TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000731 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 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 �0A;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 ANKARA 00000731 002 OF 003 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) ANKARA 00000731 003 OF 003 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