TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000692 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, MAY 13, 2009 IN TODAY'S PAPERS Prime Minister Erdogan Visits Baku All papers and TV channels: Prior to his departure for Baku last night PM Erdogan told journalists at the Istanbul airport, "During my visit I will have the opportunity to discuss regional developments comprehensively. By addressing the parliament, I will explain Turkey's opinions on regional and world politics. The relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan is based on very strong feelings of brotherhood. There has been negative news in the media regarding Turkey-Azeri ties and my visit to Baku will eliminate the misunderstandings among the public." He also commented on reports that an agreement has been reached on the Nabucco pipeline project by saying, "No changes have occured. We continue to work on this process." CNN Turk reported this morning that Erdogan will meet with Aliyev this morning at 9:45(Ankara time),followed by a joint press conference at 11:30, followed by Erdogan's address to the Azeri Parliament at 15:30. Erdogan will depart Azerbaijan after President Aliyev hosts a dinner in Erdogan's honor at the presidential palace. Editorial Commentary on Turkey-Azerbaijan Ceyda Karan wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Azerbaijan wants to be assured about Nagorno Karabakh and everything related to Turkish policy for the Caucasus. This visit will be the time when PM Erdogan will do his best to comfort Azeris." Ibrahim Karagul wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Turkey and Azerbaijan enjoy special ties and this relationship is unique. PM Erdogan hopes to boost Baku's morale by eliminating all of the Azeri government's worries." President Gul's "Historic Opportunity for The Kurdish Issue" Message Causes Tension Mainstream Sabah reports that PM Erdogan responded to those who criticized President Gul for saying, "Good things may happen regarding the Kurdish issue," by saying Gul's words were "A good will wish." Erdogan also asked, "Should he talk negatively?" However, President Gul's remarks were on the agenda of the opposition parties CHP and MHP during their group party meetings at the parliament. Addressing his party group, CHP leader Baykal said "Could the historic opportunity mentioned by Gul be amnesty for PKK terrorists? If so, amnesty will not produce results in the fight against terror. Besides, the PKK is not making any commitments to give up violence." MHP leader Bahceli was harsher in his criticism. He said "The President, backed by the Prime Minister, was planning to undertake shameful and treacherous moves. Is the government expecting the opposition to give a nod to amnesty for all terrorists, including the jailed PKK leader in Imrali?" Meanwhile, Sabah reports that DTP leader Ahmet Turk, regarding President Gul's remarks about solving the Kurdish issue, said, "Gul's remarks were promising. Kosovo could be a good model for resolving the Kurdish problem in Turkey. If whatever Turkey wanted for the Turks in Kosovo were granted to Kurds in Turkey, the problem would diminish." Editorial Commentary on Kurdish Problem Naci Bostanci wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "Solving the Kurdish problem is possible. At this time it requires all political institutions to think outside the box." Hasan Bulent Kahraman wrote in mainstream Sabah: "Given the current circumstances, just as President Gul suggested, this is a good time to think about finding ways to end the Kurdish problem. This is the time for political action." Over 12,000 Kurdish Village Names Changed Over 60 Years Daily Radikal carried a study about the changed names of Kurdish villages during 60-year period. Firat University Professor Harun Tuncel conducted a survey and the results indicated that in the ANKARA 00000692 002 OF 003 60-year period between 1940 to 2000, one third of the village names in Turkey were changed from Kurdish to Turkish. The survey shows a total of 12,211 village names were changed, in other words 35 percent of all villages in Turkey. Most of the villages given new names are located in the Eastern Black Sea region, the East and the Southeast. Editorial Commentary on Village names Okay Gonensin wrote in mainstream Vatan: "It is a good development that we have at least started talking about the name changes in Turkey's provinces. This was part of the 'Islamization of Anatolia' project where not only Kurdish names but also Greek and Armenian village names were changed. The original names should be restored as soon as possible." Obama Changes Strategy from the Top in Afghanistan Media outlets today are explicitly stating that the former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan General McKiernan was replaced because of the rise in civilian deaths in U.S. operations in Afghanistan. Mainstream Hurriyet reports in "A 4-Star Dismissal," that, "The civilian deaths in Afghanistan destroyed McKiernan." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports in "Obama Opens A New 'White' Page in Afghanistan," that "As civilian deaths are on the rise, Obama appoints a general to lead U.S. forces in Afghanistan who is more experienced in guerilla warfare from his service in Iraq." Mainstream Sabah headlines, "Obama Makes the Commander Pay the Bill," by "firing David McKiernan and replacing him with someone who has special forces experience." Mainstream Haberturk headlines, "He (McKiernan) Was Fired for the Civilian Massacre." In a related story, Islamist-oriented Zaman reports in, "The Phosphorous Culprit in Afghanistan Remains Unknown," that, "Recently civilians in Afghanistan have been wounded by white phosphorous and girls schools have been targeted by poison gas." Zaman says "the U.S. military has accused the Taliban of using white phosphorous," but "the Taliban has rejected these claims." The Taliban Attacks Three Girls' Schools. Media are largely united in condemning the Taliban's latest poison gas attacks on girls' schools in Afghanistan. In "A Gas Attack on Girls' Schools" mainstream Hurriyet notes, "The Taliban organized a gas attack on three schools after theTaliban threatened schools that allow girls to attend." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports in "Gas From the Taliban to Girl Students," that "This is the third time the Taliban has organized attacks against elementary schools." Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports in "Hospitals Are Filled with Girl Students," that "The Taliban has gassed three girls' schools." Mainstream Haberturk reports, "The Taliban Poisoned School Girls," and notes, "As the Taliban gains power, they continue to terrorize schools that allow girls." DAS Schmierer Praises Turkey-Iraq Dialogue on the Kurdish Issue. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports in "A U.S. Official's PKK Message," that U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq Richard Schmierer told a video conference with Turkish journalists that "support for the terror organization (PKK) is weakening." In "We Support Dialogue," liberal Radikal reports Schmierer said, "The U.S. is closely following developments surrounding Turkey's Kurdish question," and "The U.S. appreciates Turkey's willingness to dialogue for a settlement to the Kurdish issue." Radikal also notes "Schmierer emphasized that Turkey is a strong NATO ally that will play an important role in Iraq's reconstruction." DAS Bryza Clarifies Karabakh Comments, Stirs Controversy in the Caucasus. In "An American Diplomat's Karabakh Bomb," mainstream Milliyet reports U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza "caused uproar in Yerevan" when a Russian radio channel quoted him as saying "Displaced Azeris will return to their homes and Karabakh will be given a new status." Milliyet says that when officials in Armenia ANKARA 00000692 003 OF 003 heard these comments, Bryza clarified that he was referring to "the territories around Karabakh," and the paper says "when Bryza backed down on the statement, he infuriated Baku." CNN Turk reports "Bryza's (initial) statement was welcomed by Baku but was greeted with reactions in Yerevan," and later "Bryza talked on the phone with Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandian" to say "I didn't say that Karabakh will be given to Azerbaijan." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - Hadise, who is representing Turkey in the Eurovision contest, was qualified for the final which will take place on May 16 in Moscow. - Ten suspects, including lawyers and courthouse officials have been taken into custody in operations against a drug smuggling ring. - Five Hezbollah militants charged with the killing of 32 people in Batman and Adana between 1993-2001 have been given life sentences by a Diyarbakir Court. - PM Erdogan paid a courtesy visit to First Army Commander Ergin Saygun before his trip to Baku. World - Cancellations by tourists over swine flu in Mexico has forced 25 hotels to close in the holiday resort of Cancun. - Suicide bombers attacked two government buildings in eastern Afghanistan. 20 people died in the attacks. - Ukraine's Interior Minister resigns after he is accused of assaulting police officers at a German airport. JEFFREY