ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000727 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 FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008 In Today's Papers Controversy Continues over AKP Asking PACE to Condemn Closure Case All papers report opposition parties continue to criticize the AKP for asking the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to release a declaration condemning the closure case launched against the ruling party in Turkey. Luis Maria de Puig, the new president of PACE, created uproar in Turkey when he said on Tuesday the Turkish delegation "demanded PACE release a declaration condemning the ban of political parties," and that Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan invited him to Turkey. AKP MP Mevlut Cavusoglu said the Turkish delegation did not ask PACE to release such a declaration. Opposition far right MHP lawmaker Tugrul Turkes, a member of the Turkish delegation to PACE, told a press conference in Strasbourg, "any declaration released by PACE concerning the closure case could be perceived as an intervention in the functioning of independent jurisdiction in Turkey." Opposition DSP chairman Zeki Sezer told a news conference in Ankara that this issue "deeply hurt the Turkish nation." Mainstream Milliyet reports in, "Who Is Lying about the Controversy Surrounding the Declaration?" that "the AKP is under fire" in claims that they demanded PACE to release the declaration. Islamist-oriented Zaman notes, "The AKP Deputies Were in Turkey When PACE Decided to Condemn the AKP Closure Case." Mainstream Hurriyet headlines with, "CHP Leaders Blame the AKP for Filing a Suit against Turkey at PACE." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet carries the headline, "The AKP Faces the Consequences for Asking the Parliamentary Assembly to Condemn the Closure Suit." Cuneyt Arcayurek of Cumhuriyet calls the situation "a scandal," and accuses the AKP of seeking "pity" from foreigners. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak notes the head of the Turkish delegation to PACE, AKP Deputy Mevlut Cavusoglu, insists, "I would never file a complaint against Turkey!" Columnist Murat Belge of liberal Radikal noted, "Some argue if the AKP requested such a declaration it would embarrass Turkey. But did these same people ask if the chief prosecutor embarrassed Turkey when he opened the closure case against the ruling party?" Columnist Mustafa Karaalioglu of mainstream Star criticized warnings to PACE not to comment on the AKP closure case. Karaalioglu argued, "Such a position is no different than the activities of the Ergenekon gang." Columnist Ozdemir Ince of mainstream Hurriyet wrote, "Turkey should make it easier, not harder, to shut down political parties." Columnist Mehmet Ali Birand of top-selling mainstream Posta noted, "When the AKP pushed the headscarf reforms, the leftist-nationalists directed all their 'nuclear weapons' on the AKP. Unless the AKP makes a goodwill gesture concerning the headscarf to eliminate the concerns in the public opinion, the leftist-nationalists will continue to fire their 'nuclear missiles.'" Nevertheless, columnist Murat Yetkin of Radikal points out, "Prime Minister Erdogan knows EU entry talks and EU relations will not be enough to stop the ban of his party." Parliament to Discuss Article 301 Today Cumhuriyet and Radikal report the Turkish Parliament's Justice Committee will discuss the AKP-proposed changes to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code on Friday. The proposal authorizes the president to permit the launch of investigations based on Article ¶301. Liberal Radikal reports the parliamentary Human Rights Committee Chairman Professor Zafer Uskul said his personal preference was for "the total abolishment of Article 301." Otherwise, Uskul said, "The authority to launch investigations should be given to the parliament's Human Rights Committee." Editorial Commentary on Revision of Penal Code Article 301 "Defending 301 is Incompatible with Democracy and Freedom" Hasan Cemal wrote in mainstream Milliyet (4/18): "Article 301 is a never ending story. The debate over 301 leads one to say 'enough is ANKARA 00000727 002 OF 003 enough!' It is hard to believe but there are some in this country who still defend the necessity of 301 even though the law vitally damages freedom of expression. Nationalist circles defend 301; opposition parties CHP and MHP also defend it. Moreover, there is a pro-301 constituency in the ruling AKP. This constituency does not want to touch Article 301 because they use it in their political rhetoric when they say things like, 'how can we allow people to insult Turkishness?' Article 301's story is doomed to be a black page in Turkey's democratic history. Article 301 should be completely abolished." "Last Act on Article 301" Ali Bayramoglu wrote in Islamist leaning Yeni Safak (4/18): "Article 301 has a bad record and represents an authoritarian approach. However, we can ignore the MHP campaign which claims, 'insulting Turkishness is now free.' We can also ignore opposition CHP leaders who try to be a part of this rhetoric. Those who defend this article are the same ones who legitimized coup attempts. To make a long story short: Article 301 should be abolished immediately. The abolishment of this article will pave the way for freedoms and will symbolize the end of a non-democratic, dark period. Unfortunately, the AKP proposal is only about changing the article instead of abolishing it completely. A change in the article will not help anything; the non-democratic spirit of the article remains. In addition, trivial changes to the article appear to be an attempt to placate criticisms before the upcoming elections. Instead, the AKP could show some political courage and pursue the values of freedom. Principles are more important than pleasing the populace. Let's hope to see a symbolic gesture from some AKP members who have the courage to sign and present to the parliament a proposal to completely abolish 301." Turkish Military Launches Sweeping PKK Operations in Southeast Turkey All papers report the Turkish General Staff (TGS) announced on its website one Turkish soldier was killed and seven others were wounded in operations against the PKK in the southeastern province of Sirnak on Wednesday. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports the operations are entitled, "Operation Sword," and are focused in the rural areas of Hakkari, Sirnak, Tunceli, Diyarbakir, Bingol, and Siirt. Tens of thousands of troops are participating in the operations; ground troops are reinforced with F-16 warplanes and helicopters, says Zaman. Mainstream Sabah reports F-16 and F-4 fighter jets conducted flights along the border with Iraq. The deployment of armored vehicles and ammunitions to the border area continues. No Turkish Companies Listed on Iraq's First Round of Bids for Oil Exploration Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report the Iraqi central government did not put Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) on the list of foreign companies that will explore new oil reserves in Iraq. Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told the press Thursday, "The Turkish government has begun talks with Baghdad in order to negotiate the inclusion of TPAO on the list. The list is not definite yet; there is no need for early comments. We will get on this list." Under the headline, "Iraq Double-Crosses Turkey," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet quotes the director of a former state-owned oil transportation company, BOTAS, as saying the Turkish energy minister went to the U.S. together with President Gul to discuss energy investments in the region. "The U.S. should press the Iraqi government to cooperate with Turkey," stressed the former director. Turkish Parliament Passes Controversial Social Security Law All papers report the Turkish parliament adopted a bill to change Social Security and Health Insurance Laws. The newly adopted law raises the retirement age to 65 for both women and men by 2048. The retirement age was previously 58 for women and 60 for men. The law ANKARA 00000727 003 OF 003 raises the number of days required to work before retirement from 7,000 to 7,200. TV Highlights CNN Turk Domestic News - On Thursday, a state ceremony honored the fifteenth anniversary of the death of Turkey's former prime minister and the 8th President Turgut Ozal. The ceremony took place at his tomb in Istanbul. - Opposition MHP filed a censure motion against Farming Minister Mehdi Eker for his failure to take measures against the increase in rice and grain prices. - Main opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal is not expected to join the luncheon to be hosted by President Abdullah Gul for party leaders on April 23. International News - Greek Cypriot officials cancelled meetings with German parliamentarian Gerd Andres, who entered Cyprus through the Ercan Airport in the north of the divided island. - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said a Middle East peace conference will be held in Moscow in June. - Russian President Putin announced the scrapping of billions of dollars in Libyan Soviet-era debt in exchange for business contracts during a visit to Tripoli on Thursday. DEBLAUW