ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000891 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, MAY 8, 2008 In Today's Papers Rehn: "Everyone Knows The AKP Is Not A Shari'a Regime" Sabah, Milliyet, Zaman: In an interview last night with CNN Turk, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn noted, "Everybody knows the AKP is not trying to push Shari 'a Law." When asked about the AKP closure case, Rehn pointed out, "The EU expects the judiciary to reach a decision that is in line with EU values and standards." When asked whether the EU would respect the Constitutional Court decision, Rehn replied, "Respect for law is a basic European value. The court ruling will be acceptable when the court fulfills its duties in line with EU standards. At the same time, we know there are provisions in the constitution that demand respect for international agreements, which means respect for the European Convention on Human Rights and the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. We expect respect for these provisions." Important Messages from TGS Chief General Buyukanit All papers: In response to journalists' questions during the Israeli National Day reception yesterday, Chief of Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yasar Buyukanit responded harshly to EU officials' criticisms concerning developments in Turkey. Buyukanit emphasized, "Turkey can solve its problems and does not need the advice of anyone else." He stressed that there should be no polarization in Turkish society. When asked about the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq (KRG),General Buyukanit said "There has been a positive change in the approach of the Massoud Barzani," who is KRG president. Regarding claims that PKK leader Murat Karayilan was killed during last week's air operations, Buyukanit noted, "No names were mentioned. We hit some frequently used targets on Mount Kandil. When we drop bombs we do not check identities." Buyukanit added that Turkey gained "psychological supremacy in the fight against the PKK and the results would come soon." Inflation Tsunami Warning from UNDP Chair Kemal Dervis Sabah, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Vatan, Hurriyet and others: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) President Kemal Dervis told a conference in London, "Major economies' expansionist economic policies seek to prevent gridlock in their own markets, but these policies will lead to serious inflation and money supply problems in developing market economies." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet gave extensive, front page coverage to the issue with a headline "Inflation Tsunami." Mainstream Sabah, Milliyet and Vatan report that Dervis told the Financial Times, "Over the last year, poor people on average have become 25 percent poorer. During the next 2-3 years, inflation will be a real problem and countries like Turkey and Brazil will be hit by an inflation tsunami." In a related report, liberal Radikal reports the UNDP urged Turkey to take immediate action to formulate a policy do deal with the challenges faced by the nation's youth. According to the UNDP's "Youth in Turkey" report, five million of the twelve million youth in Turkey are unemployed. Of those who are unemployed, one million are searching for jobs, 300,000 have lost their hope for employment, and 600,000 are physically handicapped and cannot work. Moreover, 2.2 million young women are "just sitting at home." The report also described sexual discrimination regarding pressure to drop out of school; female secondary school students are nine times more likely than their male classmates to succumb to family pressure to drop out of school. DTP Members Meet with Talabani; Barzani Comments on Turkey-KRG Relations Sabah, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Star: Papers report that DTP Deputy Group Chairman Ahmet Turk and his delegation met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Suleymanie, northern Iraq. During the meetings, President Talabani stressed, "The time to resolve issues with weapons has ended." Papers speculate that the DTP delegation asked Talabani to openly oppose future Turkish air strikes in northern Iraq, but the delegation told the press they were in ANKARA 00000891 002 OF 003 northern Iraq in order to, "Strengthen bilateral cooperation and ties between Turkey and Iraq." Meanwhile, Kurdistan TV in northern Iraq quoted KRG President Massoud Barzani as saying, "the psychological barrier between the PKK and Turkey has been lifted. New steps will be taken." EDITORIAL OPINION: Medvedev, Russia's New President "Will He Become Another Brezhnev?" Faruk Akkan wrote in Islamist Zaman (5/8): "While Medvedev's inaugural ceremony was splendid, it is unlikely that he will take power away from Putin immediately. Given the fact that Putin enjoyed enormous popular support until his last week as president, it seems quite difficult for Medvedev. Putin has managed to increase the power of the prime ministerial seat to the nearly the same level as the Kremlin. According to a report by Levada, a Russian survey company, two out of three people believe that Putin will control Medvedev and thus will continue to rule the country. Some observers, on the other hand, point out that Medvedev's future is directly linked to the successful continuation of Putin-era policies. Nevertheless, Putin will be actively engaged, especially regarding foreign policy. There is even a possibility that constitutional amendments will turn the Kremlin's presidency into a symbolic position. That is one of many possibilities, because the history of Russian leadership holds a unique place in history. For example, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev was appointed temporarily by Communist Party and was only expected to serve for a short period. However, he successfully stayed in the Kremlin for eighteen years." "Politics Make for Strange Bedfellows" Sedat Sertoglu wrote in mainstream Aksam (5/8): "Russia is beginning to experience an odd friendship. Medvedev is the new president onstage, but Putin stands by in the wings. Medvedev comes from a legal background by education; thus the analogy can be made that Mevedev practices yoga, while Putin practices judo. Medvedev's inaugural ceremony was spectacular and he delivered an impressive speech that highlighted the supremacy of law, human rights and freedoms. However, it remains to be seen whether Medvedev can claim his own territory at the Kremlin. That is the main question regarding Russian politics. Will Putin be a shadow president, or will Medvedev be able to take the stage by himself?" TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - President Gul approved Social Security reforms and changes in article 301 of the penal code. However, he vetoed the public accountant law. - CHP Deputy Haluk Koc was injured in a traffic accident in Ankara. - Main opposition CHP filed a censure motion against PM Erdogan in connection to police brutality during this year's May Day celebrations. Don Quixote's flag reads "CHP." From Islamist-oriented Zaman, May 8, ¶2008. International News - Clashes erupted in the Lebanese capital yesterday between supporters of the western-backed government and those of Hezbollah-led opposition. ANKARA 00000891 003 OF 003 - The death toll in from the cyclone in Burma reaches 80,000. - Medvedev was sworn in as Russia's new president. - Clinton aides revel she lent herself $6.4 million to ailing campaign in the last month. From mainstream Sabah, May 8, 2008. WILSON