq will not bring a solution to the terror problem. The government must show that it won't allow such operations to have negative effects on internal politics. We see some interesting proposals that run counter to Turkey's EU reforms, such as the establishment of emergency rule. They, however, forget that the region lived under a regime of marshal law and emergency rule for 23 years (1979 - 2002). This 'tight regime' did not eliminate terror; on the contrary, it fanned the fires of terror. They still claim they can destroy the PKK through emergency rule; what they actually want is more power, not a solution." Vatan's Gungor Mengi: "Resign, Mr. Commander" Mainstream Vatan dedicates major editorial opinion pages as well as its front page to the calls for resignation of Turkish Air Force Commander General Babaoglu. General Babaoglu was photographed playing golf during last Friday's PKK attack against the Aktutun Gendarme Station where 17 soldiers were killed. Later, Babaoglu said he learned about the attack only the day after. Vatan's senior columnist Gungor Mengi wrote today, "From now, on General Babaoglu will be seen as the golfer-commander while our children are martyred. He must resign in order to prevent further damage to the army. In this case, Babaoglu's resignation is an insurance policy that protects the institution to which he belongs. He must have the courage to accept his personal mistake and go." Columnist Necati Dogru joins the argument by noting, "When the Deniz Feneri court case in Germany drew in the Chairman of Radio-TV Board Zahid Akman, he declined to resign. As for the General Babaoglu case, he should resign. Otherwise he will end up finding himself in the same position with Zahid Akman." Cartoon in mainstream Sabah In "Cross-border Operation," mainstream Sabah carries a cartoon depicting Turkish Air Force Commander General Babaoglu in a golf cart amongst a convoy of military tanks that are headed across the border into northern Iraq. Government Inspectors question School Principal's Religious Beliefs Liberal Radikal, mainstream Hurriyet, mainstream Milliyet and mainstream Posta report elementary school inspectors launched an investigation into a complaint filed by a female teacher at Aksu ANKARA 00001766 003 OF 004 primary school in Antalya that she was being harassed by the school principal. The inspectors sent by the Education Ministry to investigate the claim asked the other teachers of the school to respond in writing to questions such as whether the principal was "Godless" or "Armenian," and whether he drinks or not. Education workers' union Egitim-Is slammed the inspectors for asking such questions, "Turkey is a secular and democratic state, and people should not be questioned over their faith or ethnic origin." Will the Global Financial Crisis Lead to a Global Political Crisis? Media outlets today note the warnings of impending social and political crises from the IMF President, the World Bank President, and the German Foreign Minister. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The five pillars of capitalism have been rocked by the financial crisis," as "the crisis swallows $18 trillion." Economic daily Referans reports, "Coordinated interest rate cuts reduce chaos in the stock markets, but volatility in monetary markets continues." CNN Turk reports, "World Bank President Robert Zoellick warns that the global financial turmoil will create difficulties for developing nations' efforts to protect the poor." In addition, CNN Turk notes, "German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier says the global financial crisis could escalate into a global political crisis." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports in "28 Countries are Under Threat," that "Zoellick warned that developing countries could face banking emergencies and corporate bankruptcies." Mainstream Sabah reports Zoellick warned, "28 Countries could descend into a Very Difficult Situation." In addition, Sabah also reports IMF President Dominique-Straus-Kahn warned, "This situation is very serious because there are no local solutions to this global crisis." Liberal Radikal notes in "28 Countries Are Expecting Financial Problems," that "Zoellick warned that rising food and petrol prices, along with the increasing global financial crisis, will create difficulties for developing nations to protect their poor populations." Mainstream Milliyet reports, "The markets were calmed slightly with the IMF statement indicating they could help support some countries. However, this did not put out the fires." Petraeus Calls for Meetings with the Taliban at NATO Defense Ministers Meeting Media outlets report Petraeus' comments suggesting talks with the Taliban with an air of cynicism, though the language appears straightforward. Leftist Taraf even calls his suggestion, "Discussions with the enemy," which vaguely alludes to prior U.S. military suggestions that Turkey talk with the PKK. CNN Turk reports, "U.S. Centcom Commander General David Petraeus said during yesterdays NATO Defense Ministers Meeting, "Negotiations with some members of the Taliban could provide a way to reduce violence in certain sections of Afghanistan." Leftist Taraf reports, "Petreaus says it is necessary to open the door to dialogue with the Taliban." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "The U.S., Unable to Annihilate the Taliban, Signals for Talks." Mainstream Sabah calls Petraeus' suggestions "A Green Light to the Taliban." Liberal Radikal reports, "Petraeus Approves Contacts with the Taliban." Lftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The U.S. Prepares to Sit at the Table," with the Taliban. Mainstream Milliyet reports, "It is widely debated how to end the seven-year war against terror in Afghanistan. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates now says in order to end the war the country will need to reach out to the Taliban." Mehmet Yilmaz wrote in Islamist-oriented Zaman, "I find it very interesting that the soldiers, aiming a resolution of the security question, proposed 'political dialogue' with the enemy they have been fighting against in Afghanistan. What do you think?" Editorial Commentary on Turkey-EU Ferai Tinc observed in mainstream Hurriyet: "Until recently, both Turkey and the European Union have been tackling crises; Turkey has struggled with political and Constitution-related crises while Europe has suffered from a deepening economic crisis. In other words, the last two years have been wasted and the future is not ANKARA 00001766 004 OF 004 bright. The Turkish government treats EU integration as a technical process. However, EU reforms that exclude political will are doomed to remain on paper. And now the EU is facing the global financial crisis while Turkey continues its policy of not doing the homework on its EU reforms, which means one more year is just about to be wasted." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - 44 members of the pro-Kurdish DTP, including the party's provincial chief, were detained in the Aegean city of Izmir for staging an illegal demonstration in September. - Koc Holding President Mustafa Koc says a stand-by deal with the IMF might ease concerns in Turkish markets. International News - General David Petraeus said negotiations with Taliban could provide a way to reduce violence in some parts of Afghanistan. - Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Russia will not sell S-300 missile systems to Iran. WILSON