TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

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DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009

In Today's Papers


The Turkey-U.S.-Iraq Summit (Cumhuriyet)
Media outlets report the third ministerial meeting of the tripartite
mechanism formed by Turkey, Iraq and the United States to develop
their cooperation in the fight against the PKK terrorist
organization was held in Ankara yesterday. The Turkish delegation
was headed by Interior Minister Besir Atalay, the Iraqi delegation
by Iraq's National Security Minister Sharwan al-Wa'ili, and the U.S.
delegation by U.S. Brigadier General Steven Hummer, the Deputy Chief
of Staff for Operations in Iraq's Multinational Force(MNF-I).
Newspapers cover the meetings very positively and hail the meeting
as "a summit" between Turkey, the U.S. and Iraq that will "liquidate
the PKK." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye headlines, "Turkey, Iraq
And The U.S. Will Liquidate the PKK," and the paper reports, "The
Wipe-Out (of the PKK) Has Begun." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak
notes, "The three-party meeting held in Ankara targeted ways to
destroy PKK leadership in Kandil and Makhmur."

Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports Turkey asked for enhanced
security measures around the PKK camps in Kandil, and that the work
on Makhmur Camp was "detailed and updated." Mainstream Hurriyet
notes, "The most important decision reached yesterday related to
Makhmur refugee camp," as "Intelligence gathered in Makhmur will be
submitted to Turkey." Mainstream Sabah notes it was decided that
"logistical support for PKK members in Makhmur camp should be cut,
and camp members linked to the PKK terror organization should be
given no freedom of movement." Sabah also says Turkey agreed at the
talks to give intelligence training to Iraqi officials, thus making
Iraq a part of the intelligence sharing mechanism between the U.S.
and Turkey. Cumhuriyet reports, "Baghdad expressed concern over
claims the U.S. and Turkey met in Istanbul with Iraqi groups who are
considered terrorists by the Baghdad administration." However,
Sabah says that the issue was not discussed during the meeting and
instead the Iraqi minister conveyed his anxiety to Turkish Interior
Minister Atalay in a separate meeting.

Interior Minister Atalay told a press conference following the
meetings that the parties "agreed to advance anti-terror
cooperation" in order to end PKK presence in Iraq. "We discussed
the fate of PKK camps in northern Iraq and we want to see concrete
results in the fight against the PKK," said Atalay. Atalay said
that the three-party subcommittee would continue holding weekly
meetings in Baghdad, and added the sharing of intelligence via the
Turkish office in Erbil continued. The Iraqi Interior Minister
al-Waili said they were working on the list of the PKK leaders
Turkey wants to be extradited. Waili noted the meetings in Ankara
were "successful and positive," report papers

Turkish Government to Announce its 'Kurdish Initiative' Wednesday
Vatan reports "The government will initiate a plan, which is
publicly called "The Kurdish Initiative," today. All media report
Interior Minister Besir Atalay will hold a press conference at 12:30
p.m. at the ministry and make important statements about the plan.
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports the government intends to
resettle PKK militants settled in Makhmur Camp in northern Iraq if
the organization agrees to lay down its arms. Papers expect the
"steps to be taken" to include the closing of the Makhmur Camp, the
return of the PKK militants to their homes, the sending of the PKK
leaders to third countries, social policies targeting southeast
Turkey, and legal arrangements for children convicted of throwing
stones at the police. Liberal Radikal headlines, "Initiative
Excitement," as "NGOs are excited at the prospect of increasing
democratic standards."
Editorials on Turkey's Kurdish Question

Bejan Matur wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "There is an obvious
change in rhetoric coming from both the state and from Kurdish
groups. Once the state indicated it would change its position and
pursue a new approach on Kurdish issue, the Kurdish political actors

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also changed accordingly."

Rusen Cakir wrote in mainstream Vatan: "The Kurdish initiative
affects both regional and international spheres, by the nature of
problem. However, it does not necessarily mean foreign pressure was
exerted upon Turkey in order to reach a solution, as some conspiracy
theorists tend to believe. On the contrary, this is our matter and
we must resolve this issue ourselves. As president Gul suggested,
the best way to address the problem is to raise Turkey's democratic
standards."

Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Had Turkey been
able to resolve its Kurdish problem long ago, today's Turkey would
be closer to achieving its goal of a becoming a democratic and
secular state based on the rule of law. Turkey would be much more
advanced regarding human rights and economic welfare as well. At
this stage, there is still a significant window of opportunity in
which to solve the problem. This chance must be supported by
everyone."

Tufan Turenc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "It is possible to
resolve the Kurdish issue because the Turks and Kurds of this
country have not produced any animosity after 25 years of violence.
The solution finding process is something upon which everyone
agrees. In order to initiate concrete results, terror must come to
a clear end. The rest will be easy."

Sargsyan: "I will not come to Turkey for the football match if the
border remains closed."
All media outlets report Armenian President Sargsyan told a press
conference in Yerevan Tuesday that he will not attend the "Football
Diplomacy" match between Turkey and Armenia in Istanbul in October
if the border between Turkey and Armenia remains closed at that
time. The Armenian president emphasized during a joint press
conference with Serbian President Tadic, "I will only accept the
invitation if the agreements are observed and visible steps are
taken, that is, I will go to Turkey if the border is open or if we
are on the threshold of Armenia's de-blockading." In addition, he
noted, "Little time is left until the return match of the national
football teams of Armenia and Turkey, which I have been invited to
attend by the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul. In the existing
circumstances we, certainly, anticipate to witness in the nearest
future some constructive steps, through which our partners will try
to create a corresponding environment for the reciprocal visit of
the President of Armenia."

Zana Convicted to 15 Months for Making 'Terror Propaganda'
Papers and television channels report the internationally renowned
Kurdish politician and activist Leyla Zana has been sentenced to 15
months in prison for delivering a speech in London last year, in
which she allegedly made "terror propaganda." The judges sentenced
Zana to 16 months of imprisonment according to Article 7/2 of the
Counter Terror Law for making propaganda of a terrorist organization
but lowered the sentence to 15 months due to good conduct at court.
In May 2008, Zana addressed the SOAS University in London, saying,
"The PKK and Abdullah Ocalan are the hearts and minds of the Kurdish
people." Zana's lawyers told the court Zana's conviction would not
help the efforts to find a solution to Turkey's Kurdish question,
reports leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet.
Hizb-ut Tahrir Planned to Attack The Virgin Mary's House in Turkey
(Vatan)
Mainstream Vatan reports the fundamentalist terror organization
Hizb-ut Tahrir was allegedly planning to stage attacks on the house
of Virgin Mary in Ephesus near the city of Izmir in western Turkey.
Last week, police apprehended 165 members of the terrorist
organization in operations in 23 provinces around Turkey. Eight
suspects were detained in the eastern province of Van, and police
found plans of the house of the Virgin Mary in the suspects' "cell
house." Police have also seized documents proving links between
Hizb-ut Tahrir and the shadowy 'Ergenekon' organization, says Vatan.


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DTP's Tugluk Makes Self-Criticism re Kurdish Question
Papers report that Turkey's main Kurdish party DTP's Aysel Tugluk,
Diyarbakir lawmaker from the party's 'moderate wing,' said that
"messages coming from the top of the state" were the "last
opportunity" for finding a solution to the Kurdish problem. "We
should have stood against the killing of soldiers as well; we have
not been able to establish empathy," said Tugluk, stressing the DTP,
too, did not take "enough responsibility" in the efforts to find a
solution. Tugluk added that politicians should "apologize" for
being unable to stop the deaths, report papers.

Turkey to Open Embassies in 26 African Countries (Zaman)
Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that within the framework of
outreach to Africa, Turkey will open embassies in 26 African
countries. In the first stage, eight embassies will be built in the
continent, which will also coordinate the aid sent to African
countries by Turkish state agencies such as the Turkish Cooperation
and Development Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay)
as well some Turkish NGOs, reports Zaman.

U.S. Softens Sanctions Against Syria (Milliyet)
Media are quite positive regarding the U.S. decision to relax
sanctions against Syria, with some noting the step as Obama's
reversal of the Bush-era sanctions, some hailing the gesture as a
way to improve relations with the Middle East, and others noting the
Obama administration is stepping up efforts in increase sanctions
against Iran. Mainstream Milliyet says, "Obama has decided to relax
the sanctions that were placed on Syria during the Bush
administration," and the Bush administration "accused Syria of being
a state supporter of terrorism." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports,
"The Obama Administration, in an effort to improve relations in the
Middle East, has decided to ease economic sanctions against Syria."
Mainstream Haberturk calls the effort, "A Trade Gesture from The
U.S. to Syria." In "Embargo Balance," Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak
notes that the U.S. sanctions against Syria and Iran are no longer
"balanced" between the two countries, "As the Obama Administration
decides to relax sanctions against Syria, the subject of
intensifying sanctions against Iran is on the agenda."

Gates' Surprise Visit Delivers a Warning
Media point out that U.S. Defense Secretary Gates made a surprise
visit to Iraq yesterday in order to make a call for peace between
the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet
reports, "U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates paid a surprise visit
to Iraq yesterday" and "made a call to Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to
reach an agreement by the time the U.S. withdraws at the end of
2011." Liberal Radikal notes, "Gates Warns Iraqi Kurds and Arabs,"
and the paper reports, "Gates warned of a potential for civil war
over sharing oil resources and sharing Kirkuk if the groups fail to
reach a compromise while U.S. forces are still in Iraq."


TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- Turkey's High Board of Justices and Prosecutors (HSYK) said it was
showing "utmost sensitivity" in ensuring the independence of the
judiciary in the 'Ergenekon' lawsuit.

- Former Turkish Ambassador to Belgium, Fuat Tanlay has been named
the foreign policy advisor of PM Erdogan.

- Turkey is convicted by the European Court of Human Rights for
arresting a soldier charged with "separatist propaganda."

- The Turkish economy is expected to shrink by 5.2 percent this
year, Turkey's leading business gathering TUSIAD says.

- 3G mobile phone service will be introduced in Turkey on July 30.

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World

- Armenia's President Serge Sargsyan said he will not travel to
Turkey to watch a soccer game between Turkey and Armenia in Istanbul
next year if the border between the two countries is not opened by
then.

- The Minsk Group co-chair Matthew Bryza says the process of
rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia has "slowed down."

- Iran authorities Tuesday released 140 people who had been arrested
in the country's post-election unrest.

- Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer arrives in Japan to talk with
the Japanese government about the difficulties Uighurs are facing in
China.

- A Christian member of the Uighur ethnic group went on trial in
western China's Xinjiang region.


JEFFREY