TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001666 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, NOVEMBER 18, 2009 Media Highlights: FBI Director Makes Surprise Visit to Turkey Following online reports on his "surprise visit" to Turkey last night, mainstreams Aksam and Hurriyet report that FBI director Robert Mueller is visiting Ankara today. Quoting an "unnamed senior Turkish MFA official," Aksam gives sensationalist play to Mueller's schedule, noting that he will discuss Iran's nuclear program, the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, US support for the evacuation of the Makhmur refugee camp and meet with an array of officials, including one currently visiting Russia. Hurriyet, in turn, says that the issues of US troop withdrawal from Iraq, PKK and the democratic opening will be in "Mueller's briefcase." Turkish television and online websites began reporting late morning Mueller's corrected schedule with meetings planned with Deputy Prime Minister Cicek, Justice Minister Ergin and the Director General of the Turkish National Police Koksal. (Mueller was in Ankara for just one day and no media availabilities were planned) IRAN: Baradei's Efforts and Turkey's Proposal. Turkish headlines report a secret Baradei proposal, while Turkish pundits comment on Ankara's getting "credit" for offering to store Iranian uranium. In "Baradei Secret Bargain to Iran," liberal Radikal says "El Baradei has offered a secret agreement to Iran, just before he leaves office at the end of this month" to lift sanctions and "allow Tehran to continue with most of its nuclear program in return for cooperation with UN inspectors." In "Pressure on Iran Via Peking," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet headlines that "President Obama called on Peking to Put Pressure on Iran," noting that President Obama said Iran should show more effort to demonstrate that its nuclear program was peaceful. Questioning Iran's long term goals, columnist Sami Kohen of mainstream Milliyet doubts that the storage of uranium will be good enough to solve the issue: "Transfer of uranium to Turkey solves only one aspect of the problem. Tehran still owes an explanation about other undisclosed nuclear facilities." Kohen concludes that "Iran obviously is after the establishment of a new world order," and "does everything to increase its power as well as its influence." Meanwhile, liberal Radikal columnist Murat Yetkin comments "if a decision is made regarding Turkey's storage of Iranian uranium, that will be a significant credit for Turkish foreign policy." Mainstream Aksam's Utku Cakirozer indirectly quotes Turkish president Gul as saying "Turkey has historic neighborly ties with Iran and it serves Western interests that Ankara maintains a dialog with Iran." ATC in Ankara: Iran's Response is Just "Rope-a-Dope" Mainstream Aksam and English language daily Hurriyet Daily News highlight the Ankara visit of Brent Scowcroft, chairman of American-Turkish Council (ATC) and ATC Chair-elect Richard Armitage and their meetings with President Gul and Foreign Minister Davutoglu. Armitage told press that "It is possible for Turkey to be a friend of both the US and Iran" by adding "The US is not trying to destroy Iran, but to integrate it into the international community." Armitage likened Iran's response to the international community's various offers as playing "rope-a-dope" ala boxer Mohammed Ali. Aksam daily comments that both Armitage and Scowcroft are very influential names vis-`-vis lobbying in the U.S. During their contacts in Ankara, Aksam says the main highlight was "a vast variety of common issues between Turkey and the US" which makes the current "model partnership more important than ever." Ankara's Surprise Moves on Sudan (Sabah) Sabah reports today "a surprise move from Ankara" regarding Sudan President Al Bashir, noting that Ankara has withdrawn its earlier decision to be a part of the ICC's genocide ruling. Citing a Turkish Foreign Ministry 2010 budget report, Sabah says the Foreign Ministry plans to follow a "new procedure" after the ICC's reviewing conference that is scheduled for next year. Meanwhile mainstream Milliyet reports "Another Crisis Were About to Happen" because Al Bashir was invited to the 5th International Turkey-Africa Congress to be held in Istanbul November 19-21. However Milliyet says Al ANKARA 00001666 002 OF 004 Bashir prevented another crisis by declining the invitation and notified that Sudan's Agriculture Minister will represent. "Recognition of Genocide Homework" (Hurriyet) Mainstream Hurriyet banner headline fronts story of a 13 year old Turkish student in Nancy, France who was forced to recognize Armenian genocide when he expressed his counter opinion. His teacher instructed him to go home and come back with finished home work that, instead, admitted genocide. Later, the school principal told Hurriyet's Paris reporter that the "Turkish student will continue in class and he will not be forced to accept anything," adding that the earlier practice was only a "pedagogical exercise." We Were on Board the USS Bataan (Sabah) Mainstream Sabah reporters visited USS Bataan and asked few questions to the commander of the vessel Colonel Samuel Charles Henry Howard. Howard said 'they've been sailing for seven months and came to Izmir to boost their morals. When asked about the allegations that prisoners were tortured in the Bataan, Colonel Howard said "I am not authorized to comment on this issue. Meanwhile, web-sites report that there was a protest at the port of Izmir last night by the Communist Party of Turkey from approximately 1900-2000hrs. They were protesting the presence of the USS Bataan. There we no incidents and TNP kept all protesters away from the main port entrance. Turkish General Staff's Statement to Denounce Anonymous Letter Today's papers widely cover the TGS statement, placed on its web-site, saying that the third letter sent to Ergenekon case prosecutors, which is attributed to the General Staff Legal Advisor's office, is fake. The statement said, "It does not exist in our records and the timing of the letter is rather strange." The statement also expressed Turkish military's determination to fight against similar attacks. Iraqi Shiite Leader in Turkey NTV, CNNTurk as well as web sites report the visit of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Shiite leader Ammar El Hekim to Turkey. El Hekim meets with President Gul and Foreign Minister Davutoglu today. Upcoming Iraq general elections will be one of the major topics, reports note. In a press event upon his arrival, El Hekim emphasized the deep- rooted ties between Turkey and Iraq, and added: "We are working toward ensuring all ethnic groups' rights. We don't expect a security issue after the withdrawal of American forces." El Hekim mentioned that they will support the 'National Coalition' in the Iraq's upcoming elections. Survey on Religious Trends Mainstreams Hurriyet and Milliyet report that Prominent political scientists Ersin Kalaycioglu and Ali Carkoglu from Sabanci University reported research findings on religiosity in Turkey under the framework of the International Social Survey Program, or ISSP, which measures religious values from 43 different countries. International research was conducted three times in the past; the last available data was from 1998. International data from the 2008 research is expected to be available in 2010. Turkey first participated in the survey in 2008 and is the first and only country surveyed with a Muslim majority population. Eighty-three percent of Turks identify themselves as religious, with 16 percent saying they are extremely religious, 39 percent saying they are highly religious and 32 percent saying they are somewhat religious. Of the 43 countries surveyed, Turkey, Poland, the Philippines and the United States are among the most religious. Almost half of Turks say they practice religious prayers and also identify themselves as religious. Twenty-eight percent say they pray, but do not regard themselves as highly religious. According to Carkoglu, there has been a significant increase since 1999 in the number of people who identify as religious. "This is the most striking conclusion of this survey, though it is not alarming," he said. He added that the change could be related to peoples' attitudes toward behaving in ANKARA 00001666 003 OF 004 accordance with the current political climate. Another striking discovery made by the survey was that 60 percent of Turks said there is only one true religion, while 34 percent said most religions hold basic truths. The findings on tolerance toward religions are remarkable as well. Ninety percent of the Turkish population reported having a positive view toward Muslims, but this ratio dropped to 13 percent for Christians and around 10 percent for Jews. Those who said they have highly positive views about non-believers of any religion totaled 7 percent. Ocalan is No Longer Alone All papers: Today's papers widely cover the news on jailed PKK leader Ocalan having five new neighbors at Imrali prison. Mainstream Milliyet says five convicts, four of them PKK members and one of them a member of the TIKKO organization, were transferred early yesterday morning to a new prison that has recently been constructed on the island. Ocalan also was taken from the place he's been staying for the last ten years and sent to his new room in this same prison. The paper notes that Ocalan will be able to meet with the other convicts for 10 hours a week. Mainstream Vatan believes that the five convicts were sent to Imrali upon the decision of Europe to end his lonely imprisonment. Justice Ministry decision of transferring the convicts to Imrali was taken because of the reports of European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and because of the cases opened at European Court of Human Rights, adds Vatan. Article on FM Davutoglu: Scholar in a Political World Hurriyet Daily News editor Serkan Demirtas profiles Turkey's Foreign Minister Davutoglu, noting that: "An academic more than a minister, an intellectual more than a politician, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu simply introduces a new age in diplomacy. Upcoming events - November 18: Italian President Napolitano meets with CHP leader Deniz Baykal - November 18: FM Davutoglu visits Afghanistan - November 21-22: AKP deputies will have a party gathering in a spa resort, Kizilcahamam. TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - MHP leader Bahceli said transferring of five inmates to Imrali was preposterous - DTP leader Turk said the transfer of inmates to Imrali was a positive move but would not solve any problems - Economist Steve Hanke said PM Erdogan's decision to avoid a deal with the IMF was very wise World - French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless People (OFPRA)says that Turkey, Armenia and Serbia were safe for living and France will no more take refugees from these states - China and the United States pledge to step up military exchanges and safeguard the peaceful use of outer space following the meetings between President Obama and President Hu Jintao - The European Union's Swedish Presidency says that it is premature to recognize a Palestinian state. ANKARA 00001666 004 OF 004 JEFFREY