ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000146 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: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009 In Today's Papers Q Babacan: 'Without Turkey, Israel's Presence in the Region Will Not Be Easy' Q Davos, "The Pessimistic Summit" (Cumhuriyet) Q European Parliament Addresses Kurdish Issue: It's Time for A Change in Turkey Q Obama Pleased with Kurdish Broadcasting on TRT-6 Q Local Elections in Iraq Set for January 31 Q Iran Gives Obama a 60-Year Old Bill (Radikal) Babacan: 'Without Turkey, Israel's Presence in the Region Will Not Be Easy' "There is no change or shift in our position regarding Gaza," Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said in an interview televised by NTV from Davos. Media outlets report Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who is in Davos for World Economic Forum (WEF) summit, told NTV, "Without Turkey's support, Israel's presence in the region will not be that easy." Babacan also emphasized that Turkey and Israel have "strategic ties." Babacan criticized comments that Turkey's position on Gaza could cause tensions with the Jewish lobby in the U.S., saying Turkey's criticism of Israel's operations was "based on principles." He noted Turkey stays "at an equal distance from all Palestinian groups." Babacan added the strong criticism launched at Israel by the Turkish government was "natural," and recalled that Turkey did the same during the Russia-Georgia conflict last summer. "There cannot be an armed solution," stressed Babacan. "This is valid for both Palestinians and Israelis. Diplomacy and dialogue must be the main instruments." Babacan asked, "Who gained from the conflict in Gaza? Is Hamas eradicated? Who controls Gaza?" and added Hamas must continue its path as a political movement. When asked if his statements had come too late, Babacan said, "Why is Turkey a mediator? Turkey is trusted by all parties involved. Our stance was not favored by some in the short run. There was a game and some remained silent. Just as we tell Israel, we tell the Palestinians to resort to political mechanisms at the negotiating table, not to violence." Davos, "The Pessimistic Summit" (Cumhuriyet) Media outlets cover the shifting climate in Davos and the impact it will have on Turkey's economy. Mainstream Milliyet comments on the overall mood in Davos by saying, "The world's CEO's trust in the markets is at their lowest levels ever." Mainstream Sabah reports, "The Winds in Davos Come Not from Firms, But from The Public," as "the millions of unemployed overshadow the event." Sabah also notes Russia President Putin's comments in the headline, "Putin Says the Crisis Resembled a Perfect Storm and Suggested Cooperation with China." Regarding the domestic impact of the Davos meeting on Turkey, mainstream Vatan carries the banner headline, "A Startling Prediction from Davos," as "Turkey, Russia, and the Ukraine are expected to experience dangerous financial and economic problems this year." However, mainstream Milliyet reports World Economic Forum Chair Klaus Schwab more optimistically predicted, "Turkey could emerge stronger from the financial crisis." Meanwhile, Islamist-oriented Zaman focuses on Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's comments criticizing the IMF's approach to negotiations for a new loan with Turkey in, "Turkey Is Opposed to the IMF's New Conditions on the Table." Economic daily Referans reports, "Erdogan refuses to approve a deal with the IMF despite the concessions made by IMF officials." Mainstream Sabah reports, "The Prime Minister Sends a Message to the IMF in Davos: We Could Get Sensitive If the IMF Comes to the Table With New Demands Everyday." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye reports, "Prime Minister Erdogan Accuses the IMF of Not Abiding by the Rules." Editorial Commentary on Turkey-IMF Negotiations Can Atakli wrote in mainstream Vatan: "PM Erdogan wants to see those in the private sector who do not support the AKP suffer from the current crisis. Therefore, he is doing his best to delay an ANKARA 00000146 002 OF 003 agreement with IMF. His ultimate goal is to weaken the secular private sector while empowering the pro-government private sector via help from state-controlled bids." Gungor Uras wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "PM Erdogan's mind is set on timing the IMF agreement with local elections. Erdogan will likely settle on an agreement close to the March elections in order to use it as a propaganda tool to demonstrate the success of his economic policy." Erdal Saglam wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "Prime Minister Erdogan is deliberately prolonging a deal with IMF until the local elections in March. On the other hand, he is making false accusations against the IMF as if the IMF delegation is not flexible." European Parliament Addresses Kurdish Issue: It's Time for A Change in Turkey Mainstreams Sabah and Milliyet report that the European Parliament concluded a conference entitled "Turkey, the EU, and Kurds" in Brussels. The theme of the conference was "It is time for a change in Turkey," in a reference to Turkey's policies toward the Kurdish minority who mostly live in Turkey's east and southeast. Speaking at the conference, DTP leader Ahmet Turk said "measures for upholding the rights of the Kurds will end the fighting (i.e. with the PKK). The Kurds seek an administration that will permit them to express themselves in social, political, economic and cultural fields. Within the framework of Turkish integrity, the Kurds also seek constitutional guarantees for recognition of their cultural identity and their right to education in their mother tongue." Former DTP deputy Leyla Zana said "The Kurdish issue should be solved within the framework of international legal norms. Kurdish language TV broadcasts (on TRT-6) are a positive approach, but that alone is not sufficient to solve problems." Mainstream Milliyet reports Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir said, "The government doesn't transfer sufficient public resources to the East and Southeast where Kurds are the majority. The government encourages the construction of factories in the West and police stations in the East." Obama Pleased with Kurdish Broadcasting on TRT-6 Mainstream Hurriyet reports, "Sources close to Obama indicate the Obama administration is very happy with TRT's Kurdish broadcasting initiative," and call it "a very positive step to boost democracy," while, "the Obama administration would welcome any new steps toward democratization." Milliyet reports that according to the circles close to the Obama Administration, Washington is evaluating Kurdish language TV broadcasts as a positive, democratic step. Local Elections in Iraq Set for January 31 Media outlets report that on January 31, Iraq will hold local elections in all provinces except the Kurdish provinces of Erbil, Suleymaniye and Dohuk, as well as the city of Kirkuk. More than 14,000 candidates from over 400 political formations and parties will compete in the Iraqi elections. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) said it will participate in the elections in the areas where there is a considerable Turkmen majority -- namely Talafar, Mosul, Tuzhurmatu, Diyala, Baghdad and Kut. Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad said 26 Turkish observers will monitor the elections, reports Zaman. Editorial Commentary on Iraqi Elections Erdal Safak wrote in mainstream Sabah: "The situation in Iraq is not the same as it was in 2005. This time, Sunnis are not boycotting local elections; on the contrary, Sunnis are trying hard to elect better political representatives. In addition, Shiites are no longer acting out of sectarian concerns. These elections prove that there is now tangible hope for progress toward a unified Iraq." ANKARA 00000146 003 OF 003 Iran Gives Obama a 60-Year Old Bill (Radikal) Flashy headlines indicate surprise, and a little amusement, in response to Iranian President Ahmadinejad's demand for an apology from President Obama for America's actions over the last sixty years. Leftist Taraf headlines, "Iran Is Expecting an Apology from the U.S.!" and reports, "Iran has broken its silence" to the Obama administration as "Ahmadinejad is pleased the U.S. is changing its foreign policy but wants an apology from Washington for all the wrongs it has committed against Iran." Mainstream Sabah headlines, "Iran Tells the U.S. 'Apologize to Us!'" Liberal Radikal reports, "Obama Gets a Bill for 60 Years," and quotes Ahmadinejad's demand in the headline, "Apologize for Crimes Like the Iran-Iraq War and the Coup." In a departure from the general coverage of the issue by the media, Fikret Ertan of Islamist-oriented Zaman comments, "President Obama may talk with Iran, but it will be hard to end all of (America's) covert activities against Iran." Iran Wants to Use Trabzon Port for Trade with EU (Cumhuriyet) Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports Iran wants to use the port of Trabzon in Turkey's Black Sea region as a "base" to increase trade with EU member countries. Ankara was positive to an Iranian proposal to use the port of Trabzon to meet the demands of the provinces of east Azerbaijan, Erdebil, Gilan and Zencan. Trade between the two countries could amount to USD 50 million once the Trabzon port is used effectively. Tehran also proposed to not use U.S. Dollar in bilateral trade with Turkey, and use Turkish Lira or Iranian Riyal instead, reports Cumhuriyet TV News: CNN Turk Domestic News - A survey conducted by A&G polling company predicts the AKP will win 41.8 percent and the CHP 30.4 percent of votes in the Istanbul municipality elections at the end of March. - The Bakirkoy prosecutor has launched an investigation against Atilla Olgac, a Turkish actor who admitted on a TV talk show last week that he killed ten Greek Cypriot prisoners of war during Turkish operations in Cyprus in 1974. - Members of the Turkish-U.S. Friendship Group in the parliament will hold talks in Atlanta and Washington D.C. January 29-February ¶6. International News - Turkish and Greek Cyprus leaders come together for the 17th round of talks to discuss property issues in the bid for the reunification of the divided island. - Georgia and Azerbaijan express concern about the negative impact of the Nabucco project on their interests at a teleconference held in Moscow. - French police arrest four suspects for painting a swastika on a synagogue in the city of Lille. JEFFREY