TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009

IN TODAY'S PAPERS

Armenia, Azerbaijan Seek Solution to Conflict
Media outlets give extensive coverage to the meeting of the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the US Embassy in Prague,
accompanied by the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group, to seek solutions
to the territorial conflict between their countries. Mainstream
Sabah headlines "Peace Winds in Caucasus," and reports that,
"President Aliyev and President Sargsyan reached an agreement on the
principles of the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. A
timetable and roadmap are being developed for a settlement."
Mainstream Haberturk reports, "the compromise reached by the two
leaders was "historic," adding, "two leaders have passed a critical
threshold in Prague." Mainstream Hurriyet reports
"US-Russia-France: Agreement ok" and says "the US, Russia and France
said in a joint statement that the meeting of the two presidents was
"constructive," and added the two parties reached an agreement about
the methods for working out a settlement." Mainstream Sabah quotes
Matt Bryza, Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs as saying "for the first time, there's been a lot of
improvement and we expect concrete results for a settlement by the
end of the year." Mainstream Milliyet adds, "the next meeting will
be in June with the Minsk Group chairmen and the Foreign Ministers
of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Liberal Radikal reports "the deal in
Prague has been the first step towards a settlement since 1993," and
the paper quotes President Abdullah Gul speaking to journalists en
route to Prague saying, "2009 offers an opportunity for solving
problems in the Caucasus and this opportunity shouldn't be missed."

Comment on Prague Talks

Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "As President
Gul mentioned after the talks in Prague, there is significant hope
for the future and 2009 should be considered the year of opportunity
for peace in the Caucasus. The fact that a meeting between Azeri
and Armenian leaders was held in the U.S. Embassy in Prague clearly
indicates the strong U.S. commitment to the problem-solving
process."

President Gul Meets with DTP Leader Ahmet Turk
Mainstream Sabah and Islamist-oriented Zaman report in a series of
meetings held with opposition leaders, that President Gul received
DTP leader Ahmet Turk yesterday. Reportedly during the meeting, Gul
warned Turk to remain distant to the PKK and asked the DTP to work
on the problems of the whole country, not just of one region.

Editorial Opinions on PKK and Kurdish Problem

Ertugrul Ozkok wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "The Milliyet interview
with PKK's Karayilan should be taken seriously by state authorities.
The leader of the organization is now talking about some concrete
steps toward disarming the PKK. Public opinion is more mature than
before. Frankly speaking, I'd like to be a messenger on behalf of
the imprisoned leader Ocalan by interviewing him because what he
says on this is very important."

Cengiz Candar wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "There is an
ongoing silence in official circles about the PKK leadership's call
for reconciliation and ceasefire. It may be hard to say, but we
have to face the fact that the PKK is an integral part of the
Kurdish problem and cannot be left aside. Ankara should move and
take proactive steps toward finding the right way to address the
Kurdish problem by considering all aspects of it."

Yasemin Congar wrote in leftist Taraf: "The recent statements from
the PKK's Karayilan should not be ignored. He is showing some clear
direction on how to win over the PKK militants and get them to
return home. This is a process which can start the actual disarming
of the PKK. One of the demands of Karayilan is an amnesty for
imprisoned militants as well as the leader Ocalan. It may sound

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far-fetched to free Ocalan at this point, but at least the state
should consider steps for the 4,000 militants in prisons thru a
liberal interpretation of Article 221 of the Penal Code, known as
the Repentance Law."

Constitutional Court Vice Chairman Osman Paksut was Monitored
Coincidentally
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports that Constitutional Court
Vice-Chair Osman Paksut claimed he was the victim of wire tapping in
the Ergenekon investigation and has filed a criminal complaint
against the Ergenekon prosecutors. The prosecutors, on the other
hand, claimed that Paksut made phone calls with a commercial line
belonging to his wife, and his calls were monitored coincidentally.
They adding that certain issues overheard in the wiretapping
constitute crimes.

Village Guard System Might be Abolished
Hurriyet, Zaman, Milliyet, Radikal, Aksam, Vatan: In the aftermath
of the shooting of 44 people at a wedding ceremony in Bilge village
of southeastern province Mardin, the incident remains the top issue
on the domestic agenda. Mainstream Hurriyet reports that the number
of detainees linked to the massacre increased to 11. The
gendarmerie collected all weapons of the village guards in the
village. Interior Minister Besir Atalay said these weapons were
sent for ballistic examination. Tabloid Aksam notes that the
massacre in Mardin triggered heated debates about the village guard
system. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said "the system might be
revised or abolished. Mainstream Milliyet quotes President Gul
saying "The incident in Mardin is the result of ignorance, not the
village guard system. The village guard system is a comprehensive
issue which should be discussed by experts and state institutions.
The system cannot be evaluated based on only one incident. This
system has a security angle and should be evaluated carefully and
then the appropriate action should be taken."

TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- State Minister Selma Aliye Kavaf said 48 children lost one or both
of their parents in the wedding attack in Mardin. Kavaf and
President Gul's wife Hayrunnisa Gul are expected to pay a visit to
the region today

- The Parliament establishes a special commission to probe the
massacre in Mardin. Members of the commission will go to Mardin
next week

- Court of Appeals President Hasan Gerceker said that they were not
against the constitutional reforms but the reforms should infringe
the basic principles of the republic


World

- Turkish Foreign Ministry condemns a genocide motion passed by the
South Australian parliament

- Armenian-origin French singer Charles Aznavour is appointed as
Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland

JEFFREY