ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000363

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009

In Today's Papers

Obama's Upcoming Visit to Turkey Illustrates Turkey's Importance and
Angers Greece
Media outlets hail the U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to
visit Turkey as a sign of Turkey's significance in the region.
Mainstream Sabah reports U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming
visit shows "Incirlik's importance will increase as the U.S.
withdraws its forces from Iraq" and "Obama seeks to win over the
Muslim world by visiting Turkey." Columnist Sami Kohen of
mainstream Milliyet notes in "Obama's Strategy to Win Turkey" that
"Washington is closely watching Turkey shore up its geopolitical
significance" by "Ankara's efforts regarding Syrian-Israeli
relations, and Ankara's initiatives toward Iran, Afghanistan, and
Pakistan." Kohen calls the new administrations newfound approach to
Turkey "an indication of American pragmatism in the region."
Columnist Fikret Bila of the same paper also notes, "Obama's
decision to come to Turkey shows that the new administration expect
Turkey to contribute to efforts in Iraq, Palestine, Iran, and the
Caucasus." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet headlines "Turkey Is An
Ally Again." Columnist Murat Yetkin of liberal Radikal writes,
"Obama understands that Turkey can play a key political, security,
and economic role in the region only if it is aligned with the West"
and "Obama is coming to Turkey during his first trip to Europe,
which indicated Obama seeks to redefine the framework of U.S. ties
to Europe." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak carries the front page
headline, "Obama Shocks The World By His Change of Course," in
foreign policy. Also, Yeni Safak notes, "Obama's upcoming visit
proves that Turkey's foreign policy has been a success" as "Turkey
is a country of central importance." CNN Turk reports, "Circles in
Washington describe Obama's decision to visit Turkey as 'Ankara's
diplomatic victory.'"

In a related story, mainstream Sabah, "Our Neighbor Is Seized with
Jealousy," as U.S. President Barack Obama's plans to visit Ankara
and bypass Athens "creates shattered dreams" in Athens and the Greek
media reports this shows "Ankara is more important" to the new
administration than Athens. Mainstream Milliyet reports, "Athens Is
in Shock" as "Obama Is Not Coming." Liberal Radikal headlines,
"Obama Makes Our Neighbor Jealous." Mainstream Aksam says Athens
feels like "it has been given a cold shower" by Obama's perceived
snub. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "Greek officials are alarmed
by the fact that U.S. officials have begun to skip Athens in
high-level visits to Turkey."

Editorial Comment on U.S. President Obama's Upcoming Visit

Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Focusing only
on Obama's message to Islamic world only reduces the importance of
his visit to Turkey. Turkey must analyze Obama's important upcoming
visit from a broader perspective. Turkey and the U.S. share similar
priorities regarding Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Obama's
visit is an indication Obama is embracing Turkey's potential to play
a political and economic role."

Nazli Ilicak wrote in mainstream Sabah: "Due to the Bush
administration's policy, American image in Turkey fell to its lowest
degree. The visit of Hillary Clinton reminded me of President
Clinton's visit in 1999, which happened during an overall positive
climate. Hillary Clinton made a shining start and President Obama's
will reach the summit: This is the time to love America again."

Fikret Bila wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "With the new
administration, Ankara and Washington are getting closer to each
other. Ankara has some expectations from Obama in that regard and
given the statements of Turkish officials, the following can be
noted: Problems should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue;
equating Islam with terrorism should end; the Palestine issue should
be treated fairly; Syria should be encouraged to explore ties with
the West. Finally, measures should be implemented for Iraq's unity

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and integrity in the aftermath of the U.S. pull out."

Sahin Alpay wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "The Obama
administration is giving signals to act together with Turkey
particularly on certain things, namely dialogue and diplomacy.
Washington should once again realize, if not has done already, that
anti-American sentiment in Muslim countries stems from equalizing
terror with Islam, which was a tone set by the Bush administration.
If the new administration uses its power and clout toward freeing
Palestinians from Israel oppression and stops giving unconditional
support for Arab dictatorships and Israel, then there will be a
completely new friendship with Islamic world."

Mumtazer Turkone wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "The Obama visit
is more of an international project: The U.S.-Turkey joint
production for a new Middle East. Washington wants to design the
world, particularly starting with the Middle East and Turkey in
hopes of using its influence as a regional power. We have to think
in a broader context and focus on advantages of this new initiative
instead of getting obsessed with 'The Greater Middle east Project'
and 'Moderate Islam' which is on no one else's agenda but ours."

President Gul Goes to Iran Today and to Baghdad on March 20-21
Mainstream Sabah and Islamist-oriented Zaman report that President
Gul left for Iran today to attend the 10th summit of the Economic
Cooperation Organization. Gul will hold meetings with Iranian
President Ahmedinejad and religious leader Khomeini and will give
the message that they should make good use of a dialogue process
with the United States. Sabah adds that President Gul was invited
by Iraqi President Talabani to visit Baghdad on March 20-21.
Reportedly, Gul will stay at Talabani's residence in the green zone
and will also meet with KRG President Massoud Barzani in Baghdad.
Gul will not go to Erbil, Kirkuk or Necef for security reasons.

FM Babacan to Visit Yerevan in April
Mainstream Hurriyet reports that as "Ankara seeks new ways to
prevent President Obama from using the word "genocide" in the annual
April 24 speech for the Armenian commemoration day of the incidents
in 1915, Turkey has taken an important step and FM Babacan has
accepted an invitation by his Armenian counterpart FM Nalbandian to
participate in a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in
Yerevan on April 16-17.

"The Dollar Flies Upwards" (Cumhuriyet)
Media note the sharp and fast rise in the value of the U.S. Dollar
over the Turkish Lira (TL) is a signal that the Turkish economy is
showing its vulnerability in the global economic crisis. Mainstream
Milliyet writes in "Why Is It Rising?" that "Investors are pulling
their money out of developing countries like Poland, Romania, and
South Africa, which is affecting the Turkish Lira." Liberal Radikal
reports, "The Dollar Reaches a New High" against the TL as
"Factories Are Closed, and Industrial Production Fell by 21.3% to A
Record Low" and "The impact of the crisis will be worse in Turkey
than in the U.S." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "The
Markets Go from One Place to The Other As They Surrender to the
General Crisis." Mainstream Hurriyet notes the latest economic
figures indicate "A Red Alert in the Turkish Economy." Haber Turk
reports "The Turkish Lira suffered the biggest losses among the
international currencies."

The Global Economic Meltdown Deepens in Turkey
Papers report a "huge decrease in Turkish industrial output by 21.3
percent in January," signaling what Hurriyet calls "a red alert" for
the contraction in the economy. Papers comment that the recent fall
in industrial production was sharper than that during the crisis of

2001. "In five months, Turkey has lost one quarter of its
industry," says the business daily Referans, underlining that the
losses took place in a period when the ruling AKP government was
"confident" that the global economic meltdown had "by-passed"
Turkey. Automotive and textile sectors shrank by 54 and 28.3

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percent, respectively. Following the announcement of the Turkish
industrial output figure, analysts predict a five percent economic
contraction in the first quarter of the year. No increase in
production is expected until the last quarter of 2009, and
unemployment rates for the first months of the year might soar to 14
percent. Analysts also criticize the government for delaying a new
stand-by agreement with the IMF, which has eroding effects on the
"confidence" in Turkey's economy both at home and abroad.
Mainstream Hurriyet reports the economic crisis has created "an army
of three million unemployed people in Turkey."

Excavations Under Way Yesterday at Silopi's BOTAS Facilities
Hurriyet, Taraf, Sabah, Milliyet, Bugun: Today's papers report that
three locations at Silopi's BOTAS facilities were excavated
yesterday. The Sirnak Bar Association Chairperson Nisirevan Elgi
said remnants of two bones and a piece from an undershirt were
found. Elgi said they do not know for sure now whether the bones
were those of an animal or not. "There are stains on the undershirt
but we do not know now yet what these stains are. The bones and the
fabric will be analyzed by the Forensic Authority. The excavations
at the site at three spots were completed. We will continue either
tomorrow or the next day to excavate a spot at a former restaurant
located between Silopi and Cizre (in Sirnak)."

'Darwin Censor' in Popular Science Magazine
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Vatan and Cumhuriyet report the Science and
Technology journal, a 42-year old popular magazine published by
Turkey's Scientific and Technical Research Institution (TUBITAK,)
was "censored" by the organization's deputy head, Professor Omer
Cebeci, for its cover and the contents on Charles Darwin's theory of
evolution. The magazine's March cover commemorating the 200th
birthday of Darwin and the related articles were "removed," and
replaced by files on global climate change. The chief editor of the
magazine, Dr. Cigdem Atakuman, was sacked. The president of
TUBITAK, Professor Nuket Yetis was appointed by the AKP government
to head the institution in 2004. Former President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer had vetoed Yetis' prior nominations and Yetis assumed the post
in 2008 only after President Gul came to office. Omer Cebeci, a
professor of chemistry, worked at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi
Arabia from 1980-1989.

TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal told a rally in Giresun the AKP
will have to win at least 52 percent of the votes to claim success
in the elections.

- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will join the World Water
Forum to be held in Istanbul from March 16-22.

- President Abdullah Gul spoke with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak
over the phone to discuss the Palestine question and regional
developments.

- The International Press Institute (IPI) urged the EU to use its
influence on PM Erdogan to abandon his attitude toward the media in
Turkey.

World

- Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says Iraq and Iran are
"seriously at odds" over defining their land and sea borders.

- The semi-official Press Trust of India quotes a former Indian
general as saying Pakistan's nuclear weapons prevented India from
attacking it twice, one after the Mumbai attacks in November and the
2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament.


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- Some 80 leading Islamic intellectuals and Western academics have
sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to support democracy
and not the "oppressive regimes" in the Middle East. The initiative
was led by the U.S.-based "Islam and Democracy Studies Center."

- President Obama signs an order reversing the Bush administration's
strict restrictions on stem cell research.

JEFFREY