ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000091 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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008 ANKARA 00000091 001.2 OF 003 In Today's Papers Debate over Headscarf Ban Continues in Turkey All papers report the new constitution draft excludes the ban on headscarves at universities and in public institutions. Prime Minister Erdogan stated "nobody can be deprived of a university education on the grounds of their dress, if it is not against general morality and criminal law." University rectors agree that the ban on wearing the headscarf at universities should remain in place. In fact, one rector said that putting such an article in the constitution would "poison Turkey's secular system." Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal said Erdogan reached a new stage in Turkish politics by branding the headscarf as a 'political symbol.' Baykal warned that Erdogan is dragging Turkey onto a dangerous path. Far-right MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said the PM's comments are "dynamiting social harmony" and that "Erdogan undermines public peace with his comments about the headscarf." Mainstream Milliyet says in a news commentary that by describing the headscarf as a 'political symbol,' Erdogan has paved the way for the manipulation of religious beliefs in politics. According to Milliyet, Erdogan does not seek a sweeping compromise and wants to handle the matter through constitutional reforms. Editorial Commentary on Erdogan's Comments on Headscarf Ban Bilal Cetin wrote in the mainstream Vatan (1/16): "At the press conference in Madrid the other day, Prime Minister Erdogan said he is seeking a tension-less solution to the turban issue. Although the Prime Minister desires this kind of solution, it doesn't seem that this will be an easy task. PM Erdogan said "suppose this (turban) is a political symbol; can you ban all kinds of symbols?" This is the part of this issue which will cause tension; the turban was banned because it is a symbol of political Islam. This carries the debate from freedom of education to secularism, political Islam and fundamentalism. After admitting the turban is a political symbol, the prime minister will find it hard to reach a consensus on the turban issue. Whether the PM likes it or not, his use of the word 'symbol' poses a risk for social and public consensus and it indicates new tensions in Turkey." Turkish Jetfighters Bomb Northern Iraq, General Saygun Visits Baghdad All papers report 14 Turkish F-16 fighter jets took off from Diyarbakir and bombed the PKK camps in Zap, Avashin and Hakurk in northern Iraq. A statement from the Turkish General Staff (TGS) said, as in previous operations, care was shown not to harm civilians. Mainstream Milliyet reports TGS sources said the strikes were a response to the January 4 bomb attack in Diyarbakir. Papers report Secretary Rice, who paid a surprise visit to Baghdad on Tuesday, held talks with President Talabani and the Kurdish regional administration leader Massoud Barzani in the Iraqi capital when Turkish warplanes attacked the PKK camps. Hurriyet reports unidentified TGS who said the Turkish attacks shows "the tripartite mechanism's determination to crush the PKK." Meanwhile, papers report Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Ergin Saygun went to Baghdad for a one-day working visit. Mainstream Hurriyet says the visit helped put into effect the tripartite Turkey-US-Iraq mechanism which was discussed between Prime Minister Erdogan and President Bush in their November 5 meeting at the White House. Saygun met with Nasier Abadi, the deputy chief of staff of the Iraqi military, and General David Petraeus. Saygun and Petraeus discussed the fight against the PKK and possibilities for long-term cooperation against the terrorist group. Hurriyet writes that, according to military sources, Saygun briefed the Iraqi government about Tuesday's Turkish air operations into northern Iraq. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak claims Secretary Rice joined the meeting between Saygun and Petraeus. President Gul Visits Egypt ANKARA 00000091 002.2 OF 003 All papers report Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Cairo to discuss bilateral ties and international issues of joint concern. Mubarak told a Turkish television station that Turkish investments in Egypt have increased with plans for the establishment of a new Turkish industrial zone. Mubarak voiced hope that Turkey would continue to support peace efforts in the Middle East. In a joint press conference with Gul, Mubarak said that he helped prevent a war between Turkey and Syria in 1998 over Damascus' sheltering of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Mubarak said he has agreed with Gul to intensify efforts to establish a Palestinian state. Mubarak declined to answer questions about the energy deal signed by his country with southern Cyprus, say Turkish papers. Gul said he discussed with Mubarak the situation in Iraq, the new phase of things in the region following the Annapolis meeting, and the Lebanon question. Gul also noted Turkey's relations with the Arab world should not be seen as an alternative to its relationship with the European Union. Later in the day, Gul said in a meeting with the Turkish-Egyptian Business Council that a pipeline to carry Egyptian natural gas to Europe through Turkey was under construction. He also lobbied for the interest of Turkish businessmen in the Egyptian banking sector, and invited Egyptian entrepreneurs to invest in Turkey. Gul later called on the Arab League headquarters and had talks with its Secretary General Amr Moussa to discuss the Middle East peace SIPDIS process after the Annapolis conference and the developments in Palestine. Editorial Commentary on Iran Hikmet Bila commented in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet (1/16): "Why did Bush come to the Middle East? Most likely, he came to witness the bloodshed in Iraq and Palestine. He plans to turn Iran into a sea of blood before he leaves power and is sowing new seeds of war. Bush's remarks in Israel resemble the lies told by the Pentagon prior to the Iraq war, namely that Iraq harbored weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Since the Iraq war began, no WMDs have been found and 1.5 million Iraqis, most of them children, have died. Now Bush is planning to attack Iran because he thinks Iran is planning to attack the US with nuclear weapons. How can the US attack Iran if it can't control Iraq and Afghanistan? If the US thinks it can deal with Iran through only an air bombardment, she is very much mistaken. Iran is not same as Iraq. Iran has historic roots as the Asian gate to Europe and the Middle East. Moreover, Iran is the energy source for giant Asian countries. Even though Israel supports a war against Iran, Arab countries are very disturbed by this whole situation. Arab people don't deserve this at all." TV Highlights NTV Domestic News - Interior Minister Besir Atalay said the judiciary was investigating all allegations related to the slaying of Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. - DTP group chief Ahmet Turk said article 301 of the penal code should be turned into a symbolic provision which protects diversity, stressing the president should be the sole authority for launching court cases related to article 301. - Police captured two suspects wanted for ties with the terrorist Hizbullah organization in Kocaeli province near Istanbul. - Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek told an investors' conference in Dubai Turkey will pass a long-delayed social security law through parliament by the end of January. ANKARA 00000091 003.2 OF 003 International News - Chancellor Merkel announced Prime Minister Erdogan will visit Germany in February. - The son of Hamas leader Mahmud Zahar, along with 6 other Palestinians, was killed in an Israeli raid in Gaza. - A car bomb damaged a US diplomatic vehicle in Beirut, killing four people and wounding 16. The State Department said no Americans were hurt in the blast. - A Turkish waiter working at Caf Milano was sacked after he leaked information concerning Turkish First Lady Hayrunnisa Gul's visit to the press. WILSON