TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001429 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 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009 In Today's Papers Shoe Protest at IMF Meetings in Istanbul: Late Thursday morning, Turkish TV reporting that IMF President was the subject of shoe-throwing protest at Bilgi University. Amid shouts of "IMF Go Home," the IMF President left the venue and 30 students reportedly were detained. The protester is reportedly a journalist from leftist oriented Birgun daily. Iran: Talks Are An Opportunity for the West. (Cumhuriyet) Turkish media is straightforward on the long-awaited talks today between P5+1 officials and Iran on its nuclear program in Geneva. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said that talks are an "opportunity and test" for Western countries and that Iran will start the talks with the hope for goodwill and long-term cooperation. Liberal Radikal writes, "Baradei Says Iran Violates the Law," and reports "IAEA Chief Muhammed El Baradei blamed Iran for hiding the second uranium enrichment plant and for violating the transparency policy of the institution." The paper notes, Secretary Clinton told reporters that Iran "must meet its international obligations over its suspect nuclear program or face 'greater isolation.' Front page headlines in fundamentalist Vakit ask "Nuclear: Good for Israel but Bad for Us?" and explores why a Muslim country "doesn't have the right to nuclear energy" in an interview with Iranian Ambassador to Ankara Bahman Huseyinpur , who says " Iran doesn't hide anything from the international community" and added, "the problem is not Iran's, it's their problem." Liberal Radikal reports in "Neither Sanctions nor Military Option Will Help" that "FM Davutoglu said the sanctions will not produce results. They would harm people. In fact, Turkey is working hard to block new sanctions against Iran." Yeni Safak: A Blind Eye on Israel - Columnist Tamer Korkmaz blasted the supporters of the "Iran poses a nuclear threat" argument in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "It is interesting to see some of Turkish media members keep a blind eye on Israel's nuclear weapons while they constantly portray Iran as a nuclear threat for Turkey. Nowadays they have started it once again. These media figures are embedded with the Americans and cannot be successful in this biased campaign." Davutoglu: October "Month of Peace" Will Feature Iran, Armenia, Cyprus Initiatives Media outlets report extensively on Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's press conference upon his return from UNGA meetings in New York. Davutoglu said he expects October to be a "month of peace" while Turkey's role as mediator continues in the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Balkans. On Iran's nuclear program, Davutoglu said Turkey would do its best to prevent new sanctions imposed on Iran. Davutoglu added sanctions would not bring benefits because it would be Iran, Turkey and Iran's other neighbors that would be negatively affected from such measures. Davutoglu said every country had the right to develop a nuclear program for peaceful purposes. Responding to a question on Iran's long-range missiles, Davutoglu said Turkey was against any military actions, including missile tests. "Our region cannot tolerate a new armed tension," stressed Davutoglu. Commenting on German election results, Davutoglu said Turkish-German ties were so deep-rooted that the election results would not cause radical changes. On Cyprus, Davutoglu said no promises were kept over the last five years, since the rejection by the Greek Cypriots of a UN-sponsored peace plan. He warned that if the talks fail again, the will of the Turkish Cypriot people to decide their own future would be respected. On the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia, Davutoglu said the protocols with Yerevan would be signed before the October 14 soccer game in Bursa between the two countries' national teams. "It's important that President Sargsyan comes to Turkey to watch the game. Even if he doesn't, the process will continue," stated Davutoglu. He reiterated the fact that the protocols would have to be ratified by the Turkish Parliament to enter into effect. ANKARA 00001429 002 OF 003 Papers also report Davutoglu and President Gul are expected to meet with the Azerbaijani president and foreign minister in Nakhcivan on October 3 to review the latest developments. Media Say Secretary Clinton to Attend Zurich Signing as Armenia Gets Ready to Withdraw from Five Azerbaijani Territories Conservative Bugun and Islamist-oriented Zaman report that Yerevan has agreed to withdraw from the five Azerbaijani zones under Armenian occupation if Baku and Yerevan agree. Presidents of the two countries will meet on October 8-9 in Kishinev to discuss an OSCE report on Lacin, an Azerbaijani territory under Armenian occupation. In mainstream Sabah daily, columnist Erdal Safak says he expects U.S. participation at the proposed Zurich signing, noting "Even though Washington has not officially confirmed yet, Secretary Clinton plans to attend the protocol signing. He also commends the Turkish parliament for the task ahead on Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, noting that "this is a long path but Turkey will get a chance for better democracy standards and better handling of problems in the end." Council of Europe Asks Turkey to Expand Scope of 'Minorities' (Hurriyet) Mainstream Hurriyet reports on page one that a Council of Europe report on minorities in Turkey warns that the "morning oath" which ends "Happy is who says I am a Turk" taken by elementary and high school students amounts to "ethnic discrimination," and calls for the practice to be ended. The Turkish government reacted, and said in a response, "The oath is not to glorify a particular ethnic group, but expresses the loyalty of the citizens of this country." The report, criticizing Turkey that the minorities in the country were restricted with only non-Muslims, asks for the Kurds, Assyrians, Laz and Alevis be named as minority groups. The report says Turkey has 12 to 15 million Kurds, around three million gypsies, three million Caucasians and some one million Laz people. The report also stresses that Turkey should view this diversity as an "asset," according to Hurriyet. Turkish Ethnic Views: "Racism within Us" Commentators continue to draw attention to the seriousness of the growing intolerance among Turkish society. Evaluating recent survey results, columnist Semih Idiz wonders in mainstream Milliyet: "Strangely enough, Turks do not want Jews (42 %) or Christians (35 %) in their immediate neighborhood while the very same society makes so much fuss when they see a report on anti-Turkish or anti-Muslim attitude in European countries." Similarly, Islamist oriented Yeni Safak writer Fehmi Koru expresses grave concern, "how come we became so intolerant despite the fact we remain on a multi-culture mosaic; this is a serious matter and requires public awareness campaign." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic Q In his address to the nation Wednesday night, Prime Minister Erdogan said his government's "Democratic Initiative" would not compromise Turkey's territorial integrity Q Retired colonel Aytekin Icmez was found shot to death in his house in Bursa. Terror organization Maoist Communist Party claimed responsibility over the killing. Q The new legislative year will be kick-started today with an official ceremony in the Turkish Parliament, with President Gul delivering the opening speech. Q A court in Ankara rules that two other Kurdish DTP MPs, Sabahat Tuncel and Aysel Tugluk, who have refused to make a deposition over making PKK propaganda, be brought to testify by the police. Q The Turkish Parliament will discuss October 6 a motion authorizing for cross-border military operations into northern Iraq. Q The IMF has released its Global Financial Stability report in Istanbul, which says the likely losses from the financial crisis in the three years to 2010 have been reduced by USD 600 billion to USD 3.4 trillion as the world economy grows faster than previously ANKARA 00001429 003 OF 003 expected. Q Kurdish DTP will hold on October 4 a party convention in Ankara. World Q President Obama meets NATO Secretary General Rasmussen to discuss the efforts of the transatlantic alliance in Afghanistan. Q Mevlut Cavusoglu, the ruling AK Party MP, is expected to head the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) next year. Cavusoglu received 29 votes in a European Democrat Group election to select the group's nominee for PACE chairmanship. Q Massoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdish Regional Government of northern Iraq, asks Iraq's former deputy PM Barham Saleh to form a new government in northern Iraq. Q The Telegraph of Britain says German Chancellor Merkel has warned her Turkish counterpart Erdogan in a phone call that Germany foreign policy was "under review." Q The UN Security Council, chaired by Secretary Clinton, has unanimously passed a resolution in a bid to stop sexual violence during conflicts and to end impunity. Q Two powerful earthquakes thousands of miles apart, in Indonesia's western coast and islands of Samoa, cause death, injuries and panic. Q A nine-month EU investigation into the 2008 war in the Caucasus has concluded that Georgia triggered the conflict. SILLIMAN