TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009

Media Highlights

"Obama Doesn't Deserve the Prize" headlines mainstream Hurriyet
Online, noting that "President Obama's Nobel prize acceptance
ceremony came just days after he announced that he would send more
troops to fight the war in Afghanistan." The paper also notes,
according to Q Poll's survey conducted in the US that "66 percent of
the Americans think the 'President of War' doesn't deserve the Nobel
Peace Prize in a period in which wars in Iraq and Afghanistan still
continue." Islamist-oriented Zaman Online writes in "Obama Goes to
Norway for the Nobel," that Obama's speech is expected to focus on
the Afghanistan issue." Mainstream Aksam Online headlines "Keeping
the Program Short Makes Norwegians Upset," and opines that
"Norwegians think President Obama's decision to shorten the program
was discourteous."

Shocking Resignation by the Turkish Ambassador to US (Radikal)
Turkish media are extensively covering the resignation of Turkish
Ambassador to the US Nabi Sensoy - leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet
headlines "Surprise Resignation," while Islamist-oriented Zaman
claims "Washington Ambassador Resigns" In newscasts throughout the
evening and today, the story dominates on NTV, HaberTurk and
CNNTurk, which claims in "Ambassadorial Crisis " that the Ambassador
resigned over a protocol flap during the Obama-Erdogan meeting.
According to mainstream Milliyet, Ambassador Sensoy failed to pass a
Turkish Foreign Ministry request to the White House for a four-way
meeting with foreign ministers attending. Milliyet reports that when
questioned by FM Davutoglu, Sensoy responded saying "No, I did not.
You may remove me from office if you want." Mainstream Vatan
speculates that Sensoy resigned because he was kept at a distance by
Erdogan and his delegation during the visit, while liberal Radikal
points the finger at the US which it says instigated the problem
with its request for a one-on-one meeting.

DTP Closure Case/Attacks on DTP Offices/US Permits DTP to Open an
Office in Washington
Islamist-oriented Yeni-Safak reports that the 11 member
Constitutional Court continued intensive work yesterday on the DTP
case and is determined to finalize the case as soon as possible.
According to mainstream Vatan, DTP closure tensions erupted in
parliament when several AKP deputies interrupted a DTP deputy, who
was accusing the AKP government over the closure case, and told her
to "shut up." Vatan reports an armed attack Tuesday night against
DTP offices in Ankara and Kecioren and says four suspects, including
three Southeast veterans were taken into custody in connection with
Kecioren attacks. Yeni Safak and Radikal report that while DTP is
waiting to hear the Constitutional Court decision on the party's
future, the US Embassy in Ankara sent a letter to DTP headquarters,
saying that the DTP request to open a branch in Washington was
approved. If the party is not closed, the bureau in Washington will
be opened in 2010. Papers note that the Embassy officials visited
the party headquarters just a day before the case taken by the
court, and gave them the green light.

Editorial Whirl: Erdogan-Obama Meeting

Semih Idiz writes in mass appeal Milliyet: "In their meeting in the
Oval Office, President Obama told Prime Minister Erdogan the US also
thinks Iran has the right to access nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes. Iran, however, has a responsibility to relieve the
concerns of the world. 'Since your ties with Iran are good, you
should push Tehran toward that position,' Obama told Erdogan. It
seems that Erdogan's advocacy of Iran could not change Washington's
perception. Moreover, on Monday the Iranian Foreign Ministry made a
statement to the effect that 'We don't want Turkey in this.' It's
clear that the Iran issue will be a headache for the Erdogan
government."

Sedat Ergin observes in mass appeal Hurriyet: "Before the
Obama-Erdogan meeting, White House officials gave a special briefing

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to the press and shared a statement saying the US sees no problem
with Turkey talking to Iran. What's important for them, however, is
the conveyance of the same message to Iran. Turkey can play a
useful potential role only if its messages are in accord with that
of the US and the international community. If Turkey adopts this
approach and conveys to Iran that we are serious about the
suggestions we have laid on the table, then Turkey's mediation role
may turn positive. If they do not support the approach, which has
widespread international support, then there won't be much space in
which to play a critical role for Turkey."

Fehmi Koru comments in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak: "It's something
new that during his visit to Washington, Prime Minister Erdogan
spoke what he honestly believed instead of giving the US side what
they want to hear, and did not bend his words in the speeches he
delivered in the gatherings open to all. It's noteworthy that
Obama's attitude has been new as well. Instead of speaking about
the formulas he had voiced before [becoming President], Obama seemed
to adopt the approach of 'increasing military presence' which
befitted more his predecessor Bush regarding the resolution of the
main international conflicts. It's really positive for Obama that
he listened to the 'Come to your senses' polite warning of his
guest, and that he extended the time scheduled for the meeting. If
he can produce policies in line with what he listened to, he might
be able to find the most appropriate formula for even the toughest
problems. In international relations, the US and everyone else will
benefit if an egalitarian rhetoric dominates the ties with the US --
Erdogan's Washington visit has opened the door to that."

Mehmet Ali Birand writes in mass appeal Posta: "It's obvious that
two events must have impressed Erdogan very much -- one of them is
the bombing of Gaza, the other was when he had to wait at the border
to Gaza for half an hour during his Israel visit. Again, he raged
about Israel in the capital of the Jewish lobby. I asked myself,
'Was it necessary?' The 'One Minute' incident in Davos was very
effective anyway, he collected a large bonus in the Arab world.
Isn't that enough? I see that his insisting on this issue any
further will not bring any more bonuses for Turkey or the prime
minister."

"The New Turkey" Takes Center Stage in Region
Cuneyt Ulsever emphasizes in mass-appeal Hurriyet: "Before it pulls
out of Iraq at the end of 2011, the US wants to leave northern Iraq
under the protection of Turkey, and secure for the transfer of oil
and gas from the region to the world markets through Turkey. Turkey
and the US have a common interest in the liquidation of the PKK in
northern Iraq. The US doesn't want to fight the PKK in northern
Iraq, and asks Turkey to find a political solution to the problem.
However, the Turkish government's Kurdish democratic initiative is
not working in the country. And it's not clear whether the US can
even use the Incirlik Airbase while pulling out of Iraq. Can you
imagine what would happen if the Turkish government, as it did it
March 2003, again makes the US change its plans while withdrawing
from Iraq?"

Sahin Alpay observes in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "In 1993, Turkey
had problems with all of its neighbors, which were almost all
supporting the PKK. The AK Party government has reversed this
situation. In 1993, in a world newly emerging out of the Cold War,
the US did not care much about democracy in Turkey. Today's US
Administration sees that a pro-Western stability in Turkey can only
be achieved through democracy and the majority of EU countries see
the importance of democracy in Turkey for regional and global
peace."

Hadi Uluengin writes in mass appeal Hurriyet: "The Zionist lobby in
the US was alarmed when President Obama did not warn Turkey after
the Davos outburst of Prime Minister Erdogan, and in connection with
the neo-cons, they mobilized the think-tanks in the US which
released floods of articles and analyses which blame the Ak Party of
Islamism, and claim Turkey is drifting away from the West. There's

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an alliance between the leftists-nationalists and the neo-con,
pro-Israeli circles. This alliance, however, does not stand a
chance in the face of a new world and the new Turkey's dynamics.
The new Turkey, with the approval of the US, is walking toward the
horizons of a new world."

All Eyes Turn to Greece Regarding Halki Seminary
Vatan reports that following Erdogan's meeting with Obama, the
re-opening of the Halki Seminary is on the agenda once again.
Turkish Foreign and Education Ministries have been working on the
issue. AKP officials explained the planned formula saying "the
seminary can be opened as a vocational school giving high-school
level education. And, under these conditions there is no need for
legal or constitutional changes." Turkish officials noted that
Greece is expected to take steps addressing the problems of the
Turkish minority in Western-Thrace.

For Turkey's EU Bid, All Roads End in Cyprus (Sabah)
Mainstream Sabah reports that technical negotiations for Turkey's EU
accession have reached a bottleneck due to political problems. The
paper adds that Cyprus is the key issue and notes EU officials'
statements that a settlement in the harbor controversy between
Turkey and the Greek Cypriots is needed to avoid a further crisis.

Afghanistan: In "Mixed Signals from the US" mainstream Sabah reports
"it's noteworthy that while the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of
Staff Adm Michael Mullen said the US was satisfied over the
[non-combat] contribution of Turkey to International Security
Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan, NSC Advisor James Jones
recently commented the opposite, saying "the US will be happy if
Turkish forces join military operations." Islamist-oriented Zaman
in "US: We're Pleased with Turkey's Contribution in Afghanistan,"
reports, "Adm Mullen said the relationship between the US and Turkey
was one of great importance and from the military-to-military
standpoint it was on extremely solid ground."

"Climate Summit Sees Clash of Rich vs. Poor" headlines Hurriyet
Daily News and predicts more discontent between rich and poor
countries and highlights EPA head Lisa Jackson's appearance at the
conference. In "Obama to Work with Congress Over Climate," Hurriyet
DN notes that EPA's decision concerning greenhouse gases gives the
President a new way to cut back but warns that Congress still needs
to act on pending legislation. Turkish media highlights the World
Bank development report and notes that Istanbul will have miserable
weather in 40 years. Islamist-oriented Zaman Online gives full play
to a complete translation of the NYT's Thursday Tomas Friedman
article on why climate change is important.


TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- Court of Appeals President Hasan Gerceker says the judiciary was
target of systematic assaults

- DTP Tunceli deputy Serafettin Halis says PKK and DTP are
representing the same group of people

- Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek says the increase in industrial
output was an indication of the exit from recession


World

- Worldwide famous novelist Dan Brown arrived in Istanbul for the
promotion of his latest novel

- Moody's Investors Service says the US and the UK must prove they
can whittle down their ballooning deficits to avoid threats to their
triple-A credit ratings

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SILLIMAN