TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2009

In Today's Papers

Turkish Parliament Adopts Law to Demine Syrian Border
All papers: The draft law on the sweeping of land mines along the
Syrian border, which led to tension between the ruling party and the
opposition for weeks, was adopted in the parliament late yesterday.
The Parliament passed the bill with 255 votes in favor and 91
against. According to the law, The Turkish National Defense
Ministry will invite companies and institutions first. If it fails,
then the Finance Ministry will open it up a bidding process. If the
mine fields cannot be cleared with these two methods, the project
will be put to a tender. In this way, the mine fields will be used
for agricultural purposes by the company or institution after
de-mining the land. The land mines in military zones in the area
will be cleared but the zones will not be given to the contractors.
The contractors will clear the land mines in five years after they
win the project. They cannot use the lands for agriculture more
than 44 years after they clear the fields.

New Stimulus Package Announced Today
Referans, Hurriyet, Milliyet: Economic daily Referans reports that
the stimulus package to be announced by PM Erdogan today is
estimated as 3.1 billion lira. The package includes steps for
creating new employment opportunities and incentives designed to
encourage new investments. The employment measures include a new
regulation permitting companies to hire trainees. The Unemployment
Fund will be paying the trainees' salaries and the payment will be
less than the minimum wage determined by the government. At the end
of a six-month probation period the company might decide to offer
permanent employment. Referans summarizes the measures in the
employment package as follows: a six-month trainee program,
professional education for 200,000 people, and temporary employment
in the public sector. Mainstream Hurriyet reports that the
government "offers generous support for big investments in the new
package." Up to 45 percent support will be extended to big
investments. Big investments in 15 sectors where imports are high
and exports are low, will be given support all over Turkey. The
East and the Southeast are the poorest of the four investment zones
determined by the government. In these regions, the corporate tax
will be curbed two percent and the government will fund 25 percent
of the new investments.

In a related story, mainstream Milliyet reports that while the
government is working on the stimulus package, Culture Minister
Ertugrul Gunay said that the tourism sector might also benefit from
the incentives as enterprises bring foreign currency to Turkey.

All Eyes Are On Obama (Milliyet)
Media are positive about U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and are eagerly awaiting his speech to the
Islamic World today, but some note the warnings in the Arab press
that Obama carefully choose his words in order to avoid controversy.
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet headlines, "A New Image Effort In
Cairo," and reports, "Obama, whose father was Muslim, is visiting
Riyadh and Cairo with the goal of improving the U.S. image in the
Muslim world." In "The First Sale in The Middle East Is with The
Saudis," liberal Radikal reports, "Obama has begun his first Mideast
tour, which does not include Israel, by going to Riyadh."
Islamist-oriented Zaman reports "Obama has embarked on his tour with
the aim of starting a new chapter in relations with the Muslim
world." Mainstream Sabah carries the front-page headline "The
Islamic World Is Locked on Cairo," as "today Obama will deliver his
historic speech to the 'Muslim World'," but the Arab press has
warned him, "Don't give us lessons on democracy, don't be a
supporter of Israel, and don't interfere with our internal
business." Mainstream HaberTurk reports the same warnings from the
Arab press in, "Don't Give Us A Lesson, Obama." In a related
article, Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak reports, "This Time He Didn't
Bow," and notes, "when Obama met the Saudi King in London, he
disturbed the American public by bowing to the King," but "this time

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he did not bow."

A Cassette Tape Threat to Obama (Hurriyet)
Media note Osama Bin Laden's latest taped message was broadcast to
criticize Obama on the first day of his Middle East tour. Leftist
Taraf headlines, "In A New Message from Bin Laden, Obama Is 'Sowing
The Seeds of Hate,'" and reports, "Bin Laden accused Obama of
pressuring Pakistan to launch operations in Swat." In "A 'Welcome'
Surprise from Laden to Obama," Islamist-oriented Zaman notes Bin
Laden's message was broadcast on the day Obama arrived in Saudi
Arabia. Mainstream Sabah reports, "Laden Threatened The U.S. in A
New Cassette Tape."

Chief of General Staff General Basbug is Presented With Medal of
Honor by the Pentagon
Mainstreams Milliyet, Hurriyet and Sabah report that Chief of
Turkish General Staff (TSK) General Basbug was presented with the
medal of honor by Admiral Mullen at the Pentagon during his visit to
the Washington DC. Admiral Mullen welcomed General Basbug with a
military ceremony at the Pentagon and presented him with the medal.
Milliyet notes that General Basbug met with US Defense Secretary
Robert Gates as well at the Pentagon. Hurriyet daily interviewed
General Basbug in Washington prior to his meeting with Admiral
Mullen, regarding the elimination of the PKK and 'historic
opportunity ' discussions. General Basbug said "we should not lose
our patience just because we cannot solve terrorism immediately.
The aim and duty of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is to continue
its fight until terrorists are totally rooted out." When he was
asked about the latest rumors that the PKK would lay arms and extend
its cease-fire, General Basbug said "nobody should try to give us
advice. I will neither stop nor wait for terrorists to come. On
the contrary, I will go, search, find and destroy." When he was
asked whether the TSK units could ignore PKK groups when they saw
them, Basbug said "nobody should expect Turkish soldiers not to
stage operations in the name of peace against terrorists who try to
harm the life of our citizens and the territorial integrity of our
country. Nobody should expect Turkish soldiers to remain silent.
We will give the severest response when we come across with them."

Turkey increases its Activity in Iraq
Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that Turkey started to implement its
policy to get in touch with all groups in Iraq. The first step was
the marketing of northern Iraqi oil. The Turkish Consulate-General
in Basra had started to operate quietly last April and the official
opening of it will take place in the following days. In Basra,
other than Turkey, only Britain and Iran have Consulates. Another
important step will be taken in Mosul. Direct flights between
Istanbul and Mosul will take start on June 7.

Editorial Commentary on President Obama's Cairo Speech

Cem Sey observes in leftist Taraf (6/4): "In his Cairo speech to be
delivered today, President Obama will have to win the moderates in
the region. In order to win them, Obama will have to demand a
milieu in which the moderates can express their joint views, get
organized and demand power. For this reason alone, perhaps it's
more important that Obama's speech will be delivered in Egypt
instead of Turkey. Only when he expresses such views and supports
this line with future policies, it will be clear that Obama is
implementing a new policy. The U.S. President's speech today could
cause disillusionment, but Obama deserves to be given time to make
serious changes."

Nabi Yagci writes in leftist Taraf (6/4): "Prior to his travel to
Egypt, President Obama reiterated on a French television channel
that the clash of civilizations doctrine, which was enforced through
the Cold War and by the Bush era, was shelved. Obama stressed this
point, saying 'I think there's an existing and true clash between
those who defend that Islam was not compatible with the modern world
and those who think Islam has always kept pace with progress.'

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Those who perceive Turkey as a Muslim country must learn something
from this message as well as Obama's stance, which is free of any
complex. I have no objection to the definition that 'The Republic
of Turkey is a secular state.' This definition, however, lacks
'people,' and it won't tell much to a foreigner who doesn't know
Turkey. To be able to say 'Turkey is a modern, secular and Muslim
country' is different, and gives a truer picture which stands closer
to reality."

Editorial Commentary on Turkey's Kurdish Question

Rusen Cakir writes in mainstream Vatan (6/4): "Turkey's main Kurdish
party DTP leader Ahmet Turk does not have a strong influence on the
PKK. Turk was excluded whenever he wanted to walk the lines set by
the PKK in politics. Turk and his followers, the 'doves' in the
DTP, cannot be the main carriers of the peace process. Hardliners
in the party such as Emine Ayna and Selahattin Demirtas do not seem
to have the experience and power to direct Turk whenever necessary.
There are two Kurdish names who could be Turkey's Gerry Adams --
Leyla Zana and Sabri Ok, a PKK official who lives in Europe. The
Kurdish movement in Turkey needs a Gerry Adams who can be reached
easily in the efforts to find a solution to the Kurdish question."


Yasin Dogan (alias for PM Erdogan's political advisor, Yalcin
Akdogan) writes in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak (6/4): "The PKK,
while asking the government to take the initiative from the
military, should itself think of giving the initiative to Kurdish
civilians. Instead of blurring the picture with rounded words and
abstract statements, the PKK must take concrete and serious forward
steps. The PKK must arrange its expectations according to the fact
that it is a terror organization and an illegal organization that
stands against democracy. Any effort which would try to cover up
the fact of terror would be futile."

Editorial Commentary on Existing Conditions Forcing Turkey for Early
elections


Derya Sazak comments in mainstream Milliyet (6/4): "The outcome of
March 29 local elections showed the CHP and MHP can form a coalition
government. The Islamist Felicity Party (SP) is growing stronger
every day, and center-right parties DP and ANAP are set to merge.
The global economic downturn has shrunk Turkey's economy,
unemployment is soaring and exports diminished by 40 percent. When
the summer is over, the AKP government will be surrounded by 'real'
problems. The AKP, as seen in a recent bill over the sweeping of
landmines on the border with Syria, gives a scattered picture. The
existing political and economic factors can push the AKP to go to
early general elections in 2010."


TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- A youth is given a two-year prison sentence for jumping and
applauding with joy at a DTP introductory meeting.

- PM Erdogan said he will show no respect for those who refer to his
party as "AKP" instead of "Ak Party."

- Tensions escalated in the Kizilay neighborhood of Ankara when two
different student groups started to clash.

- The Justice Ministry plans to recruit 13,300 new employees through
November.

- The State agrees to give back the seized assets of minority
foundations as the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkey to

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pay compensation of 100 million lira.


World

- The U.S. has mistakenly made public a 266 page report that gave
detailed information on its nuclear programs.

- An airline official said that AIR France received a false bomb
threat for a flight from Argentina to Paris days before a plane went
missing.

- North Korea is set to launch its most advanced missile capable of
hitting Alaska.

SILLIMAN