ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000770 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, APRIL 24, 2008 In Today's Papers Ankara Celebrates National Sovereignty Day in Tense Atmosphere All papers report that on Wednesday, the atmosphere was tense at the Turkish Parliament's special session to mark National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Erdogan and opposition CHP leader Baykal avoided each other during the ceremonies in Ataturk's Mausoleum. In his speech to the parliament, Baykal argued the Constitution and law lie at the heart of any government's legitimacy, and elections alone are not enough for a functioning democracy. "Uncontrolled force is no force," Baykal said, defending supervision of elected governments by state bodies. Erdogan countered, saying "There is no replacement in today's world for democracy. We have to defeat all threats via democracy." Erdogan added that the Turkish nation is moving toward its EU membership goal and never before had Turkey been so close to making these ideals a reality. The Chief of the General Staff (TGS) General Yasar Buyukanit and the military top brass left the parliament after attending only the ceremony ahead of the special session in an effort to avoid contacts with the pro-Kurdish DTP lawmakers. Also yesterday, President Abdullah Gul hosted a luncheon at the Presidential Palace. Baykal boycotted the luncheon, but Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, PM Erdogan, and chairmen of the political parties represented at the parliament attended. Gul said during the luncheon, "terrorism, separatism, the economy, and democratic standards" were some of the current risks and opportunities for Turkey. "If Turkey cannot transform risks into opportunities within the framework of today's conjuncture, the next generations would pay the price," Gul said. Erdogan Mediates between Olmert-Assad for Peace Milliyet, Aksam, and Cumhuriyet carry reports by Syrian daily al-Watan that, according to sources in Damascus, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan told Syrian President Bashar al-Asad in a telephone call that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was ready for a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights in return for a peace agreement with Syria. Syria's state television carried the same report, says the leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet. The paper says Erdogan is to visit Damascus on April 26-27 to attend the opening of the first Syrian-Turkish economic forum. General Petraeus Next Head of CENTCOM Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Taraf, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and others report General David Petraeus, the top US commander of troops in Iraq, has been nominated by Defense Secretary Robert Gates for Central Command CENTCOM chief. Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno will be nominated by President Bush to replace Petraeus in Baghdad. Papers also note Odierno was known as the American commander who had ordered the 'hooding' of Turkish Special Forces in Suleymaniye in northern Iraq in 2003. Calik Takes Over Sabah Media Group Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report the 'Turkuvaz' media company of the Calik Group has completed the USD 1.1 billion purchase of Turkey's second largest media company, Sabah- ATV.. Sabah-ATV was seized from the Ciner Group by the Savings Deposits and Insurance Fund (TMSF) last April because of financial irregularities and auctioned off last November. Calik said in a written statement on Tuesday it paid cash to TMSF for the group by obtaining USD 750 million-loans from state-owned 'Vakifbank' and 'Halkbank', USD 125 million from Qatar-based al-Wasaeel International Media Co., and the remainder from Calik shareholders. Al-Wasaeel will reportedly receive 25 percent of shares in Turkuvaz in return for their contribution. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet and mainstream Vatan say they have found no record of al-Wasaeel company in Qatar Chamber of Commerce records.. ANKARA 00000770 002 OF 003 Human Rights Organization Publishes 'Torture Atlas' Mainstream Sabah reports on page one the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) has prepared a book on torture and mistreatment in Turkey since the September 12, 1980 military takeover. The book, "The Atlas of Torture," was written by nine professors and physicians who have examined 6,000 photos and x-ray films of more than 10,000 torture victims in five years. It says over the course of past 28 years, one million people were tortured in Turkey. The book says beating was the most popular torture method, to be followed by electric shock, strangling, rape, cold water and exposure to chemical substances. Editorial Commentary on Iraq, US Elections "Iraq, Kirkuk and the PKK" Soli Ozel wrote in mainstream Sabah (4/24): "What happens in Iraq is of immediate concern to Turkey. The future of Iraq will be the primary factor in shaping the power equilibrium in the Middle East and Gulf region. There will be no clarity on Iraq's future until the internal power struggle comes to an end. At this point, the only clear thing is that Iran has become a powerful player. It is very likely that Iraq will continue living with violence and uncertainty. Yet despite all these factors , Iraq's territorial integrity serves everybody's interest. Foreign Minister Babacan, after attending the Iraqi Neighbors Conference, made this observation and added that everybody seems to have finally come to Turkey's opinion on the importance of Iraq's territorial integrity. Babacan also sees the Hydrocarbon Law as a good indication of a functioning Iraq. On Kirkuk, which the FM describes as very important, the UN's position is close to Turkey'sviews." "Uncertainty in US Elections" Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet (4/24): "There is a saying that 'the route to the White House goes through Pennsylvania.' Pennsylvania is a determining factor for presidential candidates. This time, two Democrat candidates struggled through and the race ended with Hillary Clinton's winning over Obama by 10 percent. That victory gives her hope in the upcoming primaries , but it does not give her an automatic ticket to the White House. The question of whether Clinton can be the Democrat Party candidate remains controversial. Impartial observers still feel Obama's candidacy has a better chance while others concede that nothing is certain until the last minute. The race between Hillary and Obama has been very harsh and it goes without saying that Republicans are enjoying all of this because whoever becomes the Democrat candidate, he or she will come wounded in the public eye into the main election.. The opinion polls are already indicating that Republican candidate McCain is gaining more ground to win the elections. If the Democratic candidate is Obama, that will be a help for McCain to win. A recent survey in Pennsylvania found 21 percent of democrats are planning to vote for McCain if Obama is the candidate. " TV Highlights CNN Turk Domestic News - Prime Minister Erdogan said it would be "meaningless" to hold early elections. - A new bill that will allow foreigners to acquire property in Turkey has been submitted to the parliament for approval. - Turkish Cyprus leader Mehmet Ali Talat will travel to Turkey to meet with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan on Friday. International News - Jim Murphy, the British minister for Europe, says Turkey should be ANKARA 00000770 003 OF 003 treated on equal footing with other candidates in the EU entry bid. - Iran has agreed to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigation of charges that Tehran tried to make nuclear weapons. - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said his country will open an embassy in Baghdad once the Iraqi capital is secure enough. WILSON