TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001527 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 22, 2009 Media Highlights: PKK Returns Spark Emotions; Davutoglu Briefs Parliament on Armenian Protocols; Ninety Nuclear Bombs at Incirlik; Powell Lauds Turkey's Active Role; Iranian Officials Accept Protocol on Nuclear Fuel; Taliban On Afghan Elections Erdogan, Turk call for 'common sense' on PKK returns. Media outlets report on Wednesday, the PKK group that has returned from Camp Makhmur and Kandil Mountain arrived in Diyarbakir, to be greeted by a huge crowd and fireworks. The PKK group was met with the posters of Abdullah Ocalan and banners reading "Kurdistan is proud of you." Papers describe the joyful welcome given to the group as a "show of force." Papers report the relatives of martyred soldiers strongly reacted to the returns and the government's 'democratic initiative.' The prosecutors in Diyarbakir, Silopi, Cizre and Nusaybin have launched investigations in connection with the celebrations held for the returns. In the province of Agri yesterday, Prime Minister Erdogan warned the DTP to avoid "provocations" and "show." Erdogan stressed provocations would not be allowed to block the "process of unity," which aims to "end the bloodshed and restore peace." DTP leader Ahmet Turk, who addressed the crowd, warned that the process might be deadlocked if they disregard the reactions in the Turkish public. "We have to convince the people of Turkey. This is neither victory, nor defeat. We have to leave our feelings aside," said Turk. Turk claimed MHP and CHP were exerting every effort to block the new process, and that their opposition had some impact on the government. "If the government believes in this project, it should not be afraid of the opposition," said Turk. Papers also report another group of 16 PKK members are expected to arrive in Istanbul from European destinations. Commentary: Columnists continue to urge DTP and pro-Kurdish supporters for being sensible and respect everybody's feelings. In "Kurdish issue, Turkish issue" mainstream Vatan columnist Rusen Cakir takes note of sensitivities in Turkey's west as well as in the east: "Genuine peace atmosphere can only be achieved by not ignoring sensitivities in the west and by a common understanding that this was not about pain and agony only for Kurds." In mainstream Hurriyet, Ertugrul Ozkok urges pro-Kurdish supporters to understand "this not a victory nor a defeat for the returnees." He writes in "Listen to Me My Kurdish Brother" that "this ongoing show must be over and replaced by tranquility. We have done our part and now you should do your part too." In Islamist oriented Zaman, Sahin Alpay blames opposition parties: In "Giant Step Toward Internal Peace" he writes "both leaders of opposition present a pathetic approach by undermining the peace process. Their stance will be judged by history." In liberal Radikal, Murat Yetkin sees a thin line. In "Will PKK Address the Call?" he observes that "the government acts on a thin line in the process. The scenes about returnees are provocative and must come to a stop. If the PKK does not get this immediately, the democratization spirit may also come to end rapidly." Davutoglu Briefs Parliament on Armenian Protocols. Mainstream Hurriyet covers yesterday's briefing at the parliament and the reaction of the opposition, extensively. The government on Wednesday submitted the recently signed protocols with Armenia to Parliament for ratification. Foreign Minister Davutoglu briefed Parliament on Wednesday afternoon on these protocols. Davutoglu said "these texts will shape the history. There are frozen crises which are ready to explode in the region. We shall change the status quo with peaceful methods so that a new tension area will not be created." Main opposition CHP deputy Sukru Elekdag criticized the protocols by saying "the protocols include very serious disadvantages in terms of our national interests. Because, demands of Yerevan for certain parts of Turkish land, were openly registered in the founder documents of the Armenian state." MHP's group deputy chair Oktay Vural said "we will defend that borders should not be opened until the occupation of Azerbaijani lands ends. We will oppose to the protocols at Parliament." ANKARA 00001527 002 OF 003 Armenian Resolution in the Congress: The Hurriyet daily website have started a flashy announcement about 2 Senators presented an Armenian resolution draft to the Senate Foreign Relations. Senator Menendez and Senator Ensign have prepared the draft which asks the administration for recognition of 1915 events as interpreted by Armenia, the story tells. Commentary: In mainstream Hurriyet, Sedat Ergin thinks the Karabakh solution process and protocol at the parliament will run parallel to each other. He observes, in "Armenian Initiative Waits for Karabakh" that "it seems to be a road map regarding Armenian withdrawal from Karabakh's certain areas will be announced sooner or later. However PM Erdogan put the bar too high when he talked in Baku that the end of occupation is a must for border opening. In the end, this will give an enormous card to play for the opposition parties." Ninety Nuclear Bombs at Incirlik Airbase. Hurriyet reports from Washington that the Washington-based think tank "Stimson Center" recently arranged a briefing for journalists on the latest nuclear reports. The briefer, Dr. Barry M. Blechman is quoted as saying that "there are 90 tactical nuclear weapons in Incirlik." Hurriyet observes therefore that Ankara doesn't need to produce atomic bomb as long as Turkey and the US remain as allies. "However, if Turkey distances itself from the West, then the whole situation will change, " the paper notes, and say that despite it being public knowledge that there are nuclear weapons at the Incirlik air base, no official announcement regarding the number and characters of these weapons has ever been made. US, Israel Hold 'Cobra' Exercises Against Iran. Papers report Israel and the US have started "Juniper Cobra 10" military exercises, the largest ever joint missile defense exercises between the two countries with the participation of 2,000 troops from both sides and 15 US vessels. An Israeli commander is quoted as telling Israel Radio that the exercises were "preparation for a nuclear Iran." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet comments that following the exclusion of Israel from the Anatolian Eagle exercises that were to be held in Turkey, the US gave the message that it sides with Israel. Powell: US Government Pleased about Turkey Taking Active Roles Mainstream Aksam report the former Secretary of State Colin Powell went on a tour of the Bosphorus with several guests after addressing an Istanbul conference on "mothers against violence." Powell told Aksam nuclear weapons have not been used since the Korean War. "Using nukes will harm the one who uses them; it is tantamount to suicide. Iran is aware of this, therefore I do not see nuclear weapons as a threat." On recent impressions that Turkey was moving away from Israel and closer to Syria, Powell said, "Average Americans see Turkey as sliding toward radical Islam. The US Government, however, is very pleased about the active role Turkey has taken. President Obama stresses this frequently, and ties are strengthening between the two countries." Iranian Officials Accept Protocol on Nuclear Fuel. Media reports on talks regarding Iran's nuclear program in Vienna are positive after envoys reached a tentative deal. Leftist Taraf headlines, "Draft Deal with Iran on Nuclear," and thinks "the years-long tension regarding Iran's ability to produce nuclear arms may be over with the potential deal reached in Vienna." Meanwhile, leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reads, "Nuclear Fuel Deal on the Table," saying, "Iran agreeing to ship most of its enriched uranium abroad would significantly ease fears about Tehran's nuclear program, since 1,000 kilograms is the commonly accepted amount of low-enriched uranium needed to produce weapons." Taliban's Comment on New Afghan Elections: Funny (Sabah) Media observe "no matter who wins the election runoff that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai agreed to during pressured consultations, Afghanistan has a government in which corruption has become second ANKARA 00001527 003 OF 003 nature." Liberal Radikal headlines, "Always Fraud in Ballot Box," and opines, "Afghan election officials pay the bill for the fraud in presidential elections. The UN issued a warning to Afghan election officials not to re-recruit those officials who might have been involved in fraudulent electoral processes." Mainstream Sabah says, "while Karzai's rival, former FM Abdollah Abdollah, is happy with the second round, Taliban militants said the election process is funny and full of irregularities." Upcoming events: Q October 22: Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev visits Turkey. Q October 22: Foreign Minister Davutoglu will go to Baku to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation meetings. Q October 22-25: A French police team will come to Turkey to discuss the PKK activities in France and the extradition of fugitive businessman Cem Uzan to Turkey. TV News (NTV) Domestic Q The state-owned TRT television "scissored" scenes of fighting between Palestinian and Israeli soldiers in the controversial "Separation" series. Q One soldier is wounded when terrorists fired mortars at a military base in the province of Hakkari on the border with Iraq. Q A percussion bomb placed in front of Skyturk television's headquarters in Istanbul has been sapped by the police. Q Istanbul Governor's Office says 16 students from 10 schools have been diagnosed with the swine flu. Two swine flu cases have been reported in Konya. A high school in Ankara has been closed for a week after four students were diagnosed with swine flu. World Q French President Sarkozy might reportedly cancel his November 7 trip to southern Cyprus scheduled after Greek Prime Minister Papandreou said "Turkey will join the EU." Q Turkey has submitted a note of protest to Azerbaijan over removal of Turkish flags in front of Turkey's Religious Affairs office in Baku. Q President Gul says he held a meeting with Azerbaijan's President Aliyev to end the "misunderstandings that have triggered various emotional reactions." Q Russian and Italian Prime Ministers Putin and Berlusconi will hold Thursday a teleconference with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to discuss South Stream pipeline project. Q Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer says nine Uighurs have been executed by the Chinese government. JEFFREY