TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001294 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, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 In Today's Papers Turkey and Armenia Begin Steps to Normalize Relations All papers: Today's papers give extensive front-page coverage to the steps to be taken between Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations. Coverage is mostly hopeful and upbeat, but many are noting the process is taking place under the shadow of the frozen conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. Mainstream Sabah headlines, "The Armenian Opening is a Strategic Attack," and the paper reports Turkey and Armenia have officially announced "the Alican road and Akyaka Border Train Station could be opened to traffic and then the two countries could open embassies in their respective capitals," and, "The two countries also announced that the allegations of genocide could be jointly investigated." Mainstream Milliyet carries the headline, "A Journey into History for Peace," and the article notes, "Under the protocol to be signed between Turkey and Armenia, a committee of Turkish, Armenian and international experts will conduct research on archives and historical documents and discuss allegations of genocide." Islamist-oriented Zaman claims that Turkey has three conditions to be met before establishing diplomatic ties with Armenia - the "recognition of Turkey's territorial integrity," ending "Armenian occupation of Azeri soil," and a "change in Yerevan's characterization of the events of 1915 as genocide." Meanwhile, media also point out the Nagorno-Karabakh frozen conflict as a potential road block to the road map for normalization. Milliyet reports in "Baku: Erdogan Gave His Word," that, "The biggest question mark in rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is the Karabakh problem," as, "In the past, Armenian President Sargsian said, "There is no precondition to the Turkey-Armenia rapprochement regarding Karabakh." However, Milliyet notes Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman reminded yesterday that, "Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan pledged not to open the border (with Armenia) until the occupation (of Nagorno-Karabakh) is over." Mainstream Vatan headlines, "The World is Pleased, but Baku is Concerned," and the paper notes, "World leaders welcomed the agreement," as, "The protocol to develop bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia is considered by the West as a step to end the enmity of a hundred years, but it has caused concerns in Azerbaijan." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The agreement with Yerevan has pleased the West but it made Azerbaijan and Turkish political opposition parties angry." Liberal Radikal reports, "The protocol will not come to a vote in the Turkish parliament unless there is progress made in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue." In "Armenia Will Withdraw Its Soldiers from Azerbaijan," Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "The hidden side of the protocol signed between Turkey and Armenia is that Yerevan will withdraw its troops from Karabakh before the protocol can be approved by the parliaments," as, "Prime Minister Erdogan gave assurances to Azerbaijan that Armenia would withdraw its troops." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye reports Erdogan said, "The nod of the parliament is needed for the implementation of the protocol for tackling problems with Armenia," which the paper calls "a guarantee for Azerbaijan." Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines, "A Guarantee to Baku: No Process Is More Than Our Friendship," and the paper notes Foreign Minister Davutoglu emphasized the importance of Turkey-Azerbaijani relations in a television interview with NTV. Mainstream Aksam comments, "The fate of the protocol depends upon how the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled." Islamist-oriented Zaman, mainstreams Hurriyet, Sabah, Milliyet and Vatan report that the protocol between Turkey and Armenia was welcomed by the US and the EU. US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly, in a statement said "we urge Turkey and Armenia to proceed expeditiously, according to the agreed framework as described in today's statement." The EU sources said that the developments will have positive impact on the ties of Turkey and Armenia with the EU. Mainstream Hurriyet notes opposition party CHP issued a "harsh response" to the protocol by saying, "The decision to announce this protocol was not independently made by Turkey," and the opposition ANKARA 00001294 002 OF 003 MHP said, "since Obama's visit to Turkey there has been pressure on Turkey to proceed with this initiative." Editorial Comments on Turkey-Armenia Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The process contains both valuable opportunities as well as significant risks. Normalization between Turkey and Armenia will bring very important chances for both countries. There is however some undeniable risks ahead of the process. It remains to be seen if the Yerevan administration, which stands on a fragile ground, can move on despite strong nationalist opposition and the Diaspora. The Turkish government on the other hand does not have the opposition's support either. At this point the process can move forward only if no high expectations are set and no provocative statements are made." Abdulhamit Bilici wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "Imposing a strong precondition on the Karabakh issue fails to benefit Turkey or Azerbaijan. Therefore Ankara is now pursuing a different approach by not closing the negotiation door with Armenia at the beginning. This method will pave the way for creating reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan as well." Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Ankara and Yerevan are taking very important diplomatic steps which will help resolve the conflict between Baku and Yerevan eventually. Thus the Baku administration has to be more supportive for the process than ever before." Gungor Mengi wrote in mainstream Vatan: "Turkey certainly has to go ahead and use any chance to solve problems with Armenia. However this does not necessarily mean to take steps at the expense of Baku-Ankara relations." Oktay Eksi wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "When PM Erdogan went to Baku in May he made a strongly binding statement - unless the Karabakh occupation ends, the border gates will not be opened. Apparently these strong words were crossed over after the Western powers' pressure. The recent protocol clearly indicates that solution to Karabakh problem is no longer a precondition for Turkey-Armenia relations." Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "There is a message between the lines which Yerevan knows as well. The Turkish government will not take the protocol to the parliamentary approval process unless there is a progress on the Karabakh problem." DTP Rally for the World Peace Day All papers and TV channels extensively cover the pro-Kurdish opposition party DTP's rally in Diyarbakir yesterday to commemorate World Peace Day. Sabah reported that one million people were expected to attend the rally, however, there were around hundred thousand people there and the crowds chanted pro-PKK and pro-Ocalan slogans. Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir delivered a speech at the rally and said "A ceasefire cannot be applied unilaterally and killing does not solve problems." Mainstream Vatan headlines "A Threat During The Peace Demonstration" and reports that only hours before the rally DTP deputy Aysel Tugluk "issued threatening messages" and said "a division of Turkey could come to table for discussions if the government's democratic opening fails." Tensions During Caglayan's Visit To Urumqi Turkiye, Vatan, Hurriyet, Sabah report on a "scandalous" development that unfolded during the visit of State Minister Zafer Caglayan to China. Caglayan was visiting China as the special envoy of Prime Minister Erdogan to convey the PM's messages to the government of China after the escalation of tensions in China's Xinjiang autonomous region. Caglayan became infuriated when Chinese security officials attempted to conduct searches of the members of the ANKARA 00001294 003 OF 003 official Turkish delegation. Minister's bodyguard intervened when Chinese officials undertook physical steps to force the Turkish minister to pass through the X-ray machine. Tensions further escalated when Chinese officials "assaulted "the bodyguard. According to conservative-nationalist Turkiye, Caglayan demanded an apology for the scandal and threatened that otherwise he would cancel the Turco-Chinese joint economic council meeting scheduled for September. Turkish Ambassador Murat Esenli will submit a note of protest to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and will demand an apology, papers note. TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic Q Health Minister Recep Akdag said that they expected swine flu cases to increase in Turkey in the fall season. 27 million Turks will receive vaccination against swine flu in the upcoming days. Q Security forces find ammunitions in Adana and Trabzon. Q Turkish Exports drop 29.8 percent year-on-year to $7.6 billion. World Q Deputy PM Bulent Arinc and the wife of PM Erdogan, Emine Erdogan went to Libya to attend the celebrations for Gaddafi's 40 years in power. Q Turkish FM Davutoglu said Cyprus will always remain top priority in Turkish foreign policy. Q Slovakia adopts a new language law which restricts the use of all languages in the country other than Slovak. JEFFREY