ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000120 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 FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009 In Today's Papers More Detentions under 'Ergenekon' Probe Media outlets report that on Thursday, 39 people were detained in 16 provinces in the "11th wave" of Ergenekon detentions, 20 those arrested included police and military officers. The head of the Turkish Metal Workers' Union, Mustafa Ozbek, poll researcher Erhan Goksel and the head of police special operations team were among the suspects taken into custody in the latest wave, in which one captain, three lieutenants, four non-commissioned officers, one police chief and eight police officers were detained. Yesterday, police searched the offices of Avrasya TV, a nationalist-conservative channel in Ankara known for its an anti-AKP stance, which is owned by Mustafa Ozbek. Papers report union leaders, the main opposition CHP and detainees' relatives condemned the detentions for being part of a "suppression campaign." "Trade unions have been silenced and media organizations have been intimidated," said CHP spokesman Mustafa Ozyurek. "Turkey is fast becoming an empire of fear." Editorial Commentary on the Ergenekon Investigation Tamer Korkmaz wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "The deepening of the Ergenekon investigation demonstrates Turkish state institutions' determination to free themselves from American manipulation. The U.S. and NATO created the structure behind Ergenekon, and the Turkish state is taking action to eliminate it accordingly." Hasan Cemal wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "As the Ergenekon investigation deepens, the Turkish military has yet to clean up its own backyard. There can be no civilian democracy until the military stays away from politics and deals with corruption in its own ranks." Oktay Eksi wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "This investigation has become nothing less than a Turkish version of McCarthyism." TUSIAD Warns Government on Worsening Economy Media outlets report Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, the newly reelected the president of Turkey's elite business grouping TUSIAD, asked the government yesterday to take the "essential steps" to "improve the liquidity and awaken the demand" in order to overcome the ongoing economic crisis as soon as possible. Yalcindag warned the government that the Turkish economy was at the point of a "standstill." TUSIAD board member Mustafa Koc said, "Turkish society has still been dealing with the issues like the headscarf, the closure case, and the Ergenekon probe," and called on the government to "concentrate on the crisis." Poll: Parties Maintain Positions Ahead of Municipal Elections According to a public opinion survey carried on the front page of the Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak, political preferences of Turkish voters have not changed since the general elections held in July ¶2007. If parliamentary elections were held today, the distribution of the votes would be as follows: AKP 45.3 percent, CHP 21.4, MHP 13.7, DTP 6.4, DP 3.0, SP 2.9, and others 5.1. On the results of the forthcoming municipal elections on March 29, the survey projects the following distribution of votes: AKP 47.5 percent, CHP 23.1, MHP 12.5, DTP 4.9, SP 2.7, DP 2.3, and others 5.1. The survey indicates 65.9 percent of the interviewees support Turkey's EU bid, while 34.1 percent oppose. The survey was conducted from January 9-19 by canvassing the views of 1903 people in the provinces of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Adana, Samsun, Trabzon, Diyarbakir, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Tekirdag, Erzurum and Malatya. "Gaza Tries to Return to Normal" (Taraf) Media outlets focus on the dire situation in Gaza after the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Mainstream Sabah headlines, "The ANKARA 00000120 002 OF 003 Aftermath of War in Gaza Means Hunger, Death, and Poverty." Mainstream Milliyet reports, "Children's Spirits Are Also Under the Rubble." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak headlines, "Help From Hamas for the Oppressed," and notes "Hamas is paying every family who lost a loved one in the Israeli operations 1000 Euros." Liberal Radikal reports, "Gazans Are Rebuilding the Tunnels," between Egypt and Gaza. Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines, "For Palestinians, Being On Top or Underneath the Tunnels Means Death," as "1300 Palestinians were killed on the ground during the Israeli offensive," but "the tunnels are dangerous despite the fact that they are being used to only transfer food and medicine from Egypt." Jewish Lobbies are Disturbed by Increased Anti-Semitism in Turkey Mainstream Milliyet reports that five influential Jewish lobby groups in the US sent a letter to PM Erdogan calling on him to take action against rising anti-Semitism following Israel's incursion into Gaza. The letter criticized anti-Semitic activities such as angry protests against Jews in front of Israeli diplomatic missions, anti-Jewish slogans on billboards in Istanbul, and boycotting campaigns against Jewish-owned companies. The letter emphasized, "Jews in Turkey feel threatened and unsafe. The statements made by government officials have contributed to the rise of anti-Semitism in Turkey. We don't agree with your recent harsh comments." CNN Turk reports, "Jew lobbies are alarmed by Erdogan's (verbal) attacks against Israel." Mainstream NTV notes, "The U.S. Jewish Lobby Sharply Criticizes Turkey," for "criticizing Israeli policy and stepping up anti-Semitism." Zebari in Ankara Mainstream Sabah reports that Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari came to Ankara yesterday for an official visit. Zebari plans to meet with President Gul, PM Erdogan and FM Babacan today. Sabah notes that Zebari came to Turkey within the framework of the mechanism for strategic dialogue between the two countries and will brief Turkish officials on the measures taken by Iraq to eliminate the PKK. "Obama Keeps His Word and Closes Guantanamo" (Vatan) Media emphasize President Obama is keeping his promises and changing direction in U.S. policy with the stroke of his pen. Mainstream Hurriyet praises Obama for "Ordering Guantanamo Closed Within One Year," and "banning the CIA's use of torture methods in interrogations." Mainstream Sabah headlines, "Obama Signs the Order to Lock Up the Torture Base." Mainstream Vatan reports, "He Keeps His Word and Closes Guantanamo." Liberal Radikal reports, "Obama Gives An End to Gitmo and Torture." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports Obama "Is Changing the Approach to the Middle East." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "Obama Puts An End to Guantanamo" and "Bans Torture." Leftist Taraf reports, "Obama Cleans Up Bush's Wreckage," and "after closing Guantanamo, Obama keeps his word and calls for a withdrawal from Iraq and changes the CIA's interrogation techniques." Meanwhile, mainstream NTV reports, "Like Bush, Obama Emphasizes Israel's Right to Defend Itself," as "Hamas Declares Obama Does Not Represent Change." President Obama and Inauguration Address Hasan Bulent Kahraman wrote in mainstream Sabah: "President Obama's address was very well-crafted and it appropriately reflected his values for hope and change. Obama's approach will end Islamaphobia in America and anti-American sentiment around the world." Cengiz Candar wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Obama's address was inspirational and provided global messages to politicians around the world. We can only hope that Turkish politicians eventually understand the consequences of being on 'the wrong side of history,' as Obama put it." ANKARA 00000120 003 OF 003 Ozgen Acar wrote in leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet: "Ambassador James Jeffrey faces some tough tasks. Not only must he deal with the residuals of the Bush administration-designed 'Moderate Islam' project in Turkey, but he also has to face upcoming problems such as the Armenian genocide resolution. Given Nancy Pelosi's commitment to the Armenian lobby and VP Biden's anti-Turkey reputation, there are some serious challenges ahead of him." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - The main opposition party CHP has nominated Kemal Kilicdaroglu as the mayoral candidate for Istanbul. - The Ankara prosecutor initiated an investigation against the state-owned TRT director Ibrahim Sahin and the producer of the TRT program that broadcast a live interview with Tuncay Guney, who currently lives in Canada and implicated hundreds of people publicly in the Ergenekon scandal during the interview. - In the Mediterranean city of Antalya, three police officers charged with torture face up to 12 years in jail. - Turkey's Central Bank survey expects the year-end inflation to stand at 7.55 percent. World - UNSYG Ban Ki-moon says he expected Israel to provide a full explanation of attacks on UN facilities in Gaza and says those responsible must be held accountable. - Malaysia bans the hiring of foreign workers in factories, stores and restaurants to protect its citizens from mass unemployment amid the global economic downturn. - U.S. media reports President Obama is expected to sign several executive orders that alter the CIA protocol for detention and interrogation of terror suspects. - Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France Presse refuse to distribute White House-provided photos of President Obama in the Oval Office, asking for access to news photographers. JEFFREY