ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002004 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, NOVEMBER 19, 2008 In Today's Papers The Highly Anticipated Phone Call Comes (Milliyet) Media outlets prominently feature U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's telephone conversation Monday with Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Obama's comments play positively in the Turkish media and are featured on the front pages of all papers. Gul's office released a statement about the call that said, "During the conversation, President-elect Barack Obama stated that he admires Turks and Turkey; that he has been following what's being done in Turkey with appreciation; and that he believes Turkey has the right to fight against terrorism as part of its right to self-defense, emphasizing the importance of a special alliance relationship between Turkey and the United States." In addition, the statement emphasized the two leaders "mutually expressed their will to work together and to have close consultations concerning regional issues." Mainstream Sabah carried the headline, "The First Message is against the PKK," as Obama's "first message for Turkey was positive and supportive." Sabah also reports that opposition CHP Vice Chair Onur Oymen responded to news of the phone call by saying, "ties between the U.S. and Turkey may improve once Obama assumes the U.S. presidency" because "Bush left Turkey alone in the fight against terror." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "Despite Erdogan's numerous attempts to meet Obama, Obama did not meet with Erdogan, but called President Gul." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak carries the banner headline, "Obama tells Gul, 'I have great admiration for Turkey and the Turkish people.'" Islamist-oriented Zaman quotes Obama in its headline, "We Stand with Turkey in the Fight against Terror." Leftist Taraf calls President Gul "a fan of Obama." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye carries the front-page headline, "Obama Extends Support to Turkey: You Have the Right to Fight Terror." Baykal Recruits Women with Headscarves into CHP, Bahceli Speaks on Alevis Media outlets report opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal addressed his party group meeting in parliament yesterday and responded to criticism that he is recruiting women with headscarves into the CHP. Baykal said these women joined the CHP because "they believe the AKP deceives them." In addition, Baykal emphasized, "These people are not trying to impose their lifestyle on the others. They live according to their beliefs, and they understand that the party who manipulates religion to win public support has nothing to do with religion." Meanwhile, opposition far right MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said yesterday his party was ready to help resolve the social and political problems faced by Alevis in Turkey, and urged all to show goodwill to that end. Bahceli said the MHP was ready to start a new process of mutual understanding in order to resolve the problems faced by Alevis. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of Alevis rallied in Ankara and called for the abolishment of the religious affairs directorate Diyanet and of compulsory religious instruction in schools. They also demanded the recognition of the Alevi Cem Houses as places of worship. On Tuesday, State Minister Said Yazicioglu retracted his earlier remarks dismissing the demands of the Alevis as "extreme" and stressed the government should help the Alevis. Mainstream Milliyet finds the statements of Baykal, Bahceli and Yazicioglu as "important developments" in Turkish politics. Turkey-US-Iraq Hold Trilateral Meeting in Baghdad Mainstream Sabah reports that Interior Minister Besir Atalay will go to Baghdad today to participate in a trilateral meeting with the U.S. and Iraq. Turkey's Iraq envoy Murat Ozcelik, along with military and intelligence officials, will accompany Atalay to Bagdad. Representatives of the Kurdish Regional Government will attend the meeting together with Iraq's interior Minister Jawad Al Bolani. U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker, along with U.S. military officials, will represent the American side. The issue at the top of the meeting's agenda is the fight against the PKK. A ANKARA 00002004 002 OF 003 memorandum of understanding is expected to emerge from the meeting. Iran Launches Operation against PJAK Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports that Iran conducted an operation against PKK and PJAK installations in Kermanshah region. Reportedly, many terrorists were killed and four of them surrendered during the operations. Iranian sources reported that all of the terrorists who were killed were of Turkish origin. America's Agenda is to sell Planes to Iraq (Cumhuriyet) Islamist-oriented Zaman says that, following the signing of the SOFA between Baghdad and Washington, Ankara "is concerned about the impact of the security deal on the exchange of intelligence with the U.S. in the fight against terror." Unidentified diplomatic sources told Zaman it was "too early to comment" on the impact of the SOFA on Turkish air operations on PKK targets in northern Iraq. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says in January 2009, the U.S. will transfer authority over Iraqi airspace to the government in Baghdad, but the U.S. "will actually continue controlling the air corridor until Iraq forms its own air force." In addition, the paper claims, "Iraq will buy F-16 and F-15 fighter jets as well as C-5 cargo planes from the U.S., which will cost Baghdad $6 billion," says Cumhuriyet. Editorial Commentary on Iraq/SOFA Fikret Bila wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "A U.S. withdrawal from Iraq will bring new problems as well as new opportunities for Turkey. Everything depends on the withdrawal conditions and on the role the U.S. will give Turkey during the withdrawal process. It is quite possible that following the withdrawal, Turkey will be asked to take care of security in northern Iraq. Regarding the security issues, there is a possibility a joint mechanism will be formed in Incirlik similar to the 'Operation Comfort.' However the American and the Regional Kurdish Government's stance against the PKK is the most important factor affecting future steps. Following the U.S. withdrawal, Turkey can think of improving its economic ties with the KRG in return for eliminating the PKK in northern Iraq. If the U.S. withdraws its troops without taking the necessary measures then Iraq will be pushed further towards chaos. The U.S. is responsible for eliminating all these risks before they withdraw." Somali Pirates Catch the Big Fish (Radikal) Media outlets feature sensationalist reports on the latest big catch for Somali pirates. NTV reports "The Pirates Cannot Be Controlled," while CNN-Turk notes, "Somali Pirates Have Captured 7 Ships in the Past 12 Days." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "Once again NATO is unable to counter the threat from Somali pirates." Leftist Taraf reports, "The Pirates Outdo Themselves," as "they captured the largest ship yet and brought it to the Eyl port," in reference to the pirates' boarding of a Saudi oil freighter. Liberal Radikal carries the headline, "The Somali Pirates Catch the Big Fish," but the article notes, "There is no plan to rescue the ship or the crew," and "despite the U.S. and NATO thumbing their noses at the Somali pirate threat, the pirates caught the big one." Editorial Commentary on Somali Pirates However, commentators see the larger threat the pirates pose to global security. Sami Kohen of mainstream Milliyet writes in "Terror on the Seas," that "Somali President Abdullah Yusuf does not have control of the country," but "the world is also showing its incompetence. NATO has been ineffective in securing the waters even though it has a naval presence in the area." Erdal Safak of mainstream Sabah writes, "The pirates (like the PKK) want to establish their own state within the climate of an already unstable state. The pirates launch attacks from this unstable state and threaten international stability. Thus, the reasons Turkey conducted cross-border operations are the same as the reasons why ANKARA 00002004 003 OF 003 the world must protect international shipping routes. All open waters are on the road to becoming like northern Iraq!" Ibrahim Karagul of Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak writes, "The U.S. claims al Qaeda is taking over Somalia, but their naval base in Djibouti has done nothing to respond to repeated SOS calls from ships threatened by pirates. This means the U.S. is setting the stage for a military operation in Somalia and the U.S. will request forces from the countries whose ships have been hijacked." Editorial Commentary on G-20 Hadi Uluengin wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "The G-20 has agreed to postpone a tangible action plan until Spring 2009. Understandably, the current U.S. administration does not want to make a full commitment before Obama takes charge. Nevertheless, the most important outcome of the meeting was the successful realization of a summit between developed and developing countries, which proved the power and the influence of developing countries." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - President Abdullah Gul will visit Israel and Palestine on January 6-8. - The pro-Kurdish DTP leader Ahmet Turk said Prime Minister Erdogan seeks to establish a single party regime by calling for "one nation and one flag." - Due to increases in energy costs, electricity consumption in the first half of November 2008 dropped by 6.5 percent compared to November 2007. In 2001, when Turkey was stricken by an intense financial crisis, electricity consumption declined only by 1.1 percent. International News - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will host a meeting of international leaders in January to discuss the global economic crisis. - A Hong Kong-flagged bulk cargo ship is hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. - Iraq says it will hold provincial elections on January 31. SILLIMAN