ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000435 SIPDIS 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, MARCH 5, 2008 In Today's Papers Troop Withdrawal Controversy between the Military and the Opposition Sabah, Milliyet, Yeni Safak, Zaman, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Vatan and others: During a party meeting yesterday, opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal criticized the AKP government for bowing to US pressure to withdraw from Iraq. Baykal stressed, "I am talking on behalf of the Turkish nation as the head of the main opposition party and I signed the motion that tasked the Turkish military with this operation." MHP leader Devlet Bahceli addressed his party group and said the operations in northern Iraq were carried out within limits determined by the US. Bahceli added "the military's sudden withdrawal caused surprise and disappointment. This shows there is a serious communication problem between state institutions. The Turkish public learned of the troop withdrawal from the spokesman of the northern Iraqi Administration." Bahceli also criticized the Turkish General Staff (TGS) for using terms such as "command center" and "logistical installations" in its statements about the PKK, as if the terrorist organization were a regular army. Bahceli said that such references may cause the terrorist organization to gain undeserved prestige. Mainstream Vatan, Sabah and Islamist-oriented Zaman say that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warned both opposition parties not to drag the military into political debates. Sabah reminds that earlier, during the presidential elections, PM Erdogan was also the target of a harsh military statement. In reaction to the opposition parties' criticism, the TGS issued a harsh response on its website. "Such unfair and worthless attacks do more harm to the military than treachery." The statement noted that "the Turkish Military never wanted to enter the political debate, but for the first time in the 24-year long fight against terrorism," the military is the subject of attacks. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak refers to TGS statement as the "e-memorandum to the opposition." Editorial Opinion on Cross Border Operation Debate "The US and Yet Another Scandal" Mustafa Mutlu is a popular columnist on domestic issues and he writes in mainstream Vatan (3/5): "Turkey is still debating whether the US influenced Turkey's decision to end its cross border operation. Even if we assume that such influence does not exist, it is still very difficult to explain something else. During a conference at Columbia University, Turkish participants presented the turban-related Turkish constitutional changes to American participants. Thus, Americans learned the details of the new constitutional draft before the Turkish public. Moreover, this conference was sponsored and organized by a group affiliated with the religious sect leader Fethullah Gulen. Though these may be two separate events, they are equally damaging. But wait, there's more. The Columbia University conference participants from Turkey, including an AKP parliamentarian who sits on the party board, debated the headscarf issue in front of Americans; the AKP deputy even complained about Turkey to the Americans. When it comes to international relations, it really matters how you see yourself and your country. Others may treat you like you belong to a state in a colony, but national pride can overcome this. The Turkish army, at least, stood up and said openly that the decision to withdraw was entirely the army's prerogative. I really wonder, how will those who debated the Turkish constitution in the US during an event sponsored by Fethullah Gulen be able to justify their action?" "The Military Shadow Over the Debate" Mehmet Y. Yilmaz is a senior columnist and one of the top executives of the Hurriyet board. He writes in mainstream Hurriyet (3/5): "The CBO withdrawal debate is continuing on an absurd level. The ANKARA 00000435 002 OF 003 debate has finally become a platform for political rhetoric and this debate is not moving us forward. Instead, it is causing us to run in circles. The Turkish army's involvement in this debate is difficult to understand. The Turkish army initiated a military operation based on a mandate passed by the parliament. In other words, the political consequences of the cross border operation are a concern of the government, not the military. The government should face this political criticism, not the military. Currently, the AKP government is hiding behind the military. This is a surprising development considering this government used to be very uncomfortable with the military's influence. This is a very funny country that we live in indeed." Diplomacy Traffic Increases Following the Cross Border Operation. All news outlets report Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will visit Ankara in a "working visit" on Friday. Mainstream Sabah points out that "no welcoming ceremony will be held in honor of Talabani in Ankara." Mainstream Vatan also notes "President Gul will not host a banquet in honor of Talabani." Mainstream Milliyet writes "in the bilateral discussions, Turkey plans to ask the Iraqi government and the regional administration of northern Iraq to actively support efforts against the PKK." Nationalist-oriented Cumhuriyet predicts, "Talabani may come to Turkey while Ahmedinejad visits Turkey so the three leaders can hold a three-party summit on the fight against terror." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak cites CNN Turk in saying that US Vice-President Dick Cheney will come to Turkey after March 17 to discuss Iraq and the fight against the PKK. Israel Says, "Hamas Is No Different from the PKK." Liberal Radikal reports in "According to Israel, There Is No Difference between Hamas and the PKK," that Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy held a press conference "to compare Turkish cross-border operations against the PKK to Israeli operations in Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza." Nationalist-oriented Cumhuriyet writes in "Israel Sends a Message to Erdogan: There Is No Difference between Hamas and the PKK," that Levy called Erdogan's opposition to Israeli operations "of concern" and noted "of the 100 people who were killed in Gaza, 90 were militants." Mainstream Sabah notes Levy's response to Erdogan's claims of genocide in Gaza, "Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy noted Israeli operations in Gaza cannot be described as genocide in the same way that that it is not possible to describe the Armenian events of 1915 as genocide." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports in "The Israeli Ambassador Draws a Parallel between the Armenian Events of 1915 and Gaza," that "Levy emphasized Israel's right to defend itself against a terrorist organization," and noted "whether in Gaza or in northern Iraq, we believe we must fight against terror." TV Highlights CNN Turk Domestic News - The Ankara prosecutor has asked the parliament to lift the parliamentary immunity of DTP deputy Emine Ayna, who is accused of launching PKK propaganda. - A group of students at Kocaeli University staged a sit-in protest during the visit of the YOK President Prof. Yusuf Ziya Ozcan. The students chanted slogans and threw eggs at his car. - Alevi groups have welcomed the Council of State decision saying that obligatory religion classes are unconstitutional. International News - The Dutch government announced Tuesday that it has formally recognized the independence of Kosovo. ANKARA 00000435 003 OF 003 - Secretary Rice and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged resumption of peace talks at a joint press conference yesterday. - Tehran has dismissed the UN Security Council-approved sanctions against Iran due to its nuclear program. WILSON