TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001047 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 PREL KPAO SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009 In Today's Papers - Ankara Determines New Strategy for Turkish-Iraqi Council Meeting - Public Support Civilian Trial of Soldiers - Nalbandyan on Turkey-Armenia - High School Coefficient System Abolished - U.S. Representative Glenn Nye on Turkey - Guantanamo - Secretary Clinton's Asia Trip Ankara Determines New Strategy for Turkish-Iraqi Council Meeting Hurriyet, Sabah, Cumhuriyet: Today's papers report that several ministers participated in a preparatory meeting of the Turkish-Iraqi High Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Tuesday at the Foreign Ministry. During the meeting FM Davutoglu announced that he would depart for Baghdad in August, where he would discuss in detail with the Iraqi authorities the action plan drafted at the meeting in Ankara. Besides FM Davutoglu, State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Public Works Minister Mustafa Demir, Health Minister Recep Akdag and Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu attended the preparatory meeting. Mainstream Hurriyet notes that the Ankara talks came just before another comprehensive meeting scheduled to be held in Iraq in October where PM Erdogan is expected to be present. In a related story, mainstream Sabah reports that the government has prepared a two-stage plan to address the Kurdish issue and end terror; the plan is expected to be announced by August 15. Sabah notes that this issue was on the agenda of the meeting between Minister Cicek and U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey which took place last week. Editorial Commentary on Turkey/Iraq/PKK Oktay Eksi wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "There is so much talk and speculation about finding a solution to the Kurdish problem. This is the wrong approach because much of the discourse is divisive. Freedoms and human rights for individuals must cover everyone in this country. Thus we should think about this issue as a way to improve human rights for the nation. Has anyone heard of the establishment of different human rights methodology for Hispanic Americans and African Americans?" Cengiz Candar wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Turkey should be proactive and declare a road map on toward settling the Kurdish issue before [imprisoned PKK leader] Ocalan makes a similar move. Ankara's performance regarding this issue will determine whether Ocalan will be treated as part of the problem or part of solution." Ibrahim Karagul wrote in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak: "If the ongoing Kurdish-Arab tension in Turkey's immediate neighbor Iraq is somehow brought under control, we can expect some positive developments in the future. Ankara is preparing for a comprehensive cooperation plan with Iraq which comprises of a vast variety of ways to integrate Turkey and Iraq. Along with this, Turkey is also working on some radical steps to address the Kurdish issue. In sum, there will be an enormous gate for opportunities between Turkey and Iraq in the days to come unless there happens to be an accident, i.e. a Kurdish-Arab conflict." Public Supports Civilian Trial of Soldiers (Yeni Safak) Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak carries a survey which shows the ruling and the main opposition parties have increased their support base. Asked which party they would vote for if general elections were held today, 41.8 percent said the AK Party, and 25.4 percent said CHP. Those whose views were canvassed also gave large support to the trial of soldiers by civilian courts -- by 60.4 percent. The survey was carried out by GENAR polling company with 1,560 people in 17 provinces. ANKARA 00001047 002 OF 004 Nalbandyan: Armenia-Turkey Normalization Still Possible Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports the Armenian FM Edward Nalbandyan said in Yerevan after meeting an EU delegation that "There is still a possibility for the normalization of ties between Armenia and Turkey." Nalbandyan said such "normalization" would also affect positively the prosperity in the region, of which Azerbaijan is a part. He also noted no agreement had been signed between the two countries regarding normalization, and if signed, such an agreement would contain the establishment of diplomatic ties and the reopening of borders. Meanwhile, the Minsk Group's French co-chairman Bernard Fassier told Islamist-oriented Zaman in Paris that Armenia first should withdraw from the land it occupies around Karabakh and give it back to Azerbaijan. Fassier also stressed Turkey cannot be an intermediator in the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan because of Ankara's close ties with Baku. Fassier rejected criticism that Moscow and Paris are closer to Yerevan in the efforts to find a solution between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He also stressed that risks for a new conflict in the region were still alive, particularly if a solution is not reached. High School Coefficient System Abolished Media outlets report the Higher Board of Education (YOK) lifted the coefficient system that differentiated between the Islamic cleric high school (Imam-Hatip) or vocational high school graduates versus other public high school graduates while taking university exams. Four members of the 11-member YOK objected to the decision. The grade point average for all students, regardless of what type of high school they attended, will be multiplied by the same coefficient, 0.15. This means that high school graduates will compete on an equal playing field with graduates from vocational schools and Imam-Hatip Islamic cleric schools. The decision gives a green light for the Imam-Hatip and vocational high school graduates to enter different departments at colleges such as law, political science or others, reports pro-government mainstream Sabah. Editorial Commentary on Abolishment of High School Co-efficient System Abbas Guclu wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The Higher Board of Education (YOK) has made a complete political decision by lifting the co-efficiency system that differentiated between students who graduated from Koran courses [imam hatip schools] and students who attended regular high schools that applied a standardized college preparatory curriculum. This method negates the Ministry of Education's project to provide an early guidance system to direct students to university branches based on their talents and interests. YOK's decision is a clear invitation toward further chaos in the education system and it will only serve the interests of private courses and tutors. Children will be alienated from school education and will be forced to worry more about university exams." Nye: Obama Made a Right Choice in Visiting Turkey (Zaman) Islamist-oriented Zaman reports from Washington that U.S. Representative Glenn Nye told the Rumi Forum in Washington that President Obama has made the "right choice" by visiting Turkey, a country at the "crossroads of cultures," in the Islamic world. "Turkey has given the other Muslim countries examples they can look at in merging Islam and democracy. It is, of course, not perfect; but nobody's perfect," emphasized Nye. "A Shadow Falls Over The Guantanamo Election Promise" (NTV) Media note with disappointment that the release of the Obama Administration's report on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility has been delayed for another six months. In "Guantanamo Closure Faces Delay Upon Delay," liberal Radikal notes, "The Obama Administration's plan to close Guantanamo has suffered another blow." Mainstream Hurriyet reports, "Obama's ability to fulfill his election promise to close Guantanamo has been struck ANKARA 00001047 003 OF 004 with another delay." Mainstream Haberturk reports, "the report is still not complete." Meanwhile, leftist Taraf reports, "Guantanamo detainees are waiting on the U.S. to make a decision about itself." Clinton Wins In Asia Media cover U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Asia as a huge success, with special attention paid to gains made between the U.S. and India and expected gains to be made in relations with ASEAN. Mainstream Sabah headlines, "A Farewell to Russian Arms and Hello to the U.S." and the article notes, "India decided to halt the purchase of weapons from Russia and agreed to the formulation of a nuclear cooperation with the U.S." Mainstream NTV headlines excitedly, "India Will Now Ask for Weapons from The U.S.!" and the report notes, "India and the U.S. have reached an agreement in which India will now purchase U.S. weapons instead of Russian weapons." Mainstream CNN Turk headlines, "A Message from Clinton: The U.S. Is Again in Asia," and the report points out, "The Obama administration is targeting the broadening of relations in Asia." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - One soldier died when a land-mine was detonated by remote control in the southeastern province of Sirnak when security teams were patrolling around an area on Mount Kupeli between Sirnak and Cizre town. - Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP has issued a statement saying that the proposals of the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan should be taken into account while discussing ways for resolving the Kurdish question in Turkey. - Three lieutenants were arrested by the court for making assassination plans to kill generals and admirals and providing financial support to the 'Ergenekon' organization through drug trafficking and prostitution. - The decree that would rotate 1332 judges and prosecutors was signed by members of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The board will discuss on Thursday the future of 300 judges and prosecutors including the prosecutors of the 'Ergenekon' case. - On Tuesday, U.S. dollar continued its fast downward trend and saw below 1.5 TL level. U.S. dollar closed the day at 1.5 TL. - The representatives of YouTube have visited Transport Minister Binali Yildirim to discuss the possibilities for lifting the "access restrictions" to the website. World - Iranian riot police are reported to have arrested a number of pro-reform protesters in Tehran following the demonstrations staged against President Ahmadinejad. - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has dissolved the parliament's lower house and called for national elections to be held August 30. - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is heading to Washington to visit President Barack Obama. - Secretary Clinton says the Obama administration is concerned by the possibility that North Korea was developing military ties with Myanmar. - Ten people have been killed in sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Yemen. ANKARA 00001047 004 OF 004 JEFFREY