TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001144 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 FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2009 In Today's Papers A New Era With Russia The main feature story in all Turkish media outlets today is yesterday's meeting between PM Erdogan and Russian PM Putin, during which Turkey agreed to allow Russia to build part of the South Stream natural gas pipeline through Turkish territorial waters in the Black Sea. Mainstream pro-government Sabah headlines, "The Agreement of The Century," as "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin both established a global energy bridge and clamped together the fates of Turkey and Russia," and, "A new dimension has been added to Ankara-Moscow relations - intergovernmental cooperation." Islamist-oriented pro-government Zaman reports, "These signatures deepened Ankara-Moscow relations." Mainstream Hurriyet notes, "Important steps have been taken in energy cooperation. Turkey said "yes" to the request of Russia to ship natural gas to Europe through pipelines under the Black Sea by bypassing Ukraine." In "New Era With The Kremlin," mainstream Vatan reports, "Huge energy projects, which will change the course of Turkey-Russia relations, were signed. Turkey gave a green light to Russia to use the Black Sea for its natural gas pipeline project South Stream. Until yesterday, Ankara would not join South Stream due to concerns it would compete with the Nabucco project." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet comments, "Erdogan defined the Nabucco and South Stream projects as alternatives to each other, while Russian Premier Vladimir Putin said that the two projects were 'rivals.'" And thus, mainstream Haberturk headlines, "Putin Won." Islamist-oriented pro-government Yeni Safak headlines, "The Photo That Makes The World Jealous," next to a photo of the Turkish, Russian, and Italian prime ministers. Liberal Radikal reports, "The Turco-Russian energy partnership has been strengthened with the signing of 12 separate agreements and protocols," and "Ankara signed eight other agreements for Turco-Russian-Italian partnership." In "A Nuclear Plant In Exchange for Petrol," Radikal comments, "At the summit Russia promised to give oil for the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline project, and Turkey awarded a Russian company the contract to construct a nuclear power plant without holding a tender." Editorial opinion on Turkey-Russia Energy Partnership Ibrahim Karagul wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Turkey and Russia are closer now than at any other time during our 500 years of diplomatic history. The recent projects with Russia contain political, strategic and global importance along with economic benefits. The whole thing makes Turkey a key country in both the Islamic world and in the Caucasus. There is no doubt there will be efforts underway to sabotage this valuable partnership between Russia and Turkey." Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The deals with Russia have made Turkey an international actor on energy where Turkey can play its energy card in a global scheme. There are however some inconsistencies and contradictions. Turkey has become one of the Nabucco partners yet at the same time, committed itself to South Stream which is known as an alternate project to Nabucco. This is something worth observing" Erdal Safak wrote in mainstream Sabah: "The partnership with Russia goes beyond economic nature and contains a strong strategic component as well. This strategic partnership will most likely be seen in the Nagorno Karabakh problem. There are strong speculations about the establishment of a peace keeping mission to N. Karabakh composed of Turkish and Russian soldiers. If that happens, the partnership will be crowned." Baykal Reiterates his Criticism for Erdogan-Turk Meeting Mainstream Vatan reports that the main opposition party CHP leader Deniz Baykal reiterated yesterday his criticism regarding the meeting between PM Erdogan and pro-Kurdish party DTP leader Ahmet Turk. Baykal said the government is "bargaining with terrorists ANKARA 00001144 002 OF 003 while keeping secret its plan for the Kurdish issue." Liberal Radikal gives front page coverage to the words of DTP leader Ahmet Turk saying that "I miss the old Baykal who had visited me in Diyarbakir in 1983 when I was discharged from prison. At that meeting I shared all the problems I faced in Diyarbakir prison with Baykal and Baykal vowed to take legal action against those responsible for the troubles in prison if he wins a seat in parliament one day." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports that Ahmet Turk described his meeting with Erdogan as "a historical opportunity" and added that "the MHP, which chooses politics over Turkish nationalism, is not at a different point. Mr.Bahceli is the biggest chance in the solution process. He prevented problems from occurring in the streets in the past." U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Meets With DTP Mainstream Vatan, Kanal D, CNN Turk: Vatan reports that "support for the AKP government's Kurdish initiative came from the U.S. during "a meeting with DTP members at a restaurant in Ankara last night." Ambassador Jeffrey did not/not speak to press, but Vatan claims he said, "At the moment there is a healthy atmosphere regarding ways to find a solution to the Kurdish issue. Erdogan's meeting with DTP Leader Ahmet Turk was very important. Everyone should also support this process." Co-chair of DTP Emine Ayna said "This dinner appointment is a follow up to the DTP's dinner with EU Ambassadors and it was previously scheduled." The papers and TV channels note that Ambassador Jeffrey met with the main opposition party CHP leader Deniz Baykal the other day. Meanwhile, NTV reports the DTP will open a representative office in the U.S. in October and the representative will be Nazmi Gur. Two PKK Members Killed in Kato Mountains Mainstreams Sabah, Milliyet and Vatan report that a clash erupted between security forces and PKK terrorists who were found with thermal cameras at Kato mountain between Sirnak and Hakkari. Two PKK terrorists, including one female, were killed in the clash. Operations continue in the region to capture the rest of the terrorists. Blackwater Crusaders Islamist-oriented pro-government papers Zaman and Yeni Safak, as well as liberal Radikal, highlight the latest allegations regarding the Blackwater Security firm. Zaman headlines, "Blackwater Worked In Iraq Under A Crusader Mentality." Yeni Safak notes two of the company's former employee's claim Blackwater acted as if they were on a "Crusader mission" in Iraq to "wipe out Muslims and the religion of Islam." Reports in these newspapers also mentioned that Blackwater had a notorious record of arms smuggling and intentionally killing civilians. Leftist Taraf headlines, "(They) Shot Iraqis For Fun." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic Q The General Staff (TGS) will hold no press briefings until September. Q Feridun Sinirlioglu has been named Foreign Ministry Undersecretary. Q Automotive sales decline by 31.6 percent in July. World Q The Fatah Congress rules that Israel is behind the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and decides to set up a Palestinian inquiry commission to probe the matter. Q New NATO Secretary General Rasmussen visits Afghanistan, ANKARA 00001144 003 OF 003 reiterates earlier comments that success in the campaign against Taliban militants in Afghanistan is NATO's top priority. Q Sweden, the current president of the EU, draws reactions for sending its Ambassador to yesterday's swearing in ceremony of Iranian President Ahmedinejad. JEFFREY