ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001781 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, OCTOBER 14, 2008 In Today's Papers European Efforts Rally the Markets Media outlets report that European efforts to stabilize global markets over the weekend have paid off. Mainstream Milliyet reports the U.S. Dow Jones Market "broke a 75-year record" in gains that followed, "the decisions announced in Paris by EU leaders to save the markets." Mainstream Vatan reports on their front page, "England, Germany, France and Spain announced a 1.3 trillion-dollar package to ease the tensions in the banking sector, which led the markets to rise by more than ten percent." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports "Europe funds the markets and the markets rise." Mainstream Sabah carries the headline, "The First 'Oh!' in the Markets," that "Global Measures Stabilized World Markets." Liberal Radikal notes in "The West Guarantees the Financial System with $5.1 Billion," that, "For the first time in a while, yesterday the markets created smiles instead of pessimism." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "Europe Announces a Rescue Package, and World Markets Sigh with Relief." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "Europe Acts Quickly and Creates a Ceiling in the Markets," as "EU countries create a tough and big packet of measures against the crisis," which "rescues markets in the U.S. and the entire world." In a related article, leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports in its banner headline, "The Catastrophe for the Poor," and notes "The poor will be most affected by the financial crisis as the IMF and World Bank indicate the poor countries will feel the lasting damage of the financial crisis," as "the poor will pay." Papers report that on Monday, Turkish markets began showing signs of recovery. The Turkish Lira rallied, interest rates fell below 20 percent, and the Istanbul stock index rose by 1.6 percent. Mainstream Sabah reports, "Turkey wants to attract Turks' savings from foreign banks back to Turkish banks." However, mainstream Milliyet reports savings account holders who invest in Turkey will not be asked explain the source of their assets. Milliyet warns such an implementation might provide an opportunity for money launderers. Meanwhile, the State Minister for the Economy, Mehmet Simsek, was in Washington for meetings with the IMF and World Bank. He said an IMF delegation will come to Turkey in order to conduct negotiations for a standby agreement. Economic-political daily Referans quotes IMF and World Bank officials as saying Turkey's economy is strong, but that the global crisis should not be underestimated. Editorial Commentary on Global Financial Crisis Mehmet Barlas commented in mainstream Sabah: "Unfortunately, both American and European officials responded to the current global economic crisis very slowly. Only now are they taking radical and brave steps to address the crisis. Had these steps been taken earlier, the world economy would not have suffered so seriously. In Turkey, the AKP government should determine their priorities and take actions accordingly. It was very wrong of PM Erdogan to criticize TUSIAD's warnings regarding the crisis. Everyone knows that global crises first affect financial systems and the markets. Therefore, TUSIAD's warnings were not meant to create a crisis, but to prevent a crisis by calling for preventive measures." Cartoon from today's mainstream Sabah. In "The Crisis Affects All Countries," Prime Minister Erdogan is clinging to a raft entitled "2001 Experience." Prime Minister Erdogan claims that the financial reforms undertaken by Turkey after its economic crisis in 2001 will prevent Turkey from feeling the effects of the current global economic crisis. First Formal Contact with KRG President Massoud Barzani in Five Years ANKARA 00001781 002 OF 003 Sabah, Milliyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak, Cumhuriyet, Radikal and others: Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports that Ankara is preparing for its first formal contact with the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government leader Massoud Barzani since the U.S. invasion of Iraq. A Turkish delegation headed by special Iraqi envoy Murat Ozcelik will go to Baghdad today in order to hold talks with Barzani. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports that the Turkish delegation will request logistical support from Barzani in the fight against terrorism. Islamist-oriented Zaman notes that the Turkish delegation will convey Turkish demands regarding the fight against PKK to Barzani and will urge the KRG not to shelter the PKK. Turkish Air Strikes Target Hakurk and Zap Monday papers cite an announcement on the Turkish General Staff website indicating Turkish jets and artillery bombed 31 PKK targets in the Hakurk area of northern Iraq after midnight on Friday October 10th. On October 12th, PKK targets in the Zap region were also hit. TGS said that the terrorist groups hit in the Zap area were responsible for the Aktutun attack and possibly had high level PKK leaders among them. Taraf: TGS Possessed Intelligence Indicating Plans for an Attack on Aktutun Leftist Taraf claims today on its front page that just like in an earlier terrorist attack on Daglica gendarme outpost, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) had intelligence reports from the Internal Security Operations and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles indicating PKK plans to attack the Aktutun military outpost one month before the raid occurred. An unmanned vehicle transmitted footage on October 3 to the TGS Electronic Systems Command to the deputy TGS chief at 09:35 a.m., three and a half hours before the attack was launched on Aktutun. According to Taraf, "the TGS, however, did nothing more than merely watch the attack from a monitor during the raid." Taraf also claims an intelligence report submitted a day before the attack even gives the name of the PKK commander in charge of the raid. Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Northern Iraq/PKK Fikret Bila wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "During the counterterrorism meetings that followed the Aktutun attack, Ankara decided to meet with the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani. As a matter of fact, Ankara has been in touch with Barzani on different levels and at different times. In fact, Barzani's stance (regarding relations with Turkey) has improved after each contact. This time, Ankara will pressure Barzani to cut logistical support to the PKK. At the same time, Ankara will remind him of his responsibilities to fight terrorism based on international laws. Moreover, Turkey will urge Barzani to participate actively in Turkey's fight against terrorism." Ihsan Dagi observed in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "Following years of struggle, the Iraqi Kurds are represented at the presidential level in Iraq and have a federal Kurdish administration in the north. However, the PKK is the largest impediment to these gains for the Iraqi Kurds. The real aim of the PKK's strategy is not to damage Turkey, but the Iraqi Kurds' recent political and economic gains." Husnu Mahalli wrote in tabloid Aksam: "The process launched by Iraqi President Talabani's Ankara visit must be continued. Turkish fighter jets have pounded northern Iraq 45 times since December 17. If Ankara had met Talabani and Barzani 45 times in this period, there wouldn't be a PKK problem today, and Turkey could have gained a lot at home and abroad without losing anything. Today's meeting in Baghdad between a Turkish delegation and Talabani and Massoud Barzani will prove this fact." Military Exercises Cancelled in Cyprus Sabah, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet and others: Today's papers report that Greek Cypriot Leader Christofias announced on Monday his decision to ANKARA 00001781 003 OF 003 cancel "Nikiforos" military exercises while the Turkish Cypriot side announced late Monday its decision to cancel the military exercise "Toros" on the island. Editorial Commentary on Afghanistan Fikret Ertan in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "The Afghan government, the U.S. and NATO have accepted a plan to increase the number of troops in the Afghanistan army over the next five years. The plan will be costly, so the U.S. has requested $20 billion from its allies. It's difficult to tell when Afghanistan's army will reach 150,000, but the only way to eliminate domestic threats without the intervention of foreign forces is through the formulation of a national army which represents the ethnic diversity of Afghanistan." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - Five people were arrested for their alleged involvement in last week's attack on a police bus in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. Five people including four policemen were killed and 18 were injured in the attack on October 8. - The Bingol governor says 30,000 tons of coal will be distributed to 30,076 poor families in the province. International News - Turkish students in Western Thrace have launched a two-day school boycott to protest problems with minority education in the region. - The EU temporarily lifts a travel ban on Belorussian government officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko. WILSON