ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000925 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 TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2008 In Today's Papers Nationalist KanalTurk TV Bought Out By Pro-Government Media Group Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal, Taraf, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others report Turkish stationary manufacturer, Koza Group, bought a 99.99 percent stake in KanalTurk Television. KanalTurk, a small private television channel, was Turkey's fiercest anti-AKP broadcaster. The nationalist-leaning channel was the media sponsor of the secular-Kemalist Republic Rallies held in 2007 to protest Abdullah Gul's presidential candidacy. Koza Group Chair Akin Ipek owns the pro-AKP, conservative-nationalist Bugun daily. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet claims Ipek is controversial sect leader Fettullah Gulen's "Number 2." The value of the transaction has not been disclosed, but Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak estimates the price at around $60 million. The paper expects KanalTurk owner Tuncay Ozkan will establish a new television channel. Papers: PKK Leader Bayik Hides in Iran Mainstream Sabah reports Turkey's Ambassador to Tehran, Selim Karaosmanoglu, asked the Iranian Foreign Ministry if Iran has any knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the fugitive PKK leader Cemil Bayik. According to Turkish intelligence reports, Bayik fled to Iran after he escaped the latest Turkish air strikes against PKK positions on Mt. Kandil. Iranian officials said they had no information Bayik was in Iran, and emphasized Iran saw the PKK as "terrorist group." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The U.S. told Ankara Bayik is hiding in the city of Sakiz in Iran," because, "The U.S. was aware that Bayik went to Iran." In addition, the paper argues, "Bayik has good ties with Tehran. Washington expects Turkey to ask for the extradition of Bayik, but Tehran will reject the demand. Washington, in this way, aims to disrupt the strategic cooperation between Iran and Turkey. In 2002, Tehran turned down Turkey's extradition request for Bayik, who was hiding in Iran at that time," says Cumhuriyet. Turkey's Iraq Envoy Will Visit Baghdad Today Mainstream Sabah reports Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Ambassador Murat Ozcelik will travel to Baghdad on Tuesday. Ozcelik, who met with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) PM Nechirvan Barzani in Baghdad last week, is not expected to visit northern Iraq. Discussions will include the strategic dialogue mechanism between the two countries and the controversial referendum on the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Ozcelik will also hold talks with the Iraqi Turkmen, reports Sabah. Editorial Commentary on Countering PKK Terrorism "In Order to Continue the Positive Process..." Hasan Cemal commented in mainstream Milliyet (5/13): "Life for the PKK in northern Iraq gets more and more difficult with each passing day. The meeting between Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Murat Ozcellik and the Kurdish Regional Government's Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani resulted in harsh warnings for the PKK from KRG President Massoud Barzani. However, the root of the problem is not in northern Iraq but in Turkey. If a comprehensive solution is not initiated, the PKK will continue its existence. It is not sufficient to address the PKK issue through efforts to reduce violence and poverty. The aspect of Kurdish identity is extremely important. If Kurdish identity is not taken into account, today's positive developments in northern Iraq will fail tomorrow." "The Other Aspect of Countering Terrorism" Bilal Cetin wrote in mainstream Vatan (5/13): "During recent months, Turkey has taken important steps in the military aspect of countering terrorism. Statements from the Turkish General Staff and the government claim the PKK's logistical support and its financial sources were eliminated due to Turkey's diplomatic initiatives. Most notable, Iran, Syria, and northern Iraq no longer tolerate the PKK. Of course, the terrorist organization is not fully eliminated, but it definitely suffered psychological damage. Nevertheless, at ANKARA 00000925 002 OF 002 this point the important thing is for the government to implement other initiatives parallel to military and security measures. As an example, is it possible to convince PKK members to benefit from the repentance law in Turkey and lay down their weapons? Recently Prime Minister Erdogan urged PKK members to stop fighting and surrender. The prime minister's advisors believe this call will be heard by the PKK because, until the recent military operations, the PKK has never faced such heavy military blow." DTP Given Additional Time by Court to Submit Defense in Closure Case Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Taraf, Zaman and others report the DTP, Turkey's main Kurdish party, was granted a one-month extension to submit its defense to the Constitutional Court in the lawsuit for closing down the party. Meanwhile, papers report DTP deputy Emine Ayna was elected acting DTP chairman while a DTP delegation headed by the parliamentary group chief Ahmet Turk was holding talks in northern Iraq last week. Turk said he was surprised by the move, but stressed the party administration would decide on leadership at the DTP congress in June. TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - Four members of the northern Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) were arrested in Uludere in the border province of Sirnak for "spying" for the KDP's 'Parastin' intelligence agency. The suspects were taking photos of military facilities in the region. - Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will pay a state visit to Turkey on Tuesday. The royal couple is scheduled to visit Ankara, Bursa, and Istanbul before departing Turkey late Friday. It has been thirty-seven years since The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh last visited Turkey. - Director of the World Heritage Center Francesco Bandarin, who leads a four-member UNESCO team on an inspection tour of Istanbul, communicated positive impressions during the visit. International News - At least 10,000 people were killed in the powerful earthquake that struck south-west China's Sichuan province on Monday. - The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet in June to discuss ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. - An American woman was killed on Monday evening when Palestinians fired a Kassam rocket into Israel. WILSON