ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000879 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 WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008 In Today's Papers Turkey-EU Troika Meeting All papers report that Turkey-EU Troika meeting was held yesterday in Ankara. The two major issues covered in the press are the EU's anxieties concerning the AKP's closure case and the EU's criticisms against the police's response to May Day demonstrations. Yesterday, CNN Turk reported, "French State Secretary for European affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, who is in Ankara for Turkey-EU Troika meeting, gave Turkey guarantees that his country will not block Turkey's EU entry talks when it undertakes rotating EU term presidency." Mainstream Sabah reports that Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel of Slovenia, who currently holds the EU presidency said, "Turkey will become a member of the EU sooner or later," while EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said "a political party should only be closed down if it supports violence, racism and terrorism. There isn't such threat from the AKP." Rehn also emphasized, "Turkey is a candidate for EU membership therefore the EU could not remain indifferent to AKP closure case. The problem should be resolved based on EU values, the Venice Criteria standards and the European Human Rights Agreement." Islamist-oriented Zaman writes in "The EU Stresses Reforms," that EU officials noted, "The judiciary must be reformed, the closure case is creating anxieties in the EU, and political dialogue is necessary." In addition, the paper writes, "Olli Rehn emphasized that further reforms were needed and EU reforms would serve as the recipe to overcome the ongoing problems of the candidate country." Leftist Taraf writes, "The Troika Is Not Neutral," as the EU officials insisted, "Because Turkey is an EU candidate, the EU cannot remain neutral on the AKP closure case." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye also notes, "The EU Expresses Concern about the Closure Case." Conservative-nationalist Bugun reports, "The EU Troika Warns the Closure Case Could Damage Ties between Turkey and the EU." Mainstream Sabah notes, "EU officials communicated that international law was above the Turkish constitution." Meanwhile, concerning May Day, Sabah reports EU Commissioner Olli Rehn said "It is regrettable that police used disproportionate force on May 1st. The standards of both the European Union and International Labor Organization should be upheld." Hurriyet says �A;Rehn asked for an investigation to be launched regarding the police's disproportionate use of force on May 1st. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes, "The Troika Criticizes Turkey," as "the delegation drew attention to the police brutality on May 1st." Mainstream Milliyet writes, "Europe Voices Reactions to Police Brutality on May 1." Liberal Radikal notes, "The government was criticized for ignoring the disproportionate use of violence by the police on May 1." Details of AKP Defense against Closure Made Public Sabah, Yeni Safak, Radikal, Turkiye, Milliyet, Vatan, Zaman and others: Papers report that AKP Central Executive Board leaked their 98-page closure defense that was submitted to the Constitutional Court. All papers note the defense said, "The indictment was not based on rationalism and objectivity; it was based on politics." Mainstream Milliyet reports that the AKP's preliminary defense emphasizes, "The AKP has not become a center for anti-secular activities and the chief prosecutor has a defect in perceiving this. The indictment was prepared for political purposes." Mainstream Sabah reports that the defense stressed, "Neither history nor the people will not forgive this case." EDITORIAL OPINION: AKP Closure Case "Sticking To Stubbornness" Okay Gonensin wrote in mainstream Vatan (5/7): "The Prime Minister persistently defends the police's excessive use of violence during May Day. It is an interesting psychology to defend police brutality that is clearly documented by photographs and video footage. Rulers of a country cannot rule effectively when they do not feel sorry ANKARA 00000879 002 OF 003 about police brutality against peaceful demonstrators and do not feel guilty about being the only country in the world to respond to May Day celebrations with police brutality. The May Day incident illustrates the ruling AKP's understanding of democracy and human rights. AKP values are limited to the party's own world. Freedom applies when it comes to women wearing the headscarf and when it comes to the AKP closure case. However, when it comes to article 301 or the closure of the DTP, freedom is not relevant. Those who only want freedom only for themselves should revise their attitude because democracy is for everybody." "Those Who Are Mistaken" Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak (5/7): "I strongly believe that the closure case against the AKP has no legal basis and has nothing to do with the law. Therefore, it makes no sense to act as if there is a problem to solve. In Turkey, there are many who cannot properly deal with the closure case. On the other hand, foreigners make more healthy remarks than some here in Turkey. For instance, EU officials such as Javier Solana, Olli Rehn and Joost Lagendjik have made some very healthy observations regarding the AKP closure case. The Bush administration communicated a meaningless perspective by emphasizing democracy and secularism. However there are some in the U.S., like the Washington Post, who analyzed the situation correctly. Why does America pretend there is a problem in Turkey, and why do Americans officials make statements that balance rhetoric? More importantly, why are Turkey's opinion-makers treating this issue as if there is an actual legal case here and as if a political party violated the law? Those who act like this are all mistaken." Burma's Junta Denies Visas to Relief Teams All news outlets report on the devastation following the cyclone that hit Burma earlier this week. Mainstream Sabah reports, "The Cyclone Dismantles Society at Its Roots, while the Junta Acts according To Its Own Whims." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes in "The Disaster Places the Junta in The Cross Hairs," that, "The military junta in Myanmar was successful in squashing the public's democratic demonstrations, but they are not successful in providing sufficient humanitarian assistance after the cyclone." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak writes in "The Junta Is Yet another Disaster," that "Myanmar's military government is not giving visas to those who want to help." Mainstream Vatan notes, "While there is anxiety that the number of dead could climb to 100,000, the government denies visas to teams of aid workers and accuses them of espionage." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye notes "The junta conditionally accepts international aid," as, "The world is mobilized to assist the victims of the cyclone, but the junta is not granting visas." Mainstream Milliyet carries the banner headline, "The Junta's Reaction to the Cyclone Is Unreliable." Islamist-oriented Zaman, in "Once the Golden Country, Now the Poorest in Asia," notes, "Myanmar's junta only agreed to allow international aid to the cyclone victims because of discussions with the U.N." Leftist Taraf calls the junta's approach to international assistance, "The Calamity of the Century." Turkey Takes Nuclear Measures against Iran Radikal, Yeni Safak, Cumhuriyet: Following the visits of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency Gregory Schulte, the Turkish government has changed its attitude and has stopped insisting that Iran is developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Papers report that the Turkish government is working to control the export of materials that could be used for the production of weapons for mass destruction. PM Erdogan Defends Police Behavior During May Day Sabah, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet, Star, Radikal, Yeni Safak and others: Papers report that PM Erdogan defended the police against criticism for their disproportionate use of force during the May 1st demonstrations. In addition, all papers note he accused the labor ANKARA 00000879 003 OF 003 unions of exploitation. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet quotes PM Erdogan as saying "Who are the police? Are these not our sons who are in charge of securing the lives of the people of this country? What is the reason for this enmity against the police?" The paper adds that CHP leader Deniz Baykal announced the CHP will submit to the parliament a censure motion against Erdogan regarding police's disproportionate use of force during incidents on May 1st. TV News: NTV Domestic News MHP leader Bahceli told the press, "The government applies Copenhagen Criteria for supporters of terror but applies brutal AKP criteria for workers." Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir was acquitted on charges of propaganda when he delivered a speech in front of a poster of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan at a meeting in London. Interior Minister Besir Atalay stated, "The government rejected labor union demands for staging May Day demonstrations because of tips that indicated a possible terrorist attack." International News A volcano eruption in southern Chile caused authorities to order massive emergency evacuations. At least 22,000 people have died in Burma after the devastating cyclone. The U.S. and Russia signed an agreement in Moscow on cooperation in the nuclear energy industry. Russia's troop deployment into the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia has caused Georgia State Minister Temur Iakobashvilli to say the situation is "very close" to war. Greek Cypriot Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Turkey Cypriot Presidential Advisor Ozdil Nami met yesterday to review the progress of the technical committees' work to tackle problems on the divided island. WILSON