TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009

IN TODAY'S PAPERS

Turkish Military Wants Better Ties with Armenia, Without Losing
Azerbaijan (Sabah)
Mainstream, pro-government Sabah claims the pressure of army
generals was the main factor that made Prime Minister Erdogan go to
Baku to mend ties with Azerbaijan. During his visit to Baku,
Erdogan ensured Azerbaijani officials that the Turkey-Armenia border
would not be opened before Armenia ends the occupation of Nagorno
Karabakh. Sabah says that at the National Security Council (MGK)
meeting on April 28, generals stressed they wanted to advance
Turkey's ties with Armenia, but without harming Turkey's ties with
Azerbaijan. On May 13, Erdogan went to Baku to convey this message.
The paper notes Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) sources expect the
withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagorno Karabakh to take at least
five years, and they don't expect stability in the Caucasus in the
short term. Sabah also claims Ankara wants to keep the opening of
the Turkey-Armenia border on the agenda with an aim to speed up a
settlement on Karabakh.

Intelligence Report Shapes Ankara's Kurdish Initiative (Vatan)
Mainstream Vatan says a report presented by Emre Taner, the head of
the National Intelligence Organization (MIT),to President Abdullah
Gul had been effective in Ankara's new "Kurdish initiative" that
aims to end terrorism. MIT Undersecretary Emre Taner, whose mandate
has been extended for another six months, is said to have presented
a report to Gul regarding the Kurdish initiative, which is currently
under debate. Unnamed sources are quoted by Vatan as saying Gul
found the report's analysis and its proposals for a solution
"appropriate," and announced Turkey was "close to a solution."
Taner's report proposes "re-socializing the PKK terrorists on the
mountains who have not been involved in terrorist acts." The report
also includes several economic and educational projects for the
mainly Kurdish southeast, says Vatan.

Ankara Plans PKK Members' Return Home through Makhmour Camp (Taraf)
Leftist Taraf says on its front page reports that MIT Undersecretary
Emre Taner's extended term overlaps with Ankara's plan to "disarm"
the PKK. Taraf expects the first stage of the plan could be the
evacuation of the Makhmour Camp in northern Iraq. Then, according
to Taraf, if Ankara and the Kurds agree that the PKK will lay down
its arms, the PKK members who come down from the Kandil Mountains
could leave their arms to "third parties," including Iraq, the U.S.,
the EU and the UN, and return home through the Makhmour Camp.

Iraqi Politicians Intensify Visits to Turkey Ahead of Iraq Elections
(Cumhuriyet)
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet points to the intensive visits by
Iraqi politicians to Turkey prior to the forthcoming general
elections in Iraq. Following a visit to Turkey earlier this month
by Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, the current chairman of the Iraqi
Front for National Dialogue, Saleh al-Mutlaq, came to Ankara.
Mutlaq is known to be close to Iraq's former ruling Baath Party. He
met yesterday Turkey's Iraq envoy Ambassador Murat Ozcelik and was
received by Prime Minister Erdogan. The leader of Turkmen Decision
Party, Faruk Abdullah Abdurrahman, also came to Ankara, reports
Cumhuriyet.

State Institutions to Recruit Kurdish-Speaking Employees (Sabah)
Mainstream Sabah report the state is preparing to recruit employees
speaking Kurdish for services in the mainly Kurdish areas. The
Health Ministry has prepared Kurdish-language brochures in support
of its vaccination campaigns, and it also plans to send health
specialists speaking Kurdish to Kurdish-speaking areas. The
religious affairs directorate (Diyanet) plans to recruit
Kurdish-speaking imams, and the Culture Ministry has asked the State
Theaters to stage plays in Kurdish.

U.S. Congressional Committee Denounces Demolition of Gypsy
Settlements in Istanbul

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Mainstreams Hurriyet and Milliyet report Benjamin Cardin and Alcee
Hastings, co-chairs of the U.S. Congress' Helsinki Committee,
denounced the demolition of the settlements in Istanbul's gypsy
neighborhood Sulukule. Earlier this week, Istanbul municipality
bulldozers destroyed the last few homes that were left in Sulukule
after protests by the remaining residents. American senators said
the demolition "purged part of Istanbul's history and disrespected
the Romas." Sulukule is an ancient gypsy settlement within the
conservative Fatih Municipality, whose AKP-mayor ordered the
controversial demolition as part of an "urban redevelopment"
program. "The bulldozing of Sulukule by the Turkish government
shows a lack of regard for the Romani people," Senator Cardin said.


Editorial Commentary on Turkey-EU; U.S.-Israel

Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in tabloid Posta: "Turkey once again is
missing an opportunity by not taking action to reopen the Halki
Seminary. It looks like due to fear from opposition as well as the
military's not being supportive about it, the ruling AKP is not
taking concrete steps on Halki even though it wants to. In the end,
Turkey wrongly shoots itself in the foot and violates international
agreements. Besides, Turkey creates an image of exercising pressure
on Orthodox people and opposing religious freedom. Turkey shoots
itself in the foot as this inaction on Halki casts out important
allies and religious leaders such as Bartholomeos. It is easy to
expand this list endlessly. No matter from which angle you look at
it, this government is insufficient regarding the seminary issue."

Ferai Tinc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "There is constant lip
service from the government about the EU process but there is a
sincerity litmus test on the horizon. The election period is over
and we have to see some tangible acts. Sweden is about to take
charge the EU presidency for the next 6 months and it is obvious
that Cyprus will be at top of EU agenda. Given current conditions,
it is unlikely to see any steps toward the Cyprus issue including to
open ports to Greek Cypriots. And there is more to this. The
government's recent action to establish a Human Rights Supervision
Board without even consulting human rights NGOs makes one really
wonder about sincerity on the EU commitment."

Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "For the first time, Israel
felt that Washington's unconditional support is no longer in
question. During the Israeli PM's visit to Washington, President
Obama made it very clear. In that respect, it becomes even more
important than before to hear what President Obama will have to say
during his upcoming speech in Cairo. He will undoubtedly give some
clues about the American policy initiatives in the Middle East in
the period to come."

The Obama-Cheney Duel
Media outlets report that President Obama and former vice president
Dick Cheney are engaged in a 'duel' over their respective approaches
to countering the threat of terrorism. Mainstream Milliyet
headlines, "A Major Duel in Washington," and reports, "Cheney
defends torture," while "Obama says 'we lost our way'" during the
Bush administration in the war on terror. Leftist-nationalist
Cumhuriyet headlines, "The Obama-Cheney Wrestling Match," and notes,
"Obama defended his decision to close Guantanamo after the Senate
rejected a spending bill aimed at closing the facility," while,
"Dick Cheney accused (Obama) of weakening America's security." In
"Transfer the Prisoners to the U.S.," liberal Radikal reports,
"despite the opposition, Obama still argues that Guantanamo should
be closed by January 2010, and he wants the prisoners to be
transferred to the U.S.," as "Cheney launches an intense answer to
the new president." NTV reports "Cheney Tells Obama 'You Are
Thoughtless.'"

TV News (CNN Turk)


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Domestic

- On Friday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will travel to
Damascus for a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC).

- Two swine flu-infected Iraqi Americans were treated and discharged
Thursday from Istanbul's Haseki Hospital. The patients flew to
Diyarbakir from where they will move on to Iraq.

- On Friday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will make a courtesy
tour in the parliament of the leaders of CHP, MHP, DTP and DSP.

- An OECD report says Turkey is the country posing the highest risks
for drivers after Russia, Slovakia and Poland.

World

- Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says the pressure exerted on
Turkey on the Cyprus question despite the EU's failure to meet
pledges for ending the isolation of Turkish Cyprus was "not
good-intentioned."

- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Turkey on a
state visit, said Brazilian state oil company Petrobras will start
joint oil explorations with Turkey's TPAO in the Black Sea. Lula
added the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is also in talks
with Turkish companies regarding a possible collaboration.

- Israeli security forces demolished a minor Jewish settlement
outpost in the West Bank, three days after President Obama told
visiting Prime Minister Netanyahu that he must halt settlement
activity.

- Iran has barred women candidates from the presidential race but
has granted permission to the four main contenders to contest the
June vote.

- Five Muslim community workers in Britain have accused MI5 of
waging a campaign of blackmail and harassment in an attempt to
recruit them as "informants."

JEFFREY