ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000611 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 TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2008 In Today's Papers High Court Decides to Hear Closure Case against AKP All papers report the Constitutional Court unanimously accepted the chief prosecutor's indictment and agreed to examine the case that seeks to close the ruling AKP. On March 14, the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya filed a lawsuit to close the AKP for allegedly being, "a focal point of anti-secular activities." The chief prosecutor also asked that 71 AKP members, including Prime Minister Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul, be banned from politics. According to the legal procedure, the AKP will prepare a preliminary defense and submit it to the Chief Prosecutor's Office. After the prosecutor reports on the merits of the case, the AKP will make a verbal defense which will be followed by a verbal response from the prosecutor. A Constitutional Court reporter will prepare a report on the case to be examined by the court members. Later, Constitutional Court Chief Hasim Kilic will set a hearing date. Mainstream Hurriyet's front-page headline reads, "The Constitutional Court Unanimously Accepts the Indictment to Ban the AKP." Mainstream Milliyet writes, "The Suit for Banning the AKP Has Begun." Mainstream Vatan reports on its front page, "Last Year Was Wasted on Presidential Election-related Tensions, Today the Suit against the AKP Overshadows the Economy." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes, "Opposition Spokesmen Say the AKP Is Responsible for These Developments." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak's front-page headline reads, "Are You Aware of the Threat? The Prosecutor Prepares the Indictment Based on Rumors and The Court Accepts the Suit despite the EU's Warnings." Liberal Radikal's front-page headline reads, "The AKP Has to Make a Different Decision. The First Alternative is to Pass Constitutional Reforms and Initiate a Referendum. The Second Alternative is to Fight the Allegations in the Court." Leftist Taraf notes in its front-page headline, "Yesterday's Court Ruling Was a Coup, Now Erdogan's Only Path is to Uphold Democracy and Fight the Darkness." Economic daily Referans carries the headline, "We Wish These Reports Were April 1st Jokes: The Suit against the AKP Will Exhaust Turkey." Star, the mainstream daily close to the AKP, says in a banner headline, "Today is April Fools' Day, but This Is Not a Joke: The Court Accepts Closure Case Against the AKP on the Day Turkey's GNP Amounted to USD 10,000." Papers also note that the lawsuit could go on one year, raising concerns over a prolonged political and economic uncertainty. Islamist-oriented and liberal-leaning columnists boil the debate down to one question: is this a judicial coup? Ali Bayramoglu, columnist for Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak, writes, "this struggle is between those who are for and who are against democracy. This is a judicial coup." Ergun Babahan of mainstream Sabah writes, "The judiciary has suspended democracy." Ahmet Kekec of mainstream Star calls the court's decision, "bad judgment," and asks for "someone to stop this nonsense which is dragging Turkey into an economic crisis, coup, and civil war." Mumtazer Turkone of Islamist-oriented Zaman calls the case, "the settling of political scores," and notes, "The case is putting the brakes on a country that was moving forward." Cengiz Candar of economic daily Referans writes, "Those who have dragged Turkey to this point care not for the EU or the impending economic crisis," as a result of the closure case. Meanwhile, nationalist-leaning columnists blame the AKP for bringing this upon themselves and praise the court decision. Mainstream Milliyet's columnist Derya Sazak insists, "The AKP's stubbornness on the headscarf issued has brought Turkey to the cusp of a political and economic crisis." Oktay Eksi of mainstream Hurriyet criticized EU officials who oppose the closure case, "Were we not supposed to raise our voices in order not to hurt our EU friends' feelings when the basic principles of the Turkish Republic were being undermined? Are we supposed to pretend this danger does not exist?" Cuneyt Arcayurek of leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet, calls the Court's ANKARA 00000611 002 OF 003 decision, "judicial common sense." Arslan Bulut of far-right Yeni Cag calls the AKP, "a threat to secularism, democracy, and the unitary structure of the nation state." Reactions to the Constitutional Court's Decision All papers report that in his address to the nation, PM Erdogan said, "The AKP has always acted to unify the country rather than divide the people." Deputy PM Cemil Cicek said after the cabinet meeting, "Everyone should retain commonsense," and added "the court process will continue and the AKP will work within the limits of the constitution and laws." Conservative Bugun reports that main opposition party CHP deputy chairman Mustafa Ozyurek said that "the Constitutional Court decision is not a surprise. We were expecting this. The Judicial process has begun." Opposition Party MHP Deputy Chairman Mehmet Sandir said "The AKP has caused the developments. The Constitutional Court process should not be criticized and everyone should respect the process." Islamist-oriented Zaman carries reactions from Turkish business circles. Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Nurettin Ozdebir said "who would come and make investments in this country when the courts try to close a political party who won 47 percent of the votes?" All papers report that U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said, "all parties involved in the suit are expected to show a pragmatic approach and to stay above politics." He added, "The U.S. attaches great importance to democratic values and secularism." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet quote EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's reaction, "This case shows that there is a systematic error in an EU candidate's constitution." Izmir Loses EXPO 2015 Bid to Milan All television broadcasts last night carried live coverage of the final decision on who will host the 2015 EXPO - Milan or Izmir. According to mainstream Milliyet, TRT television announced Izmir as the winner before the official announcement came from Paris. CNN Turk, Star TV, NTV, and all other major Turkish television networks followed TRT's lead and announced that Izmir won. Live broadcasts carried celebrations in Izmir and a victory speech from Izmir's mayor. Half an hour later, the official decision from the EXPO committee was announced via live broadcast in Paris. In fact, Milan won. Thus, all Turkish television networks had to retract and correct their prior reporting that Izmir won. Editorial Commentary on AKP Closure Case In mainstream Sabah, Erdal Safak wrote (4/1): "While the AKP flaunts it won 46 % of votes in the last election, they ignore the fact that people supported the AKP in the last elections because of their programs. By bringing out a religiously-motivated agenda, the AKP forgot they once defined secularism as a liberating model for different lifestyles and the model for social reconciliation. However, even with the court proceedings, it is not too late. If the ruling AKP goes back to the fundamentals of its elections platform, which praised secularism, Turkey can overcome this difficult process without any significant damage. The government has a chance to turn this situation into an opportunity." Hasan Cemal wrote in mainstream Milliyet (4/1): "The case against the AKP is a judicial coup and will poison relations with the EU and demolish political stability. The best way to deal with this thorny matter is to fight back through democracy and the rule of law. Pursuing economic reforms and enhancing the EU process are the ways to cope with this." Hikmet Cetinkaya wrote in nationalist-leftist Cumhuriyet (4/1): "As he reads verses from Koran, the prime minister is clearly challenging the secular system with the support of pro-AKP media. Turkey is heading towards serious tension-filled time. We should not yield against this archaic mentality. We do want a ANKARA 00000611 003 OF 003 fully-independent, secular democratic Turkey. We do not want Sharia law or a military coup." Oral Calislar wrote in nationalist-leftist Cumhuriyet (4/1): "I disagree with most of AKP's political applications; however this issue goes beyond the AKP's political lines. Turkey has not gained any success by closing down political parties. If the AKP is closed down, we will achieve only a deeper political crisis. Thus a common sense is needed for overcoming this crisis. The duty goes to all of the parties represented in the parliament. Maybe the president can arrange a leaders' meeting and work toward a common rationale." Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-leaning Yeni Safak (4/1): "The AKP case before the Constitutional Court is different from other cases. This is the ruling party with almost half of national support. The court has damaged its reputation by proceeding with this case." Ali Bayramoglu wrote in Islamist-leaning Yeni Safak (4/1): "This case illustrates a struggle between pro-democracy forces and anti-democracy forces. When the court decided to proceed with this case, it turned the country's ruling party into an illegitimate party." TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - During clashes between the Turkish military and the PKK in Sirnak's Bestler-Dereler region, one captain and two officers were killed and 8 soldiers were injured. There are no reports on PKK deaths. - On Tuesday, the Turkish Parliament will discuss a controversial social security bill. Labor unions and vocational organizations will stage protests against the bill outside the parliament today. - Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet's chief editor Ilhan Selcuk was taken to the hospital yesterday. He is being treated for angina pectoris and pneumonia. Selcuk will remain in the hospital for at least a week. - Turkey will set up undersea observatories to monitor seismic activity in the Marmara Sea. International News - The northern Iraqi KDP official Safin Dizayi said a Kurdish Regional Administration delegation would visit Turkey soon. - Yesterday, Turkish Cyprus leader Mehmet Ali Talat met with U.N. Undersecretary for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe. - Secretary Rice began a second round of talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in her latest push for the Middle East peace. - The PKK launched a new TV channel, called Nevruz TV, in Sweden in order to fill the void after its former mouthpiece, Roj TV, was closed down by Belgian officials. WILSON