TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000618 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 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 In Today's Papers Opposition Leaders Respond at Party Group Meetings to Obama's Armenian Remembrance Day Statement Media outlets note opposition leaders Deniz Baykal and Devlet Bahceli commented on U.S. President Barack Obama's April 24th statement in Tuesday's addresses to their party lawmakers in the parliament. CHP leader Baykal said "Obama has adopted the Armenian and the Armenian Diaspora's terminology for the 1915 events. The other side of the events was disregarded," arguing that many Turks and Kurds were also killed during the same period. "The Turkey-Armenian process has not resolved the matter or improved relations with Armenia, yet it has adversely affected our ties with Azerbaijan," emphasized Baykal. Baykal called on Azerbaijan to "not overreact," because the AKP government was "temporary" whereas the friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan would "last forever." Opposition MHP leader Devlet Bahceli told his party group, "In the Armenians' literature, 'Meds Yeghern' (the Great Calamity) is used to define a violence which is equal to the 'Holocaust,' the massacre of the Jews by the Nazis." Bahceli said "Obama used this term to show that the events of 1915 were equal to the Holocaust," and "to identify the Turkish nation with the Nazis." In another story, mainstream Aksam reports Ankara will make a 'gesture' to Yerevan and allow Armenia to link to the 'Black Sea Motorway Project,' which will be joined by 12 countries on the shores of the Black Sea. Armenia will join the project by constructing its own part through Georgia. Turkey earlier excluded Armenia from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline projects, writes Aksam. Turkish Security Council Reacts to Obama's Remarks Sabah, Milliyet, Turkiye, Vatan: The National Security Council (NSC) criticized President Obama April 24th remarks when he called the events of 1915 "The Great Disaster." The Council said in a statement issued after yesterday's meeting "The joint history of the Turkish and Armenian nations should be evaluated with an objective and scientific approach that is supported by indisputable proof and documents," reported mainstream Sabah. Mainstream papers Vatan and Milliyet report that the NSC also discussed developments regarding additional troops to Afghanistan. Milliyet speculates that, since the Council talked about the additional troops ISAF command, it is not planned to send additional Turkish troops to the combat zone in Afghanistan. President Aliyev Comments on Turkish-Armenian Rapprochement Vatan, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal and CNN Turk: Speaking in a joint press conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said, "The Azerbaijani people have a right to know what is going on in relations between Turkey and Armenia. Azerbaijan is not in a position to give the go-ahead or prevent relations between the two countries. Azerbaijan has a right to shape its policy in line with new realities in the region. The Azerbaijani people would like to know whether the Karabakh peace process was separate from Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. This is a very simple question and a very simple answer is needed." Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Armenia Soli Ozel wrote in mainstream HaberTurk: "For everyone who lived in the land of Anatolia, 'The Great Catastrophe' is an expression of a historic reality. It will be most proper and healthy if we can accept this reality in order to heal wounds." Ismet Berkan wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Our cultural habits may tell us to remain silent regarding the agonies of the ANKARA 00000618 002 OF 004 past. However there are other cultures that prefer to face the past by talking about the past, which contributes to healing wounds." Cengiz Candar wrote in business daily Referans: "The most important aspect of the road map between Turkey and Armenia is that the two countries have finally reached an agreement after almost 90 years of debates. At this point, the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border depends entirely on an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. As soon as these two sign the Minsk Group's document on Karabakh, the border will be opened." Istanbul Governor, Police Chief Find Monday's Raid on Terror House 'Successful' Media outlets report Istanbul Governor Muammer Gurler and police chief Celalettin Cerrah held a joint press conference about Monday's police raid on a house in the Bostanci district in which two people, including a police officer, were killed and seven people wounded. Guler and Cerrah rejected criticism that the apartment was not evacuated during the skirmish, that the traffic around the building was not cut, and that the operation took "too long." They said suspect, identified as Orhan Yilmazkaya, a senior operative of the terrorist Revolutionary Headquarters group, was trained in PKK camps in northern Iraq. Cerrah said in the house, C-4 plastic explosives, hand grenades, "a bomb package like the one sent to an AKP building last year," and handguns were seized. "It was a successful operation," said Cerrah and Guler. Liberal Radikal lashed out at Guler and Cerrah for "defending" the mistakes they made during Monday's operation, and for not even apologizing for the death of a passer-by who was "watching" the scene near some policemen who were gathered around the building where the skirmish took place. Nine Soldiers Killed in Blast in Southeast Turkey The chief of the military General Staff (TGS),General Ilker Basbug said early Wednesday nine soldiers were killed in a roadside blast in Lice in the province of Diyarbakir southeastern Turkey. Basbug said in a televised press conference a tank and an armored personnel carrier were on a mission to secure the region before the passage of a military convoy when the explosion occurred. "The personnel carrier has around 4-4.5 centimeters of armor underneath. These explosives must have been strong to cause such damage. According to our initial assessment, it is likely to be a homemade explosive," he said. News agencies and televisions report the landmine was detonated by remote control. Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Syria-Israel Ibrahim Karagul wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Certain circles including some in Turkey are trying to provoke new problems between Turkey and Israel by misrepresenting the strong relationship between Turkey and Syria. Turkey should continue to act as a regional power and should engage in more cooperation like the current joint military exercises with Syria. As Turkey emerges as a regional power, Israel's power will diminish." The Swine Flu Epidemic Spreads Media outlets continue to cover the spread of swine flu and coverage is still mostly sensational. Conservative Bugun reports "The Pandemic Can't Be Controlled" as "World leaders no longer have time to discuss the economic crisis or the Iraq war" and instead "are debating how to stop the onslaught of a new epidemic." Conservative nationalist Turkiye reports "The World Health Organization has called on all countries to unite in the struggle against this epidemic" as "Swine flu has reached Europe and Asia." Mainstream Vatan headlines "No Country is Safe." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports "The Swine Flu Alarm Climbs to The Highest Level." Leftist Taraf reports "The Epidemic Alarm Grows Louder." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet headlines "The Epidemic Is Out of Control." Meanwhile, economic daily Referans headlines "Pork Smuggling and Unregistered Swine Farms Pose Swine Flu Threat to ANKARA 00000618 003 OF 004 Turkey." Mainstream Hurriyet reports "International airports in Turkey will install thermal cameras monitoring the body temperature of passengers arriving from overseas against the possible infection of swine flu." Obama's First 100 Days NTV carries a feature article that looks at the views of several columnists regarding Obama's first 100 days. These columnists praise President Obama for "Taking measures for human rights," "releasing the torture memos," and "changing the U.S. image bit by bit." However, one columnist says "His plan to withdraw from Iraq may not take place as planned," another points to instability in Pakistan as a problem, and another columnist criticizes President Obama "for his April 24th message." Mainstream Sabah notes that President Obama "Met with 44 foreign leaders, received eight heads of state, visited nine countries, changed six laws," and won "68 percent approval ratings from the U.S. public" during his first 100 days. Liberal Radikal headlines "Obama's First Report Card Promises Hope," and the paper gives him high marks for closing Guantanamo, ending torture, reaching out to Iran, promising a withdrawal from Iraq, visiting Turkey to express support to Turkey's EU bid, and reaching out to Cuba. Radikal, however, calls his initiatives toward China and toward the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan "weak." The paper does say "The success of his economic policies remains to be seen." Mainstream Haberturk carries the headline "They Are Crucifying Him on the 100th Day," and notes artist Michael D'Antuono's artwork depicted President Obama as if he is being crucified in front of the presidential seal, but the paper noted on April 26th "Obama has passed his 100-day test with a good mark." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - The American-Turkish Council (ATC) Director James Holmes says the future of US-Turkey relations was shaped by the April 6 speech of President Obama in the Turkish Parliament, and not by his April 24 Armenian statement. - In Adana, 22 children between the ages 12 to 17 were given prison sentences between four and six years for throwing stones at the police during March 21 Nevruz celebrations in the city. - Prime Minister Erdogan is expected to submit his new cabinet list to President Gul on April 30. - Lockheed Martin has signed an agreement with Turkey's ALP Aviation, Aselsan and Kale Aviation to manufacture USD 5.5 billion of components for the F-35 Lightning II fighter plane. World - The Jerusalem Post comments Turkey's joint military drill with Syria has not only disturbed Jerusalem, it has also riled the Turkish military. - The U.S. Fifth Fleet will transfer the command of the counter-piracy international naval force CTF 151 to the Turkish Navy on May 3. - The EU's top court, the European Court of Justice, backs the right of a Greek Cypriot to reclaim land in Turkish Cyprus sold to the British couple Linda and David Orams, who built a villa on it. - Turkish Cypriot chief prosecutor asks the police to probe allegations for 'bribery' in the latest general elections, as acknowledged by Serdar Denktas, the leader of Democrat Party. - Palestinian administration establishes formal ties with Venezuela and opens a diplomatic mission in Caracas. ANKARA 00000618 004 OF 004 JEFFREY