ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001786 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, OCTOBER 15, 2008 In Today's Papers Justice Minister Apologizes for Detainee's Death in Prison Media outlets report Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin apologized yesterday to the family of Engin Ceber, a leftist activist who was beaten to death while in state custody in Istanbul last week. Ceber was detained September 28 for distributing a leftist publication. He died in the hospital on Saturday from a brain hemorrhage caused by multiple blows to the head. According to the reports, Ceber was first beaten by policemen and then he was beaten by guards after he was transferred to Metris Prison. Sahin said that Justice Ministry inspectors confirmed Ceber was tortured, and he suspended 19 officials for their involvement in mistreatment. Papers underline that this was the first time the state apologized for the death of a detainee in custody. Turkish Human Rights Foundation Director Yavuz Onen said 29 suspicious prison deaths have been reported this year. Editorial Commentary on Torture in Turkey Oktay Eksi writes in mainstream Hurriyet: "Justice Minister Sahin apologized to the family of Engin Ceber, who recently was tortured to death while in state custody. Moreover, Sahin banned 19 officials from their duties. This is definitely a good start. However, PM Erdogan promised two years ago to put an end to torture in Turkey, but he was not successful in keeping his promise. Reports from the Turkey Human Rights Foundation show that 11 people in custody died from torture in 2006. That number climbed to 29 deaths due to torture in 2008!" Papers Question Security Flaws in Aktutun Attack Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan and Zaman carry a report from leftist Taraf yesterday, which documented aerial images taken by unmanned aircraft showing a buildup of PKK forces prior to the attack on the Aktutun military outpost on the border with Iraq. Papers echo Taraf's initial concern that the military had information indicating a possible attack on the outpost, but did nothing to stop the attack or warn the outpost of the attack. The Taraf story claimed yesterday drone planes were sending pictures of the PKK buildup to Turkish General Staff (TGS) HQ at 09:35 a.m. on the day of the attack, more than three hours before the raid on Aktutun was launched. Taraf also claimed TGS was given intelligence reports which began warning of an impending Aktutun attack up to one month before the attack was carried out. Papers inquire why the authorities did not move to prevent the attack. Mainstream Vatan noted that the U.S. did provide TGS with intelligence indicating a buildup of PKK forces up to ten kilometers over the border in northern Iraq. Barzani Pledges Cooperation in the Fight against the PKK All papers: Turkey's special envoy for Iraq Murat Ozcelik led a Turkish delegation to Baghdad for meetings with Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government President Massoud Barzani, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in yesterday. Ozcelik told Barzani that the KRG should cut logistical support to PKK. Mainstream Sabah reports that the main issue of the meeting was the border security and cooperation in fight against terrorism. While the Kurdish officials did not make any statements regarding the meeting, Ozcelik said "it was positive" but he did not give any details about the meeting. Papers quote Maliki as saying "I am ashamed that the PKK is using Iraqi soil for its activities." Islamist-oriented Zaman quotes U.S. Embassy Ankara Spokesperson Kathryn Schalow comments regarding the increased cooperation between Iraq and Turkey, "This is a positive development. We've been encouraging Turkey's dialogue with Iraqi authorities, including representatives of Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government." New Measures in the Fight against Terrorism Sabah, Milliyet, Turkiye, Zaman, Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet, Radikal and others: Papers report that the High Board of Counter-Terrorism convened under the chairmanship of PM Erdogan on Tuesday. The board decided to establish an under-secretariat within the Interior ANKARA 00001786 002 OF 003 Ministry that will focus solely on security and counter-terrorism efforts. This initiative places the management of the fight against terrorism in civilian hands. The military will be responsible for border security and external threats. Professional security forces will be responsible for domestic terror threats. Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Iraq/PKK Fikret Bila writes in mainstream Milliyet: "Turkey's special envoy to Iraq Murat Ozcelik gave positive signals following his meeting with KRG President Massoud Barzani. Of course, it is still too early to define the concrete cooperation between Ankara and the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government. There isn't even a joint action plan yet. This meeting was just a preliminary agreement. In the past, Turkey has worked with Barzani and Talabani from time to time. However, Ankara doesn't fully trust Barzani and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Today, the U.S. has a more active role in the region compared to the 1990s. U.S. policies will determine the outcome of Turkey's cooperation with the KRG and Ankara is well aware of it." Abdulhamit Bilici writes in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "We have witnessed rapprochement between the Americans and the Sunnis in Iraq. Given the impending American presidential elections and the ongoing financial crisis, it's doubtful to what extent the U.S. can meet the Kurds' exaggerated demands. All these facts are forcing the Kurds to be realistic. Turkey's special Iraq envoy Murat Ozcelik's meeting with Massoud Barzani is no coincidence. And there's even talk of President Gul's possible participation in the opening ceremony of Erbil airport, which was built by Turkish businessmen. The new goal of the Turkish government is to force the Kurdish Regional Government to display a clearer stance against the PKK, and find a way to eliminate a common threat. Time will show whether this effort will yield results or not." Mustafa Unal writes in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "The opposition's 'buffer zone' formula on Iraq border is not anything that can be implemented by Turkey alone. Such a move would require approval from Iraq, neighboring countries, and the international community. A buffer zone would mean expanding Turkey's borders into Iraq, and it's not easy to persuade the Iraqi administration on this matter. In the coming days, additional cooperation between northern Iraq and Baghdad will be the main elements of Turkey's fight against terror. There is no need to worry - terror summits did not always result in a green light for martial law. Now Turkey will begin a new period of active struggle against terror." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - Eight al-Qaeda suspects were arrested yesterday in Izmir during a gendarme security operation. - Two members of the pro-Kurdish DTP were arrested in Izmir for "aiding the outlawed PKK." - PKK terrorists fired on a military convoy in the eastern province of Tunceli, wounding five soldiers. International News - Syria's President Bashar Assad reportedly called for the establishment of ties with Lebanon. This is the first time Damascus has recognized Lebanon's sovereignty. - Azerbaijan will hold presidential elections today. The opposition said it will boycott the elections. ANKARA 00001786 003 OF 003 - Syria and Russia sign a $71 million-dollar gas deal that will transport natural gas from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to the Turkish border. WILSON