TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001647 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 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009 Media Highlights: Nuclear Plant Bid By Russians Suspended; New Tenders in 2010; FM Davutoglu Angered by Environment Chapter Blockage, Accepts French Initiative; Obama to China: Uncensored Society is Healthy; CHP Oymen Debate; New Independent Human Rights Institution; USS Bataan Docks in Izmir New Nuclear Power Plant Tenders Expected in 2010 Mainstream newspapers Milliyet, Vatan, Hurriyet and Sabah predict that the lone bid by a Russian joint partnership to build a nuclear power plant in Turkey will be cancelled. According to Islamic-oriented Yeni Safak and mainstream Sabah, the government plans to hold twin tenders for the construction of nuclear plants in Akkuyu and Sinop in 2010. Media report that Energy Minister Taner Yildiz reasoned that because of a court case ruling by the Council of State against the methodology used in the nuclear plant tender, "the government cannot remain indifferent." Media also report that Yildiz talked about new nuclear tender arrangements that experts in the field interpreted as indicating the annulment of the current nuclear plant tender. Sabah notes that The Russian Atomstroyexport-Inter Rao and Turkish Park Teknik joint venture was the only bidder for the last tender and the validity of that bid expires on November 24. Blockage of EU Environment Chapter Angers FM Davutoglu; French ME Conference Proposal Noted Hurriyet-Daily News editor Serkan Demirtas quotes FM Davutoglu from Madrid as saying that "We are faced with a political blockage from some countries on the opening of the environment chapter. Trying to block the process for political reasons is unfair. We are talking about cooperating on the energy security of Europe but we cannot open the chapter on energy because of the Greek Cypriot veto. It is not understandable. We are criticized by the Europeans for not being fast enough, but is it because of us or them? In the beginning of the negotiation process, we were told that the chapter on environment was one of the hardest to open. But we fulfilled the opening criteria in less than a few months time. Instead of encouraging us, they indirectly discouraged us." In a related story, Sabah reports that in Madrid, Davutoglu welcomed a French proposal for having a Middle East conference in Paris by saying "Turkey supports all good will initiatives. We support 
Obama's Middle East policies. If France has this kind of initiative, we'll support that also." Intellectual- Islamist-oriented Zaman says that Davutoglu warned France, whose plans include a Middle East conference without Turkey, by saying "Initiatives without a strong infrastructure and without the support of all parties, can cause disappointment." "Obama to China: Uncensored Society is Healthy." (Hurriyet Daily News) Media outlets highlight the positive messages President Obama gave to the world during his first visit to China. In "Here's ObaMAO," mainstream Milliyet emphasizes President Obama's popularity in China. Islamist-oriented Zaman headline reads, "Obama Gave Warm Messages to Chinese Students: We're Not Enemies," and notes, "President Obama told Chinese students in a town hall meeting with Chinese students that US and China have positive, constructive and comprehensive relations." Mainstream Hurriyet carries the headline, "While Obama Says He Is Against Censorship, China Censors Him," and notes, "President Obama pointed out the importance of unlimited access to information and called for Internet freedom during a meeting with Chinese students. However, the meeting was not broadcast live on national TV across China." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet writes "Obama Talked About Rights, Didn't Touch On Tibet," saying, "Obama used the forum to champion Internet freedom and human rights on the first day of his trip but he did not mention China's Tibet policy. It could have created tension ahead of his talks with Chinese leaders in Beijing." CHP Oymen Debate Turkish media provide extensive newspaper coverage of a debate ANKARA 00001647 002 OF 003 within the CHP, the main opposition party, as some members campaign against Onur Oymen following his remarks in the parliament last week that hurt Alevi as well as Kurdish feelings. Reactions to his rhetoric also dominate the opinion columns. From mainstream media to the Islamists, the opinion makers mostly agreed that "the rhetoric was wrong" and some called on him to resign. In mainstream Hurriyet, Sedat Ergin does not agree with Oymen's self defense: "Oymen should stop comparing apples and oranges. There is credible evidence that the event he referred to was a massacre." Similarly, mainstream Sabah's Nazli Ilicak finds the rehoric "totally unacceptable" and calls CHP's Oymen "to resign immediately." Tamer Korkmaz and Fehmi Koru, two columnists in Islamist Yeni Safak both think that "the recent incident is not unique and actually shows CHP's true colors." However, in mainstream Milliyet, Melih Asik thinks differently: "Oymen was trying to point out a historic fact that Turkey has never thought of negotiating with insurgents even in the most difficult circumstances." Similarly, Milliyet's Fikret Bila quotes CHP leader Baykal as saying he thinks "Oymen was misunderstood" because "he was talking about a methodology." Human Rights Department Will be Replaced by New Body Hurriyet reports that the government is preparing to establish an independent Human Rights Institution. The Human Rights Institution, as an autonomous 11- member body, will replace the Human Rights Department, which has been inactive for long time. The 11 board members will be elected from among academics, civil activists and members of various related institutions. The new institution will be authorized to file complaints with prosecutors and to file objections to court rulings dismissing allegations of human rights violations. The EU had pressed Turkey, according to reports, to set up an independent and autonomous body, not affiliated with the government.. USS Bataan Docks in Izmir Sabah and Milliyet as well as Izmir's regional outlet Yeni Asir report that one of the US' biggest helicopter and amphibian attack vessels, the USS Bataan, docked in Izmir harbor yesterday morning. The articles say that the vessel is returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan and stopped for the soldiers to relax. They all highlight the economic impact for stores in the area and Milliyet notes that the three day stay of the vessel will contribute three million dollars to Izmir's economy. Milliyet also notes that security measures increased in Izmir for the visit. Upcoming events: - November 17: Visiting Italian President Napolitano and President Gul will hold joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace - November 17: The Head of the American-Turkish Council (ATC) Brent Scowcroft will be received by President Gul - November 17: PM Erdogan will attend the FAO summit in Rome - November 19: Leader of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council Ammar Al-Hakim visits Turkey as the guest of PM Erdogan - November 23: Israeli Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Ben-Eliezer visits Turkey TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - Four members of the PKK group that returned to Turkey last month ANKARA 00001647 003 OF 003 join DTP meeting in Van - Government spokesman Cicek said the government will make new adjustments to prevent illegal wiretapping and will increase penalties. - AKP Vice Chairman Huseyin Celik said the cost of neutralizing one PKK terrorist is $10million World - European Foreign Ministers agree that Albania should be considered for official EU candidate status - The Obama Administration steps up pressure on Pakistan to expand and reorient its fight against Taliban and Al-Qaeda - The US opposed to unilateral Palestinian move to seek recognition for an independent state and said negotiations with Israel is the best way forward JEFFREY