ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002172 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, DECEMBER 24, 2008 In Today's Papers Turkey and Iraq Discuss Strategic Cooperation against the PKK Media outlets report that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will meet with Prime Minister Erdogan in Ankara today in order to discuss Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's four-point plan for strategic cooperation against the PKK. Talabani outlined his plan in an interview with CNN Turk on Monday evening, during which he called for a cessation of attacks launched against Turkey from Iraqi soil, PKK disarmament, the declaration of the PKK as an illegal organization, and amnesty for PKK members who wish to disarm and return home to Turkey. Yesterday Prime Minister Erdogan responded to Talabani's plan by saying, "Amnesty is not a new approach to this issue," and "we've already discussed this plan during Talabani's visit to Ankara and during my visit to Iraq." Mainstream Milliyet reports the pro-Kurdish opposition party DTP had positive responses to Talabani's statements on CNN Turk. Mus DTP Deputy Sirri Sakik noted, "The proper place to address the Kurdish issue is in the parliament." Siirt DTP Deputy Osman Ozcellik said, "We are hopeful and we believe the PKK is ready to disarm." Sanliurfa Deputy Ibrahim Binici said, "Talabani's statement is a step closer to peace." Meanwhile, opposition MHP Deputy Chair Oktay Vural called Talabani and the DTP, "The mediators between the AKP party and the PKK." Mainstream Sabah reports Erdogan emphasized, "Turkey's main goal is to end terror in Turkey," while leftist Taraf says "Erdogan's comments signal an openness toward a new amnesty law," for PKK members who disarm and want to return home. In addition, Taraf reports "The PKK has extended the ceasefire that began during the Feast of the Sacrifice, despite the continued Turkish air strikes in northern Iraq." Editorial opinion on the Kurdish Issue; PKK Murat Yetkin wrote in Liberal Radikal : "During Interior Minister Besir Atalay's visit to Baghdat on November 19th, the Turkey-US-Iraq trilateral cooperation was established. KRG representatives also attended these meetings and through this, KRG President Massoud Barzani showed that he won't be a part of the problem any longer but will exert efforts toward a solution regarding the PKK issue. Talabani's four-point suggestions, and Erdogan's response, signal a turning point in discussions between Turkey and Iraq regarding the PKK. It should not be ignored that James Jeffrey, who coordinated the three-party mechanism on behalf of the US, was assigned as the Ambassador to Turkey during that time." Fikret Bila wrote in mainstream Milliyet : "If a trilateral plan is agreed upon, the PKK must not be included in the negotiations. Ankara, directly or indirectly, cannot engage in political bargaining with the PKK. The strong ties between the PKK and the DTP indicate the PKK will not decide to lay down their arms until after they reach their political targets." Ergun Babahan wrote in mainstream Sabah: "Following the US timetable for a troop withdrawal from Iraq, efforts have increased in the region to eliminate terror. Talabani's recent messages indicate that the pressure against the PKK to disarm will increase. It is an important step for the Iraqi Administration to stand by Turkey against terrorism. But Turkey should realize that the Southeast region faces more challenges than terrorism, and the state must take necessary steps to address these challenges. TESEV Report on Kurdish Issue Mainstream Sabah and liberal Radikal report that the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) released a report concluding "The Kurdish issue in Turkey should not be linked to the PKK issue." The goal of the report, according to Sabah, was to ANKARA 00002172 002 OF 003 "voice the views of the Kurds," who want the state to take measures regarding language and cultural rights. In addition, the report notes that the state must reform its approach to the village guard system, mine sweeping, and discrimination against Kurds. Liberal Radikal points out the report's key messages are "there is no military solution to the Kurdish issue," and "Turkey needs a new civilian constitution that adopts the Venice Criteria regarding banning political parties." TESEV official Dilek Kurban said that the root of the Kurdish problem is the state's inability to recognize the Kurdish identity, and the PKK emerged as a result of this. Kurban also noted that the Kurdish issue would remain even if the PKK were liquidated, and the state must differentiate between the PKK and the Kurdish issue. Finally, she pointed out that the government's policy of isolating the DTP in parliament only fuels political tensions. Sabah notes that influential journalist Cengiz Candar called the report, "a milestone in understanding Kurdish demands." In Candar's column in Radikal today, he says, "Recognizing the Kurdish language is vital to recognizing the Kurdish identity." Editorial Opinion on the Neighborhood pressure Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak : "People who are disturbed by neighborhood pressure can start to change the atmosphere they created themselves. A democratic country requires a free public." Mehmet Yilmaz wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "People who don't fast, who smoke in public, and who keep their restaurants open during the day during Ramadan definitely become the target of neighborhood pressure. This shows how wrong the people are who think that political Islam and democracy can exist together." Turkish and Georgian Prime Ministers Discuss Caucasus Stability During a press conference in Ankara on Tuesday, Prime Minister Erdogan and his Georgian counterpart Grigol Mgalobishvilli emphasized the need to resolve the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia within a framework that respects Georgia's territorial integrity. Erdogan noted, "The stability of the South Caucasus region is of great importance to stability to the entire Eurasia region." Erdogan also noted the bilateral discussions addressed other issues such as trade and energy security. TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News ? Former chief prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu says political parties can request the annulment of a regulation that led to a suspicious increase in the number of newly-registered voters. ? 3.7-magnitude quake is reported in Sanliurfa. ? Security officials seize a vehicle carrying PKK bombs and explosives in Diyarbakir. ? The opposition party CHP's administrative board will hold a meeting to discuss the fate of CHP deputy Canan Aritman. ? Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili urges Turkish businessmen to make investments in his country. ? Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will wait to see the results of public opinion polls before nominating an AKP candidate for the post of Ankara Mayor. ? President Abdullah G|l plans to go to Baghdad in January 2009. ? Culture Minister Ertugrul G|nay joins the opening of Alevi Institute, and apologizes for the massacre of Alevis in Madimak, Maras and Gorum. ? Many PKK activists are taken into custody in during operations in Britain. ? The head of DTP branch in Y|ksekova, Vahit Sahinoglu, is taken into custody regarding a top-secret investigation. ? The AKP seeks support to increase the number of female candidates ANKARA 00002172 003 OF 003 running in the municipality elections. International News ? Austrian, German and Swiss export insurer offices announce they will stop offering export risk insurance for the Ilisu dam project for 180 days because the project is not fulfilling World Bank requirements in the areas of environment, relocation and the protection of cultural heritage. ? A Turk and four other Muslim men are convicted by a US federal jury for plotting to kill soldiers at Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey. ? The founder of an investment fund that lost millions to Bernard Madoff was found dead at his office of a possible suicide. ? One person was killed during a youth demonstration in Senegal. ? Officials in Kirkuk start to use the Turkish language as official language together with Kurdish and Arabic. ? Arabs and Iranians should sit together to try to resolve regional disputes, including the Persian nation's nuclear ambitions, the head of the Arab League says. ? The Malaysian government decides to recognize Kosovo passports. ? A 5.3-magnitude earthquake strikes near the Italian city of Parma, but is felt in cities from Milan to Florence. ? The West African state of Guinea plunges into turmoil when a senior army officer declares the dissolution of all state institutions, hours after the death of veteran President Lansana Conte. ? The Iraqi parliament's speaker resigns, opening the way for the approval of a resolution allowing thousands of British and other non-US troops to stay until 2009. JEFFREY