ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000543 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 20, 2008 In Today's Papers AKP Working on Constitutional Changes to Avert Closure Suit All papers cover the ruling AKP's efforts for to avert the closure case against their party. The Council of Europe's 'Venice Model' regarding the banning of political parties engaging in violence and racism may be used as a way to end the turmoil. The first implementation of the 'Venice Criteria' was to block the extreme right politician Jorg Haider in Austria. Under the headline, "The DTP Will Be Sacrificed," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says the AKP would try to convince the right wing nationalist opposition MHP that the pro-Kurdish DTP, facing a closure case, would be included in this model. Mainstream Sabah expects the AKP and MHP delegations will meet and discuss the amendments this week. Liberal Radikal says the AKP is also considering the Brussels model, which requires permission from the parliament in order to file suits to disband political parties, and the Japanese model, in which the Constitutional Court decides to close down a political party, but the ruling is subject to approval from parliament. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak expects a meeting today where the AKP will try to work out a compromise with the MHP based on the Japanese model. If the two parties fail to agree, the AKP will submit their suggestions to a referendum. Mainstream Milliyet quotes legal experts as warning that constitutional amendments might trigger new legal actions against the AKP. The paper notes that the Constitutional Court's ruling over the headscarf reforms will signal the direction the court may take regarding the outcome of the case against AKP. Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal said the campaign to damage the judiciary has failed, and now the AKP is working on constitutional reforms to block the closure suit. Baykal said the CHP would apply to the Constitutional Court for annulment of the reforms based on constitutional article 138, which states "No questions shall be asked, debates held, or statements made in the Legislative Assembly relating to the exercise of judicial power concerning a case under trial." Editorial Commentary on AKP Closure Case "Building A Future" Soli Ozel wrote in mainstream Sabah (3/20): "Turkey has to find solutions to its problems within a democratic and legal structure. The most important topics to address are the role of religion in politics and the Kurdish issue. Otherwise, domestic conflict may become inevitable. The ruling party promised to build a positive future for Turkey in five years, but it can barely stick to its own democracy project. The language of politics cannot be built upon the rhetoric of 'being a victim' or 'being subjected to unfairness.' The language of democracy is secular in nature. Rulers should understand the importance of this, and should not ignore the verdicts of the European Court of Human Rights. If the Constitution Court denies the AKP closure case, it will save Turkey from chaos. Yet the ruling AKP should engage in efforts toward a contemporary legal system and toward democracy according to EU standards." "Who is Objective and Impartial?" Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-leaning Yeni Safak (3/20): "Certain media figures are using the same tactic as they did earlier on February 28, 1997 [when the National Security Council issued a warning against the religious fundamentalist threat]. Meanwhile, these figures accuse pro-AKP media for not being objective and impartial. The February 28 process was like a stage play, written by the military and played by media figures. They disseminated baseless fears regarding anti-secular activities and Islamic fundamentalism. The case against the AKP is not an attempt to prevent extremism, but to destroy the democratic steps taken by the AKP. Anyone who believes in democracy is aware of this. But there are certain newspapers who are under the same boss and do everything they can to distort the facts through their papers and TV channels. ANKARA 00000543 002 OF 003 There is another group who is fighting for democracy. The former group should not even talk about objectivity and impartiality." Nevruz Celebrations Sabah, Milliyet, Post, Radikal, Zaman and others: Islamist oriented Zaman reports that "Nevruz" is "the world's oldest festival" and that Diyarbakir governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu said he is exerting efforts to celebrate Nevruz in peace because, "positive images from our province willd boost morale throughout the entire country." Zaman reports that prior to Nevruz celebrations, security forces were put on alert in the East and South-east provinces, including Diyarbakir, Batman and Van. Mainstream Sabah quotes DTP deputy chairman Emine Ayna at Nevruz celebrations in Kars saying, "Turkey should start a dialogue with the PKK so that the issue would be over." Turkey Gives Green Light to Troops to Afghanistan Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Zaman, Vatan, Cumhuriyet and others: Mainstream Hurriyet and Milliyet report that Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and his Afghan counterpart Rangin Spanta held a joint press conference in Ankara yesterday following to their meeting. Babacan said, "Turkey has responsibilities regarding NATO membership and in the fight against international terrorism. We will make a decision on our military assistance to Afghanistan within next few days, after establishing a balance between the terrorism issue in Afghanistan and our own terror problem." Hurriyet says that FM Babacan signaled that Turkey might send combat troops to Afghanistan, while the General Staff is not positive about the idea. Mainstream Milliyet carries the front-page headline, "A Green Light to Troops in Afghanistan," and says, "Turkey is leaving the door open to demands for more NATO troops in Afghanistan," but asks, "Are Turkish troops in Afghanistan the price we pay for U.S. support in northern Iraq?" CNN Turk reports, "A decision on Turkish troops to Afghanistan will emerge in the next few days." Islamist-oriented Zaman writes, "Spanta is visiting NATO allies during the lead up to the NATO summit in April," and "Babacan stated Turkey will have to evaluate how to deal with its own terror struggle as well as how to fulfill NATO obligations in the international struggle against terror." Mainstream Vatan points out Turkish Chief of General Staff Buyukanit said, "We will not fight in Afghanistan," but that "yesterday FM Babacan said 'we are thinking about it.'" Liberal Radikal writes "Babacan speaks differently," than prior Turkish policy on troop increases to Afghanistan as he "seeks a balance between terrorism in Afghanistan and terrorism in Turkey." Cheney's Upcoming Turkey Visit Mainstream Hurriyet reports Ankara will ask VP Cheney for continued coordination regarding intelligence sharing. Ankara will also convey their "unease" with some U.S. generals' calls on Turkey to establish contact with the PKK. Cheney is expected to raise the issue of additional support troops for ISAF in south Afghanistan. Ankara is expected to ask for the U.S. to be more active in the Middle East. In addition, it is expected that Cheney will raise issues related to Iran, Kosovo, and Cyprus. Turkish Papers Look at the Iraq War on the Fifth Anniversary Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Taraf, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others carry reports and features covering the fifth anniversary of Iraq War. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes under the headline "Even Saddam is Missed," as "1.7 million Iraqis died, and 2 million Iraqis left the country while another 2.5 million are displaced inside Iraq." The paper opines, "Iraq, once a Ba'athist regime, has now been turned into a Sharia state." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak says "the war's grueling balance sheet shows hundreds of thousands of people have paid for it with their lives." Mainstream Sabah quotes President Bush as saying, "the loss of life and property is worth it when it comes to a strategic victory." Papers report Bush insisted that the invasion of Iraq has made the United States safer. Liberal Radikal writes, "While Bush ANKARA 00000543 003 OF 003 calls the war the 'right decision,' the whole world protests the invasion that threw Iraqis into a nightmare." Editorial Commentary on Fifth Anniversary of Iraq War "Bush, Bremer, and Their Pride" Fikret Ertan wrote in Islamist-leaning Zaman (3/20): "In the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, the focus is on the numerous mistakes made by the U.S. One of the main figures, as far as mistakes are concerned, is Paul Bremer. From the moment he arrived in Baghdad five years ago, he presented himself as an 'I am the law' figure. Bremer signed two decrees regarding the future of Iraq, the De-Baathification and Dissolving Institutions Decrees. Five years later, the U.S. is suffering intensely from these mistakes. Bremer, most likely due to his embarrassment, is not seen in public. Just like Bremer, President Bush is also suffering from his mistakes because he approved Bremer's orders without even consulting his advisers. The essence of the Iraq fiasco is about the pride and prejudice of Paul Bremer and President Bush." TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - Memicir Eminzade, an Iranian terrorist said to be the regional chief of PJAK, was captured in Baskale in the eastern province of Van. He was in the midst of preparations for terror attacks. - A retired imam, who joined pro-Kurdish DTP protests in Diyarbakir, faces a five-year prison sentence for making PKK propaganda. - The Diyarbakir prosecutor will request that Germany extradite Ayfer Kaya, the girlfriend of the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan. International News - Claudia Roth, co-chairman of the German Green Party, said during a visit to Turkish Cyprus that the Lokmaci Gate on the Green Zone in Nicosia should be opened as soon as possible. - The US agreed to give USD 150 million to Palestinian president Abbas' government. - Kurdish politicians set up an American-Kurdish Association in Erbil following the visit of Vice President Dick Cheney. Today's Edition of Sabah carries a cartoon. Caption: Celebrating the fifth year of the Iraq War. Today's edition of Cumhuriyet carries a photo on the front page. Photo caption: The US attacked Iraq with the claim to bring "freedom," but here is the fifth year of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The "freedom" the US brought to Iraq has been recorded in history with this photograph. Today's edition of Zaman also carries a photo with the caption, "This photo has come to symbolize the invasion as it shows an Iraqi father, who was taken captive by U.S. military forces, with his son." WILSON