ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001922 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, NOVEMBER 6, 2008 In Today's Papers The American Public Has Never Been This Happy (Yeni Safak) Media report on the election of Barack Obama with excitement, hope, and compassion for the tough job ahead of the President-elect. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "In the 1940s, Rosa Parks was arrested for sitting in a bus seat that was designated for whites (note: referring to the 1955 incident in Montgomery, Alabama),but today a black American holds the top seat in the U.S." Conservative Bugun carries the headline, "An American Dream," as "Obama's victory shows that America really is the land of opportunity." Extreme right Tercuman carries the headline, "From Slavery to the Presidency - Barack Obama Becomes the First Black U.S. President." Mainstream Vatan carries the headline, "143 Years after the End of Slavery, (an African-American) is now President." Economic daily Referans' headline reads, "Obama's Victory - The First Step for Ending the Financial Crisis." Mainstream Sabah reports, "Democracy is a Beautiful Thing," as "This election shows the importance of democracy and the strength of the voters." Mainstream Milliyet writes in "Global Hope," that "People all over the world are tired of the eight-year Bush era of war and crisis," and the world "salutes the election of Barack Obama as U.S. President." In addition, the paper says, "The world takes a breath of relief." Islamist-oriented Zaman surveys a number of Turkish specialists and retired diplomats who agree, "It's expected that Obama will adopt a new approach to U.S. policy in Iraq," and "give more priority to diplomacy," which "will have a significant impact on Turkey." Meanwhile, leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The Armenian controversy is likely to stir tensions between Turkey and Obama." Cartoon from today's mainstream Sabah newspaper reads, "Blacks used to sit in the back of the bus," and "now" Barack Obama is pictured sitting in the back of the presidential limousine.' PM Erdogan and President Gul Remarks Regarding Obama's Victory Mainstream Hurriyet reports President Gul sent a letter to Obama to congratulate him for his election victory. In his letter, President Gul drew attention to the partnership between Turkey and the U.S. He noted this partnership "has a special importance for peace and security in Middle East, Caucasus, Balkans and Central Asia." He stressed Turkey's determination for the two countries to continue to "advance our strategic partnership and cooperation in every field, including the war on terror." Liberal Radikal quotes President Gul as saying "May peace, stability and security come to the world with Obama." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak writes Prime Minister Erdogan commented on the U.S. presidential elections saying "Obama's victory marked the end of problems between whites and blacks." Mainstream Hurriyet adds Erdogan noted the ties between Turkey and the U.S. were shaped by strategic factors and were not going to change. The paper says Erdogan will go to the U.S. for the G-20 summit on November 13th and he would like to meet the President-elect. Columns: President-elect Barack Obama Cuneyt Ulsever observes in mainstream Hurriyet: "The most important aspect regarding the U.S. elections is that the white majority has overcome their prejudices and thus changed the course of history. By choosing Barack Obama, the American people have taken a giant step for global democracy. Our lesson from the American people is this: despite some of the shortcomings of democracy, mistakes can be corrected eventually." Tamer Korkmaz writes in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Barack Obama was only two years old when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. Forty years after MLK's assassination, the day has come, times have changed. Barack Obama is America's first African-American President. And, this man was chosen to be President by both blacks and whites. Obama is taking ANKARA 00001922 002 OF 003 over a fundamentally wrecked system, at home and abroad. Until he is able to change things, we can all agree: the African-American leader has some hard days ahead." Yavuz Donat writes in mainstream Sabah: "Americans sought change and voted for Obama. With Obama's election, the Bush era of unilateral decisions has come to an end. Bush, with his know-it-all attitude, refused to consider the views of NATO or the UNSC. Meanwhile, Obama's stance is completely different and he says that he will listen to all sides. From Turkey's perspective, Obama's policies will ease tensions for Turkey regarding Iraq, Iran and the Caucasus. The change in the U.S. will be significant because the Democratic party holds majorities in the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. A new era is starting in the U.S. as well as in bilateral relations between Turkey and the US. Hasan Cemal writes in mainstream Milliyet: "American voters made history yesterday by electing a black president. Now it is Obama's turn to make history and fulfill all his promises of change. A headline from yesterday's New York Times read "The Obstacle of Racism Has Collapsed" and noted that this is only the beginning. It is true, the American people initiated this beginning and now it is Obama's turn to continue it. We hope that Obama will not disappoint his own people and the rest of the world." Omer Taspinar of mainstream Sabah writes, "Turkey should not focus on the Armenian issue in its relations with Obama, but instead take a look at the bigger picture in ties with the U.S. Obama has the vision that is necessary to repair the tensions between the U.S. and Europe, which will have a positive impact on Turkey." Semih Idiz of mainstream Milliyet writes, "Obama may enrage Ankara regarding the Armenian genocide issue," but "in the long term, Obama will be a better partner for Turkey regarding regional stability." In liberal-intellectual daily Radikal, Ismet Berkan writes: "Obama's victory is a victory of hope and a victory for the real America, which we have not seen during the last 8 years. This is a triumph of democracy." A Reform Warning from the EU Sabah, Hurriyet, Milliyet, Zaman, Vatan and others: The EU made public its annual report on Turkey's progress regarding its EU-related reforms. The report calls on Turkey to speed up its reform process during 2009. The 85-page report criticized the pressure placed on the press by the military and the government, note mainstream Sabah and Islamist-oriented Zaman. Chief Prosecutor's Office Initiates Investigation against AKP in Deniz Feneri Case Milliyet, Vatan, Hurriyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman: Papers report that the Yargitay Chief Prosecutor's office initiated an investigation yesterday into possible links between the ruling party AKP and the Deniz Feneri charity fraud case in Germany. Mainstream Milliyet reports that Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, who authored the party closure case against the AKP, requested a copy of the Deniz Feneri file once it is received from the German Court. The Frankfurt Court ruled the Deniz Feneri ("Lighthouse") charity received a total of 41 million Euros in donations, of which 17 million Euros was sent to Turkey, adds Milliyet. Panic in the PKK (Milliyet) Mainstream Milliyet reports that, following the Turkish Military's air operations in northern Iraq, panic has erupted in the terrorist organization. Groups of terrorists have started to leave PKK camps in the recent months. The most recent report indicates that eight PKK members, including two high-level leaders, recently escaped from the mountain camps in northern Iraq. ANKARA 00001922 003 OF 003 Rape Trial against Islamist Writer Continues Zaman, Hurriyet, Milliyet, and others: Huseyin Uzmez, a columnist for the extreme Islamist Vakit daily and who is charged with raping a 14-year old minor, was warned by the Diyanet Director for Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoglu not to use the Islamic religion as an excuse for his actions. Anatolian News Agency reports Bardakoglu told them, "The abuse of minors is never acceptable in Islam," and "Someone who commits a crime like this is going against nature, against humanity, no matter if they are religious or not. Nobody should either defend or support such figures. On the contrary, those abusing minors should be harshly condemned, and we should all do something for those children. I sincerely support the common reaction in public opinion against the sexual abuse of minors, and I have seen a significant step forward in the level of public consciousness that has been raised about this issue." Uzmez was taken into custody in April on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, whose age was recently confirmed through bone density testing. He was arrested and incarcerated pending trial until his surprise release from jail last week, which was based on a forensics report indicating that the victim's physical and mental health was stable. The Justice Ministry then launched an investigation into the doctors who filed the report at the Council of Forensic Medicine. TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News The CHP Istanbul Women's Branch protested outside the extreme Islamist Vakit newspaper's Istanbul office in order to object to the paper's refusal to criticize its columnist Huseyin Uzmez, who is charged with raping a minor. Police had to break up a fistfight that broke out between the protesters and Vakit employees. In response to the hike in natural gas prices, opposition party MHP filed a censure motion against Energy Minister Guler and asked the government to reverse the increase in natural gas prices. State Minister Nimet Cubukcu said Turkey was trying to block the broadcast of a British television program about Turkish orphanages. International News Azerbaijani President Aliyev discussed peace in the Caucasus with President Gul yesterday in Ankara. An unarmed Minuteman Intercontinental ballistic missile was test-launched from a U.S. military base Wednesday. US Ambassador Ross Wilson says Obama's victory was "a miracle of American democracy." WILSON