TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

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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

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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

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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