ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000367 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: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 Gul: President Obama Could Launch A New Era Media outlets note that Turkish President Abdullah Gul spoke to reporters yesterday while he was en route to Tehran and his messages praised U.S. President Obama's approach to the region. Liberal Radikal headlines, "Gul Begins a New Era With Obama." In "The Spirit of Obama in Iran," Radikal reports, "Gul told Ahmadinejad and Khomeini to prepare for dialogue with the U.S." Sabah notes that President Gul told Ahmadinejad "You can't shake hands when your fists are clinched." Mainstream Vatan reports Gul said "An opportunity has emerged with Barack Obama's election for problems to be solved and for a new world order" as "Turkey and the new U.S. administration share common views about Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kurdish issue. A new era has started and for the sake of the world security and stability, everyone should be prepared for this new era." Mainstream Sabah reports that when asked whether Obama would deliver a message to the Islamic world when he was in Turkey, Gul said "Obama's visit to Ankara is a message in and of itself. We are very pleased about the visit. Because, if we manage to correctly lay the tracks from the beginning, we'll be able to advance along those rails speedily. And this visit is a good opportunity to lay good groundwork." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet drew attention to the Kurdish issue, noting that Gul said, "It is wrong to blame foreigners for the Kurdish problem," in Turkey because "good things will happen." In a related story, Yeni Safak and Cumhuriyet report President Obama will join the G-20 meeting in Britain, where he will hold a bilateral meeting with PM Erdogan. Obama will later participate in NATO's 60th anniversary summit talks in Baden-Baden in Germany, where he will meet with President Gul. Obama will later move on to Prague before travelling to Ankara on April 6 and Istanbul on April ¶7. Editorial Commentary on Obama's Turkey Visit Cuneyt Ulsever wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "Obama's visit is very important, but it should be read in a proper context. Like Turkey, the Obama administration is ready for engagement and dialogue on problematic areas and issues, such as Iran, Syria, Hamas, the Taliban and Hezbullah. However this attitude provides an opportunity for these actors to change their approach. This is not about accepting them as they are. And it includes an expectation for Turkey to change as well, particularly on resolving the Kurdish issue and showing flexibility on the EU/Cyprus process." Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The Obama administration's openness and encouragement for diplomacy is a strong basis for Turkey's mission in the region. Turkey will be able to continue its role even more actively than before. On the other hand, harmony between Ankara and Washington is an essential element to consider. Washington hopes Turkey take a role when it comes to problems like Iranian nuclear power and Hamas. It will only backfire if Ankara chooses to defend their position as opposed to convincing them to change." Abdulhamit Bilici wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "Some in Turkey strongly argued against the government's close engagement with the Middle East and the Arab world, claiming that it would alienate Ankara from Western world. Developments are just proving otherwise, and the upcoming visit of President Obama is a clear indication to this. The more we engage with the East, the closer we will get to the West." Cumhuriyet comments that in an effort to "cover some distance" before President Obama calls on Turkey, Ankara has sent a Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) delegation, headed by the deputy Undersecretary Unal Cevikoz, to Washington to lobby the U.S. Congress against the passage of the Armenian genocide resolution. Erdogan's top foreign policy advisor, Professor Ahmet Davutoglu, is also expected to pay a visit to the U.S. soon, according to ANKARA 00000367 002 OF 003 Cumhuriyet. Clinton Criticized for Soft Approach to Human Rights Media outlets highlight the Washington Post's editorial which criticized Secretary Clinton for 'not addressing human rights issues' during her visit to Turkey. Mainstream Milliyet reports on its front page, "Press Freedom in Turkey is Under Siege" as "The Washington Post accuses Secretary Clinton of ignoring the human rights practices of the U.S.' major allies." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The Washington Post Criticizes" Clinton because she "Forgot Human Rights in Turkey." Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines, "The Washington Post Criticizes the Government Regarding Press Freedom," and notes "The Washington Post compared Prime Minister Erdogan's approach to press freedom to Russian President Putin's approach to press freedom by referring to the governments half billion dollar tax fine against the Dogan media group." Mainstream Vatan reports "The repercussions of Clinton's visit to Turkey continue." Mainstream HaberTurk reports "Hillary Goes Against Her Own Department's Report" on human rights. 'German Police Detain Islamists with Ties to Turks' (Cumhuriyet) Media outlets report German police have staged "simultaneous raids" on the houses, businesses and associations of Islamist suspects in seven cities across the country. In "Raid on Islamists with Ties to Turks," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports new corruption and irregularities in a scale larger than the Deniz Feneri scandal could surface in the investigation. Seven suspects, including Turks, who had been detained earlier, were charged with illegally raising funds, buying assets through false bankruptcy, forging documents and money laundering. German police did not disclose the identities of the detained, but sources say the head of the illegal formation had ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and could have connections with the Turkish National View (Milli Gorus) organization, reports Cumhuriyet. PKK Defectors Working as Mercenaries for U.S. Army Mainstream Aksam and mainstream Hurriyet report that several former PKK members have claimed that they know other PKK militants who deserted the PKK in order to fight as mercenaries for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. According to the testimony, the former PKK militants turned mercenaries will undergo a short training program in Baghdad before being deployed in Afghanistan. These claims were cited in the reports by MIT (National Intelligence Organization), TNP (Turkish National Police) and Gendarmerie intelligence. Hurriyet notes that a Syrian PKK militant code named "Hezir" testified that at least 15 of his friends "joined the U.S. army in exchange for a Green Card." CHP Submits Parliamentary Motion Regarding the 'Darwin Censorship' Media outlets report the opposition CHP submitted a parliamentary motion yesterday that asked for an explanation from PM Erdogan and Minister Mehmet Aydin about the TUBITAK board's decision to censor articles about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution in the March issue of "Science and Technology" magazine. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said, "Such reactions against Darwin and the debates on evolution on the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth demonstrate the dogma that currently dominates scientific organizations in Turkey." Professor Nuket Yetis, the AKP-appointed head of Turkey's Scientific and Technical Research Institution, or TUBITAK, declined to answer press questions regarding the censorship. Second Indictment in Ergenekon All papers report that the Istanbul Prosecutors Office submitted yesterday an additional indictment in Ergenekon case. Mainstream Hurriyet reports that the indictment accused 12 suspects of attempting to annul the parliament and government by using violence and sought life imprisonment. Retired Generals Hursit Tolon and Sener Eruygur are among those 14 suspects. ANKARA 00000367 003 OF 003 TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - A 13-year old child detained for "insulting" PM Erdogan at an election rally in Aydin says he was "hurt" by the PM and his bodyguards. - The ruling AKP government is set to release an economic stimulus package that will include an extra payment for pensioners and special tax and employment incentives for textile, automotive, steel, maritime and tourism sectors. - More than 14,000 people lost their jobs in Bursa and the entire Thrace region over the last two months. - Turkey's leading iron and steel producer Erdemir, suffering 75-percent decrease in demand, is on the verge of collapse. World - A draft bill submitted to the US House of Representatives urges Turkey to respect the rights of the Istanbul-based Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. - Reformist ex-PM Mir Hossein Musavi, who was PM during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, says he will contest the presidential election in June. Musavi's participation in polls could split the reformers seeking to oust President Ahmadinejad. - US intelligence chief Dennis Blair warns it would be "difficult" to convince Iran to give up its quest for nuclear technology. - The Somalian cabinet votes to implement sharia law across the country. JEFFREY