ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002038 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 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008 In Today's Papers Armenian-Turkish Talks Today Mainstream Sabah reports Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will host talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan today at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul. Mainstream Hurriyet notes Nalbandyan said, "Armenia is ready to normalize relations with Turkey without precondition and we are expecting the same from Turkey." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "Diplomatic traffic between Turkey and Armenia is increasing," as "The Turkish side is prepared to suggest the establishment of an historical commission in order to examine the genocide claims." In addition, Zaman reports, "The talks will also cover the security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and Turkey's Caucasus Stability Platform proposal." In "An Historical Meeting in Istanbul Today," leftist Taraf reports, "the two ministers will discuss a possible future visit by Armenian President Sargsyan. Liberal Radikal notes "the two leaders' meeting piggy-backs off of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Meeting in Istanbul." In a related story, Zaman also reports, "Turkish airlines will begin unscheduled charter flights between Turkey and Armenia." "Iraqi Kurds Are Arming Themselves" (Radikal) Media outlets report on a November 23rd Washington Post story that claims officials from northern Iraq received a shipment of arms from Bulgaria in September. Coverage reflects fears the arms will be used in order to establish an independent Kurdistan. Turkish media often doubt the true intentions of Kurdish Regional President Massoud Barzani, so headlines today allude to the possibility that Barzani may be planning to break with Baghdad. CNN Turk reports, "The Washington Post reports Kurdish officials imported three C-130 planeloads of weapons from Bulgaria." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak carries the headline, "(Kurdish Regional Government President) Barzani's 'Independent' Recklessness." Mainstream Milliyet reports in "Weapons to Northern Iraq from Bulgaria," that, "Baghdad was out of the loop regarding the shipment." Mainstream Sabah carries the headline, "Three Planes Full of Arms to the Peshmerge." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports "Barzani Secretly Buys Weapons," as "three planes full of weapons and ammunition are brought from Bulgaria to northern Iraq." More Inmates Will Be Sent to Imrali Prison, Ending Ocalan's Isolation Saturday's papers covered Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin's remarks regarding the government's arrangements to transfer more inmates to Imrali prison, where the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is serving his prison sentence. Saturday's Milliyet reports that The European Committee for The Prevention of Torture stated that Ocalan's isolation at the island prison since 1999 has affected his mental health. Saturday's Radikal reports that Justice Minister Sahin said, "We are building new offices for security personnel at Imrali prison because their current accommodations are not suitable. At the same time, we are planning additional construction in order to house up to 5 or 6 more prisoners." Justice Minister Sahin responded to criticism from opposition parties regarding the prison plans by saying, "If we decide to send 5 or 6 more prisoners to Imrali, they are not going to stay in the same cell with Ocalan but they will have separate cells. There are thousands of officials at Imrali prison and only one prisoner! Why should all these expenses be made for a single prisoner?" Erdogan Visits India Media outlets reported over the weekend and today Prime Minister Erdogan paid a "productive" state visit to India, quoting officials from both sides as saying they were "pleased" with the progress marked in bilateral relations. The two countries reached agreements on the transfer of oil from the Ceyhan pipeline to India and on nuclear cooperation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Erdogan also agreed to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in order to ANKARA 00002038 002 OF 003 encourage investment. Erdogan's announced that Turkey's goal is to increase Turkish-Indian trade volume to USD 6 billion by 2010. Meanwhile, in a meeting with Turkish businessmen in India, Prime Minister Erdogan vowed to "quit the AKP chairmanship" if his party comes in second in the forthcoming municipality elections, report papers. NIC's "Global Trends 2025" Report Media outlets reported over the weekend the U.S. National Intelligence Council's (NIC) report, "Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World," envisages a "less secular and a less democratic Turkey" which will adopt "a more nationalistic and conservative character in 2025." While the report predicts Turkey's EU accession will have a positive impact on the political stability around Europe, the report also warns of growing suspicions that Islamist and nationalist tendencies are likely to strengthen if Turkey's EU bid fails. Editorial Commentary on U.S. NIC Report "Global Trends 2025" Semih Idiz wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "According to the U.S. National Intelligence Council's (NIC) "Global Tendencies 2025" report, over the next 15-20 years, Turkey will emerge as a model for the Islamic world, not only because of the effects of Islamic and national dynamics but also because of its inclination for modernity. However, in this report, Turkey's sociological dynamics are not taken into consideration. While the report mentions the rise of the middle class, it does not mention that the rise of the middle class could increase secularism and democracy, as was the case for Europe. In 2025, Turkey could be a country like any Western country where all different religious and ethnic groups enjoy democratic rights." "Clinton Anxiety in the Arab World" (Sabah) Mainstream Sabah reports, "The Arab world is hopeful regarding Obama's foreign policy vision, but Hillary Clinton's preparation to become U.S. Secretary of State is making Arabs nervous," because, "because Hillary Clinton's foreign policy vision regarding the Arab world is different than that of Barack Obama." Sabah notes, "Clinton was a supporter of Bush's war in Iraq," and "Clinton said she would 'obliterate' Iran." Liberal Radikal reports in "Obama's Clintonization," that, "The real winner of the election is Clinton," as "Obama's cabinet is almost completely comprised of people from the Clinton administration." Editorial Commentary on Turkey-U.S. Relationship, Russia-Georgia-Afghanistan Omer Taspinar wrote in mainstream Sabah: "Barack Obama will face many unresolved issues when he takes charge of the presidency in January. The first four months of his presidency will be focused on issues of the highest priority. Approximately four months after he takes charge, on April 24, 2009, Obama will have to make a sensitive decision regarding Armenian genocide claims. This sensitive issue will test the bilateral relationship between Turkey and the U.S. early in Obama's presidency. If Ankara doesn't want any problems with Obama on April 24, Ankara should take immediate steps to get on Obama's agenda." Mehmet Yilmaz in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "Russian President Medvedev recently approved a 'strategic' decision in which Germany will send weapons and military equipment to German forces in Afghanistan via Russian railroads. Dispatching one ton of equipment by airplanes to Afghanistan from Europe costs $14,000 whereas sending it by railroad through Russia costs $500. Moscow, by this effort, is trying to repair Russia-NATO ties, which were seriously damaged by the war in Georgia. Moscow also wants to show its good intentions by helping the U.S., which Russia fought against from 1979-89 in Afghanistan. Moscow will allow the use its railroads, and in return, Russia will urge the West to not take Georgia and ANKARA 00002038 003 OF 003 Ukraine into NATO." Editorial Commentary on AKP-PKK-Southeast Turkey Serdar Akinan in tabloid Aksam: "The ruling AKP, in agreement with the military, is expected to take measures to prevent new recruits from joining the PKK in the mountains. The AKP will probably allow minor cultural openings before the municipality elections, and further measures against the PKK will drain resources designated for PKK recruitment. We expect serious investments in the mainly Kurdish southeast, through which the AKP will seek integration into the Gulf region. If Turkey plays its cards right, it will become a peaceful country with the most effective economy in the region." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - The Ergenekon trial continues Monday in the Silivri prison complex in Istanbul. - The main opposition CHP continued over the weekend to transfer new party members who wear Islamic-style headscarves. - Prime Minister Erdogan warned that state-owned banks might intervene to stabilize markets if the Turkish banking sector does not take measures to ease borrowers' financial strains. Erdogan earlier criticized the banking sector for not helping the real sector in the global financial crisis. International News - The Iraqi parliament will vote Wednesday on a pact on the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq over the course of the next three years. - Hamas slams Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' declaration that he would call for early elections early next year if the dialogue between rival movements fails. - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said President-elect Barack Obama has promised to increase U.S. assistance to Afghanistan. SILLIMAN