TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001716 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, DECEMBER 3, 2009 Media Highlights Obama Asks for More Troops (Radikal) Turkish 12/3 coverage of President Obama's Afghanistan strategy was robust, but mixed with most speculating that Turkey would resist calls for additional troops to Afghanistan. The news dominated all major television channels, including leading NTV and CNNTurk, which headlined "Both Soldiers and Flexibility are Wanted." Most TV interspersed video of President Obama's speech with montages of blue-hatted soldiers in Afghanistan with civilians. Turkish papers also covered the new strategy, including Ambassador Jeffrey's remarks during a roundtable in Ankara, and reacted with mixed views. Mainstream Hurriyet headline reads "Bargaining for Combat Troops" and reports that the US is calling all NATO countries, including Turkey, for more troops and more responsibilities in Afghanistan. Mainstream Milliyet headline reads "Rejecting Obama's Call" and says the US asked Turkey for combat troops but that PM Erdogan is expected to reject this request at his meeting with President Obama on December 7. Liberal Radikal columnist Murat Yetkin says "Turkish media might think that only Erdogan will have requests from Obama on December 7, however, Obama has some expectations too and there will be mutual requests on the agenda. US call for additional troops in Afghanistan, was not conveyed only to Turkey. It's been understood that, US Ambassadors in all NATO countries, made similar statements as Ambassador Jeffrey made in Turkey. MFA sources reiterate that Turkish troops in Afghanistan will not be involved in fighting but will increase their training and constructing duties. Besides, Turkish government and the opposition will never approve sending combat troops to Afghanistan. However, this issue will definitely be on Obama-Erdogan meeting's agenda. Mainstream Sabah quotes Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul saying that "Our reservations continue on our troops fighting in Afghanistan." Sabah columnist Erdal Safak says in column on 12/3 "We understand that the US asks for flexibility on Turkish troops' responsibilities. Turkish troops in Afghanistan are deployed in international security aid operation (ISAF),which is a NATO coalition. Their primary duty is to train Afghan forces and to help in constructing the infrastructure in Afghanistan. Now , the US is asking for combat troops. This �00A;request is nothing else but a call for disaster. It will mean Muslims killing Muslims. The government and Turkish Armed Forces were always against sending combat troops to Afghanistan. Other than the war in Korea, Turkey never fought in the operations under the UN and NATO umbrella. Same thing will happen in Afghanistan and the duties of Turkish troops will remain the same." Mainstream Vatan columnist Rusen Cakir says "Let's wait and see whether Obama will be successful in pulling Turkey into the swamp in Afghanistan. President Bush had exerted huge efforts to pull Turkey into Iraq swamp, to no avail." Morningstar Backs Turkey's Nuclear Desire (Yeni Safak) Papers report that on Wednesday, Richard Morningstar, the US special envoy for Eurasian energy, paid a visit to Ankara and met with Energy Minister Taner Yildiz. Following his meeting with Minister Yildiz, Morningstar told a joint press conference that Iran was not in a position to become a part of the new energy projects in the southern corridor. "If the relations with Iran are normalized and nuclear issues are resolved, it will of course be a positive development," emphasized Morningstar. Islamist-oriented Zaman comments Morningstar criticized recent natural gas deals between Turkey and Iran, but adds that the US gave green light to joint oil exploration between Turkey and Iraq. Morningstar said they wanted to see "very much" the inclusion of Iraqi gas in the Nabucco project, and added that the Iraqi government had to agree with the northern Iraqi leaders for the use of Iraqi natural gas in the project. Under the headline, "US Cold to Iranian Gas," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports Morningstar also said the US backed Turkey's nuclear energy aspirations. 'Drug Fight' between Government, Drug Companies (Radikal) Liberal Radikal reports on its front page that in the face of a no avail in the talks with international medical companies over the ANKARA 00001716 002 OF 002 price of drugs to be sold in Turkey, the Turkish government has unilaterally set the prices. Turkey's 2009 budget has envisioned TL 14.6 billion of share for medical drugs expenses. After seeing that the actual expenses would be much higher, the government entered into negotiations with drug companies, asking them to lower prices. Following a couple "tense" meetings with the sector representatives, State Minister Ali Babacan left the negotiating table, saying the government would unilaterally fix the prices. Radikal says a Swiss medical company told Babacan they cannot sell pharmaceuticals at the prices set by the government, and that the implementation would make the entrance of new drugs into Turkey "impossible." Pharmacists will reportedly go on strike Friday to protest the government. TV News (NTV) Domestic Q DTP leader Ahmet Turk said the "democratic overture" of the government was not convincing because the prison condition of the PKK leader Ocalan was "deteriorating." Q Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said his government has no intention of privatizing the state-owned banks in the short-term. Q Thomas Cook, Europe's second-largest tour operator, is in talks to buy Germany-based Turkish travel group Oeger Tours. World Q The EU's new foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, told the European Parliament EU members need to debate Turkey's EU entry bid. Q Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said the decision by Swiss voters to ban the construction of minarets posed a risk to Switzerland's security. Q The latest European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) data shows H1N1 pandemic has killed almost 8,750 people globally. Q Five British sailors detained by Iran after drifting into the country's territorial waters have been released. JEFFREY