ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000435 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 MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009 In Today's Papers Obama's Nevruz Message Plays Well in Turkey while Khomeini Snubs Obama's Nevruz Olive Branch Media outlets cover Obama's Nevruz message positively, and major TV networks NTV, ATV, CNNTurk, and ShowTV carried the full video message, dubbed over in Turkish, beginning on Friday afternoon. Once reactions began to come from Tehran, media note that despite the fact that Obama had extended an olive branch to Iran, Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini reacted harshly. Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reported, "Obama's message that sought to soften relations with Iran was greeted harshly when religious leader Khomeini responded by saying 'I see no change in American policy.'" Liberal Radikal reported Sunday, "Iran's religious leader Khomeini did not give a warm response to Obama's message of peace for Nevruz." The paper also reports "In response to Obama's historic message, Khomeni responded severely," but "Obama is not intimidated by Khomeini's approach and the White House called for more diplomatic steps to establish dialogue." Mainstream Vatan commented, "Despite the effects Obama's message will have on the rest of the world, it doesn't look like his message had any effect in Iran." Mainstream Milliyet reports, "Obama extended his hand in peace," and "Iran's religious leader Khomeini responded by saying he wants 'real' change in the U.S. approach to Iran." Mainstream Hurriyet commented, "The Iranian leader's swift and sweeping rebuff to Washington's offer for dialogue is more than just a reply to Obama's latest outreach. It is a broad lesson in the mind-set of Iran's all-powerful theocracy and how it overshadows any possible next steps by President Barack Obama." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports "Religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini responded to Obama by saying, 'It is not enough to just change your words,'" and Zaman notes "sanctions remain in place against the Iranian administration and the U.S. continues to express its support for Israel," despite the fact that "Obama seeks to end the 30-year enmity between the U.S. and Iran through diplomacy." In a related story, weekend papers note that U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey joined the Cultural and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay for Nevruz celebrations and jumped over the Nevruz fire at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Ankara on Saturday. Photos of Ambassador Jeffrey jumping over a fire don front pages of Sunday newspapers, and mainstream Milliyet joked that Ambassador Jeffrey succeeded in overcoming "A Trial By Fire." Editorial Opinion on President Obama's Nevruz Message: Semih Idiz wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The Iranian religious leadership did not welcome President Obama's message. Khomeini and others are using anti-Americanism in order to garner political power in the days prior to presidential elections in Iran. Thus, normalization with the U.S. is a nightmare scenario for some Iranian leaders in the lead up to Iran's presidential elections." FM Babacan on the Kurdish Conference Sabah, Vatan, Radikal: In an interview with the Haber Turk TV, Babacan addressed a question regarding Turkey's official participation in the Kurdish Conference in Arbil next month, "Our Iraq special envoy Murat Ozcelik was told about this conference three or four months ago. If Turkey is invited to the conference as an observer, we will evaluate the invitation according to the conditions of the day." Regarding rumors of a possible U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq via Turkey, Babacan said "we were informed of a such possibility awhile back, but we have not yet received an official request." President Gul to Pay Landmark Visit to Baghdad Media outlets report President Abdullah Gul will travel to Baghdad on Monday for a two-day official visit -- the first Turkish ANKARA 00000435 002 OF 004 president to visit Iraq in 33 years. Papers say Gul will visit only Baghdad and will not travel to the Kurdish cities such as Erbil, Kirkuk or Najaf. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that on Monday night, President Jalal Talabani will host a dinner in Gul's honor, to which Massoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, is expected to attend. Meanwhile, mainstream Hurriyet reports that ahead of President Gul's visit to Baghdad, the Erbil-based "Hewler Post," an English-language newspaper backed by Massoud Barzani, began printing a Turkish-language edition as well. Hurriyet sees the publication of the daily in Turkish as a "historic gesture" from Barzani in honor of President Gul's visit to Iraq. PM Erdogan Offers Support For U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq Via Turkey Mainstream Milliyet reports that PM Erdogan told CNN International in an interview this weekend, "With regard to the exit of the American soldiers, we are positive on that issue." In addition, he noted, "If weapons and ammunition are going to come out, it has to be clear where they are going to be heading," and, "If we are informed about where this military equipment would be going precisely, then we can make a proper evaluation." Erdogan added that he welcomed Obama's recent Newroz message. He also praised Obama's steps to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Finally, Erdogan drew a comparison between his and Obama's "humble roots." Editorial Opinion on Turkish-American Relations Okan Muderrisoglu wrote in mainstream Sabah: "Defense Minister Gonul told Sabah he expects President Obama to request additional Turkish troops for the NATO mission in Afghanistan when he comes to Turkey in April. Gonul noted, 'We would like to contribute additional troops to Afghanistan as long as they are not serving in the combat zone as combat troops.' It looks like the Turkish government feels obliged to do more for Afghanistan; but the major focus is on encouraging Taliban elements, especially the more moderate elements, toward the political process. Defense Minister Gonul believes Turkey has a role to play in this process, which is indirectly and unofficially supported by the U.S. administration." Ferai Tinc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "The 'new' Washington approach has moved away from pointing fingers at an axis of evil toward seeking resolutions to conflicts. Dialogue and consensus-building will be main mottos of the Obama administration. Within this context, American officials' contact with moderate Taliban figures should not come as a surprise. However, there is a potential pitfall to this approach. Some problematic regimes might eventually win support from the U.S. if they soften their policies; in return, Washington may look the other way regarding some regimes' shortfalls regarding basic democratic criteria." Ali Aslan wrote in Islamist-oriented Zaman: "PM Erdogan's foreign policy adviser Davutoglu recently concluded an important trip to the U.S. prior to President Obama's historic visit to Turkey. Adviser Davutoglu not only explained in detail Turkey's foreign policy, but he found that many in Washington agreed with his views. Thus, he returned to Ankara very optimistic about the future relations with the U.S." Parties Hold Final Weekend Election Rallies in Istanbul Media outlets report that a week ahead of the March 29 municipal elections, election rallies were held in five political parties in Istanbul in a single day. Prime Minister Erdogan addressed tens of thousands of AKP supporters in Kazlicesme district, while three opposition parties, including the CHP, the SP and the BBP, rallied in Caglayan Square. Devlet Bahceli, the leader of MHP, held a rally in Adana. Papers report thousands of AKP supporters from distant neighborhoods were brought to Kazlicesme by buses and trains for ANKARA 00000435 003 OF 004 free. Mainstream papers report Erdogan addressed around 50,000 supporters whereas CHP's Deniz Baykal spoke to some 40,000 people (the same figures reported by the Islamist papers are 200,000 and 40,000 respectively). In the March 29 municipal elections, 48,006,650 voters will cast votes in 177,050 ballot boxes and elect 36,820 people, excluding the muhtars (village or neighborhood 'headmen'). Journalists Mehmet Ali Birand and Ugur Dundar React to Ankara Mayor Gokcek's Threats Mainstreams Hurriyet, Milliyet and Vatan reported over the weekend that Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek, during his party meeting in Kazan last week, accused media VIPs Mehmet Ali Birand and Ugur Dundar of "reporting incorrect news" about Gokcek, who threatened them by saying "after the elections, I will make your lives miserable in Turkey." Ugur Dundar reacted by saying, "Gokcek has directly singled us out and targeted us. If anything happens to me or any of my family members, I'll hold Gokcek directly responsible." Cagaptay: The AKP Has Replaced Turkey's Former Deep State with the AKP's Own Deep State (Newsweek) Media outlets carry excerpts from an article by Soner Cagaptay, the Washington Institute's Turkey Program Coordinator, in Newsweek. In his article, Cagaptay claims that in Turkey, the Islamists are not successfully eliminating the shadowy "deep state," but instead are replacing it with one of their own. The article says the AKP has used cases like the 'Ergenekon' case to attack Turkey's secular judges, media, military and its political opponents. "The police have taken more than 100 supposed plotters into custody, including not just underworld figures, but also journalists, military officers, businesspeople, judges and academics," says Cagaptay. He adds, "The tragedy here is that the AKP is not just using Ergenekon to rid Turkey of the old Deep State, but to intimidate its legitimate opposition ahead of nationwide local elections on March ¶29. As the last elections suggested, more than half the population still opposes the AKP, but many are now afraid to speak out due to signs that the government is monitoring its enemies." According to Cagaptay, "Such signs suggest that the AKP has replaced the old Deep State with a new one of its own." Armenian Lobby Group ANCA Faces Investigation Media outlets reported over the weekend and today that the U.S. Department of Justice has announced it will launch a probe into a complaint filed by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) ethics organization that the Armenian National Committee of Armenia, or ANCA, the largest U.S. Armenian group, is involved in "campaign finance and lobbying violations." The CREW said last month that ANCA had failed to register as a domestic lobbying group or as a foreign agent, despite its political work and its close ties to an Armenian political party, and called for a formal investigation against ANCA. ANCA also has not registered as a lobbyist with either the house or the senate, CREW said. Failure to register can be a felony offense. ANCA officials denied any wrongdoing, report papers. TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - Arzuhan Yalcindag, the chair of Turkey's leading business grouping, TUSIAD, said, "Businessmen in Turkey are scared even when making assessments. Threatening businessmen to not lay off workers is no solution. The government did not recognize the crisis on time, and was late to take measures against it." - On Saturday evening, Turkey's official broadcaster TRT's new channel, TRT Avaz, kicked off broadcasts into 27 countries in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia in a ceremony in Ankara ANKARA 00000435 004 OF 004 attended by President Gul, cabinet ministers as well as artists from Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. - Deputy Prime Minister Hayati Yazici says his government plans legal reforms to facilitate customs procedures. World - Turkish Cyprus leader Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to meet with Secretary Clinton in Washington on March 30. - On March 26, President Abdullah Gul will travel to Brussels to attend Business Europe summit talks. - U.S. sources say Washington is to back former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to be the next secretary general of NATO. JEFFREY