ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001985 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, NOVEMBER 14, 2008 In Today's Papers Erdogan: Turkey Determined to Continue Ties with New U.S. Administration All media outlets report Prime Minister Erdogan addressed the UN General Assembly Thursday and called for cooperation against terrorism. Afterwards, the PM attended a conference entitled, "The Role of Turkey in Shaping the Future" at Columbia University in New York. Erdogan said Turkey was "determined to preserve close ties" with the U.S. under the new administration of president-elect Barack Obama. He also urged the new American administration to take into account Ankara's sensitivities regarding northern Iraq and relations with Armenia. Editorial Commentary on New U.S. Administration Mehmet Farac in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "Joe Biden said in Seattle just before the elections that terrorists would soon do something to test Obama. A similar concern was voiced by Zbigniew Brzezinski, who is expected to be given a seat in Obama's cabinet. Brzezinski shared Biden's concerns by saying, 'In one way or another, all American presidents are tested by new threats and conditions.' It's a fact that the ongoing global threat bides its time in order to test the U.S. at its weakest moment." Mehmet Yilmaz in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "Susan Elizabeth Rice is among the ones who are being considered for the position of U.S. Secretary of State. Rice is known as a straightforward person who can relay her thoughts easily. When asked how she makes her frankness and diplomacy meet, Rice says, "I can act as a diplomat when I want to. But I'm not a patient person in that regard." Rice may play important roles regarding U.S. security, foreign policy and Africa strategies." Rescue Operations Are Expected in order to Save Hijacked Turkish Ships Mainstream Hurriyet reports that following the hijacking of a second Turkish ship by Somali pirates, the Turkish Gokova frigate, which is under NATO command, has been given to the command of the Turkish Navy. Hurriyet expects the Turkish Navy to launch an operation to rescue the 14 crew members kept hostage on the Turkish-flagged ship, Karagol. In a phone conversation permitted by the pirates, the captain of the ship said their hijackers consisted of 40 pirates who were all armed with Kalashnikov rifles. The captain said they were not being mistreated. �0A; A Tough Call for the PM Mainstream Milliyet carries a front-page feature story entitled, "A Tough Decision for Prime Minister Erdogan" on the Hrant Dink murder case investigation report prepared by Prime Ministry Inspectors. Referring to the report's content, Milliyet highlights that inspectors have concluded serious negligence by government officials prevented them from preventing the assassination of Hrant Dink. The report will be in the Prime Minister's office soon, and it is subject to Prime Minister Erdogan's approval to go further ahead which will lead to investigations against some official figures, including former Chief of Police in Trabzon province who is currently Director General for Police Intelligence, and the Istanbul Chief of Police. Commenting on the report, senior Law Professor Mithat Sancar said to NTV that the report makes some very important conclusions and it calls for opening a public case by prosecutors and it does not have to be a subject of PM approval. Court Cases and Debate Over Justice Liberal Radikal carries in a front page story "Heavy Penalty for Children" while Sabah and Vatan also do the similar reporting about six children, all primary school students are subject to 25 years of imprisonment. A local court in southeast Diyarbakir prepared indictment against six kids who were arrested for throwing stones to police and burning tires during Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to ANKARA 00001985 002 OF 004 the city. The indictment asked for total 25 years of sentence for "acting under PKK's instruction and help toward independent Kurdistan goal of the terrorist organization." The trial will soon start at Diyarbakir Court. Meanwhile all papers highlight a ruling by European Court of Human Rights in favor of a former Turkish prosecutor. Prosecutor Sacit Akarsu during his term in Adana prepared an indictment against Turkish generals who held the September 12, 1980 military coup. The indictment in 2000 argued that the generals including the coup leader General Kenan Evren should be tried for constitutional violation. Prosecutor Akarsu was fired from public service for misusing authority. The ECHR ruling says Akarsu did nothing wrong and fined Turkey to pay 41,000 Euroes to compensate. Optimism Fades to Worry over the G20's Ability to Deliver Hope that the G20 can deliver relief to world markets is fading fast in the Turkish media. Headlines are almost entirely focused on the dismal economic news out of Europe and the U.S. Mainstream Milliyet carries the headline, "The Climate of Pessimism Deepens," as "the OECD, the U.S., 15 EU Member Countries, and Japan are expecting negative growth." Mainstream Hurriyet carries the headline, "In 2009, The Global Economy Will Shrink and Even the Giants Can't Escape," from the continuing effects of the crisis. Liberal Radikal reports, "Germany Officially Enters a Recession and Britain Sees Its Worst Times in Thirty Years," as "The Crisis Continues," and leading Turkish economists accuse the government of Turkey with "delaying preparations for a rescue package for Turkey." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "The Three Largest Economies are entering a Recession One Step at a Time," and the G20's efforts to revive economies are characterized as "the doping up of Wall Street." Leftist Taraf carries the banner headline, "Germany is officially in a Recession" and notes "England is shocked," as the global economic crisis "is expected to continue into 2009." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports "OECD countries are expected to enter recessions," and "unemployment numbers will climb," as "unemployment in the U.S. alone reached a seven-year high." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The OECD predicts that no one will be able to escape from recession," as "The Giants are devoured by Recession." Editorial Commentary on G-20 Guven Sak wrote in business daily Referans: "It is unrealistic to expect miracles out of the G-20 summit. In fact the summit's composition, which includes Turkey, is a success story in and of itself. Normally it would be the G-8 plus 5, but this time the composition was extended to include others into the system. Many countries will be able to inject liquidity into their markets from IMF funds, which is an important opportunity in a short run. The G-20 could also be a platform that can be used by countries like Turkey to better govern the global economic system in the long term." Ibrahim Karagul wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "The upcoming G-20 summit is very bad news for the entire world because it is basically the implementation of a secret strategy designed by the United States and the United Kingdom. The layout of this plan gives a dictator-like role to the IMF as it will the have final say on world economies; i.e. the IMF will now be the Global Central Bank and will be able to impose its policies and take care of American and British interests. This is the very time to stand strongly against the American-British monopoly in a global economic and political scheme." Metin Munir wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "In the eyes of the Turkish public, the IMF is like Satan. Erdogan does not want to be branded by an IMF stamp as the local elections approach. Of course, if Erdogan takes a loan from the IMF, the IMF will want public spending to be reduced. With every passing day, Turkey's economy is being drained and eventually it will be completely drained. One of ANKARA 00001985 003 OF 004 Turkey's greatest exports is iron and steel. Prices dropped in August for these commodities by two-thirds; what used to be worth $1,500 is now only worth $500. Developing countries are divided into two - those with foreign currency on hand, like China, and those without. Turkey's reserves are low. And only one man cannot make the preference to not do anything to save the Turkish economy." Prime Ministry Bans Reporters, Renews Press Card of Deniz Feneri Convict Milliyet, Aksam and Taraf continue criticism of a Prime Ministry ban placed on seven reporters by not renewing their accreditation. Tabloid Aksam reports on its front page the Prime Ministry-affiliated Press Cards Committee renewed the press card of Mehmet Gurhan, the main suspect in the Deniz Feneri scandal in Germany. Gurhan was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison for embezzlement of millions of Euro in donations made to the Islamist charity organization Deniz Feneri. Aksam criticized the fact that the Prime Ministry recently barred seven reporters from doing their job while it renewed indefinitely the press card of Gurhan who was convicted of fraud. Editorial Commentary on 'Ergenekon' Case, Turkish Democracy Debate Mustafa Mutlu wrote in mainstream Vatan: An Ergenekon Raid That is like A Comedy Film! On October 26th, according to the Istanbul Prosecutor's office, there was a police raid on a depot in Atasehir neighborhood in Kadikoy municipality, where the prosecutor claims jailed journalist Tuncay Ozkan hid "secret documents." It's approximately fifteen days later and no one else was taken into custody, and nothing has come out of the raid. And after I criticize this raid as an example of the ridiculousness of this case, some idiots are likely to accuse me of waterdowning the Ergenekon case..." Mumtazer Turkone in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "The first four provisions of our constitution, which Constitutional Court head Hasim Kilic suggested should be opened to debate, serve an elitist republican understanding. It's true that the republic is a regime of virtues. What we are asking after 85 years is this: why are these virtues monopolized by an elite minority? Why can't the public take its share from these virtues? Why don't we try to find an answer to this by debating the four provisions, and thus rendering the Republic a more anonymous character? For example, the third provision stipulates that the national language is Turkish. Whose language is Turkish? Are they referring to the state or the people? Don't we need an answer and isn't this answer important?" TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - On Thursday, the parliament hosted a funeral ceremony for bidding farewell to Mustafa Sekip Birgol, Turkey's last Independence War veteran. All state and military top brass attended the funeral. - The pro-Kurdish DTP drafts a bill for exempting conscientious objectors from compulsory military service. - Ankara prosecutor initiates investigation into DTP's "project for democratic settlement in the Kurdish issue." World - Germany's media watchdog ZAK has revoked the broadcast licenses of Frankfurt-based Kanal 7 Int and tvt in the country. The two channels had ties with the Islamic charity organization Deniz Feneri. - Bulgaria will withdraw its 155-strong military contingent from ANKARA 00001985 004 OF 004 Iraq when its mandate expires at the end of this year. - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urges US President-elect Barack Obama to reconsider plans to deploy a missile-defense shield in Europe. WILSON