ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000444 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 THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2008 In Today's Papers General Odierno's Comments Stir Controversy All papers report US Lieutenant General Ray Odierno's comments during a press conference at the Pentagon earlier this week. "The long-term solution in northern Iraq is not a military one. There's pressure that has to be put on them, the PKK, so we can start to talk and have negotiations with these terrorist elements," said Odierno. Mainstream Hurriyet and the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak characterize Odierno's remarks as contradictory to official US policy, which rules out any contact with PKK terrorists. Papers report State Department European Affairs Spokesperson Chase Beamer said, "The US policy has not changed; we do not negotiate with terrorists nor do we support such negotiations." Conservative-nationalist Bugun and leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet say Odierno was the commander of US troops when they placed hoods on the heads of Turkish Special Forces in northern Iraq. Papers also report US Congressman Rush Holt, US House Intelligence Committee member, told a gathering in New York that "the US was 'happy' with PKK activities in Iraq during the time of Saddam Hussein," but that "both the US and Turkey were paying for their past mistakes regarding the PKK." Meanwhile, mainstream Hurriyet quotes Ambassador Wilson as saying at a reception in Ankara that "the US had nothing to do with the Turkish withdrawal from northern Iraq. It was Turkey's own decision to end the ground offensive in northern Iraq." Editorial Commentary on Odierno's PKK Comments Mustafa Balbay wrote in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "US Lieutenant General Odierno, the Number Two general for US forces in Iraq until two weeks ago, is talking about negotiating with the PKK. He will soon be promoted to a higher rank and he will be the Number Two general for US Land Forces. The essence of his remarks is that the US' ultimate goal is for Turkey and the PKK to sit at a negotiation table. This message is a clear double standard. If sitting at a table with a terrorist organization is the best way to solve the problem, then why doesn't the US sit down at a table with Al-Qaeda? Turkey is right in the middle of an American game that is playing against us." The Duel between the Opposition and the Military All papers report that on Thursday, opposition parties CHP and MHP responded to the Turkish General Staff (TGS) statement on Tuesday which referred to opposition criticism against the operations as "more harmful than the assaults of traitors." TGS rejected allegations that the Turkish offensive ended under US influence. The CHP said its criticism regarding the operation was targeting the Prime Minister. The MHP also criticized the TGS' response. Leftist Taraf writes that opposition leaders who used to support the military are now involved in a verbal duel with them. Editorial Commentary on Military vs. Opposition CHP, MHP Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-leaning Yeni Safak: "Opposition parties criticized the methods of the recent cross border operation and the military became the main recipient of this criticism. This is because the military has claimed ownership over this operation from the beginning. Instead, the political authority should be criticized. The military should not feel obliged to answer opposition parties' criticism. In the midst of the ongoing chaos, the political system is wearing out as we see the opposition in a duel with the military while the government is almost completely left out of the debate. The government should take the same approach it took when it stood against the military warning issued on April 27, 2007. The government should put out a public statement warning the military not to answer the opposition's criticism. That's how we will be democratized." ANKARA 00000444 002 OF 003 Ergun Babahan wrote in mainstream Sabah: "I wonder if the military thinks of itself as a political party? The military explained the details of its operation and defended the withdrawal. The opposition parties apparently were not satisfied with the explanation and voiced their criticism. This is a normal thing because the Turkish General Staff is not a state institution that defines a political party's stance. And it is definitely not an institution which has the authority to accuse political parties of being traitors. Political parties talk or argue with other parties, it's what political parties do. It is both the wrong attitude and undemocratic for the military to get involved in a debate between the government and the opposition." Talabani Visit Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Zaman, Radikal, Vatan, and others: Papers report that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is coming to Ankara on Friday for a "working visit." Mainstream Sabah's headline reads "A 24-Hour Visit," and reports Talabani will not be greeted with a military ceremony. However, there will be an official dinner at the Presidential Palace but the names of the both Presidents' wives have been omitted from the guest list. Sabah adds that it is not clear yet whether the TGS Chief will be invited or not. Mainstream Milliyet's headline reads "He was a Peshmerge once upon a time, but will be staying at the Presidential Palace tomorrow." Talabani will be staying at the Presidential. Milliyet says TGS Chief Buyukanit and other military personnel will not attend tomorrow night's dinner. Milliyet columnist Semih Idiz reminds Turkish officials that "whether we like him or not, he is the President of Iraq" and "the Turkish government should leave behind sentiments of hatred and revenge in order to develop a coherent new Iraq policy in harmony with the regional facts." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that Talabani will be accompanied by the Iraqi Ministers of Water Resources, Oil, Industry, National Security and Finance. However, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari will not accompany Talabani. Zaman adds that Ankara wants to open a new page in bilateral relations with Iraq. Editorial Commentary Talabani's Turkey Visit In liberal Radikal, Murat Yetkin wrote: "Since 2005, Turkey's foreign policy has been shaped by the fight against PKK terrorism, which has prevented Ankara from moving forward in compliance with changing situation in Iraq and Iraqi leadership. It took three years for Ankara to overcome the ideological and psychological obstacles in that regard. In the meantime, other countries across the world have established diplomatic relationships with the northern Iraqi leadership, while Ankara is still wondering whether it should even initiate political dialogue with them. We haven't even managed to establish high level contacts with Baghdad, yet alone Erbil. Therefore, Iraqi President Talabani's visit to Ankara is very important and it will pave the way for a Turkish Presidential visit to Baghdad." TUSIAD Expresses Concern about Economic Developments Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Radikal, Zaman and others: Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, the chairperson of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD),expressed the business world's concerns about recent economic developments. Yalcindag emphasized that "inflation and unemployment rates in February are the source of our concern." Yalcindag urged the government to establish a new economic program and a new industrial strategy. She also noted that the private sector is ready to support such a program. Gul Invites Ahmedinejad to Turkey Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak cites Iran's official news agency IRNA as reporting President Abdullah Gul invited Iranian President Ahmedinejad to Turkey yesterday. The paper writes that Gul's invitation was extended yesterday when he received the Iranian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Riza Attar. Gul called Ahmedinejad's visit to Baghdad 'historic.' He also noted how the ANKARA 00000444 003 OF 003 improvement in bilateral ties will benefit the whole region, according to IRNA. TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - The Constitutional Court is to hold its first meeting Thursday on the opposition CHP's request to annul the recent headscarf changes in the constitution. - Police arrested five demonstrators in Yuksekova in Hakkari in southeast Turkey during demonstrations against Turkish military operations into northern Iraq. In Ercis town in the eastern province of Van, seven policemen and 50 protesters were injured during a protest march following a women's meeting. - On Friday, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will come to Turkey to participate in International Women's Day festivities, which will be organized by the ruling AKP's women's branch. - A survey conducted out by Egitim-Sen labor union shows unemployment, education and the Kurdish problem as the top problems facing Turkish university students. The students did not place the turban among their top priority concerns. International News - The northern Iraqi PUK Media website quotes Peshmerge sources who claim Turkish helicopters struck Barazgr Valley in Sidekan region. Security operations continue in Cudi and Gabar mountains on the Turkish side of the border. - Iranian President Ahmedinejad said "even if all Americans vote for him, the US system would not allow Obama to be president." - Israel's Haaretz daily claims Iran is arming Hizbullah with missiles sent via Turkey, according to an intelligence report prepared by the Israeli military. - Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip will visit Turkey in May at the invitation of President Abdullah Gul. WILSON