TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000803 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 MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2009 In Today's Papers Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Davutoglu Meet in Washington Papers reported Saturday Secretary Clinton said late Friday after meeting Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that the U.S. was "very encouraged" by the progress in the Turkey-Armenia normalization process. Clinton said she "sees commitment on both sides," but acknowledged the process was "difficult and required patience as well as perseverance." Davutoglu thanked to Clinton and the U.S. government for their support in the normalization processes as well as the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Turkey is optimistic to achieve a prosperous and peaceful Caucasus region," said Davutoglu. He added, "We are fully committed to our normalization process with Armenia, and also, we are ready to work together with the U.S. and other co-chairs of the Minsk Group for the resolution of the Armenian-Azeri issues." Monday papers report FM Davutoglu will visit Pakistan on June 9-10 and Afghanistan from June 11-13. Papers expect Turkey to provide counter-insurgency training for Pakistan's military. Europe Says "Right" (Milliyet) Media outlets are closely following the results of this weekend's elections in the EU, with many from the right to the left, from the secularists to the Islamists, speculating the political right's gains will adversely affect Turkey's EU bid and Turkey's relationship with the EU. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports in, "The Pro-Turkey European Left Melts Away," that, "Racist parties in the Netherlands and in Austria who oppose Turkey's membership to the EU and who oppose Islam were hugely successful," which the paper notes spells "bad news for Turkey." In "The Far Right Rises in Europe," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet notes "the results of the elections demonstrate the rise of the far right in Europe, which is creating anxiety," as "opposition to Turkey's EU membership is on the rise." Mainstream Milliyet reports, "The far right made a huge explosion" in the European elections, which "is a negative development for Turkey." Murat Yetkin of liberal Radikal comments, "there is no ground for optimism about the future of Turkish ties to the EU." Meanwhile, some note the record-breaking low in voter turnout. NTV reports, "In Europe, voter participation drops as support for the right increases." Mainstream Haberturk reports in "The EU's Turkey Election," that "the EU parliamentary elections debated internal issues and the effects of the economic crisis, as well as Turkey's EU membership," as "voter participation fell to a ten-year low." Obama and Sarkozy Differ on Turkey's EU Bid Media pay close attention to this weekend's public disagreement between President Obama and President Sarkozy over Turkey's EU membership. During a press conference commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day, President Obama noted Turkey is "an important NATO ally" and "very valuable for the EU," while French President Sarkozy said, "We want Turkey to be a bridge between East and West," and "I told President Obama that it's very important for Europe to have borders. For me Europe is a force for stability in the world and I cannot allow that force for stabilization to be destroyed." Mainstreams Haberturk, Aksam, and Hurriyet report Obama later "shunned" a luncheon hosted by Sarkozy in Paris, with Aksam speculating that "France's objections to Turkey's EU entry played a role in this decision." Omer Taspinar of mainstream Sabah comments, "only two days after Obama's Cairo speech Obama sparred with Sarkozy in France," over Turkey's EU bid, which is an indication of the U.S.-Turkey "model partnership" and the commentator notes, "Obama must continue to lobby for Turkey." Mainstream Haberturk also reports, "Obama and Sarkozy can agree on many other things," but "they cannot agree on Turkey." Liberal Radikal says, "the recent disagreement between Obama and Sarkozy demonstrates the tensions between Turkey and the EU." Turkey-Iraq Discuss Closure of Makhmur Refugee Camp (Milliyet) Mainstream Milliyet reports Saturday that during the last two visits ANKARA 00000803 002 OF 003 of the Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay to Iraq, and during the visit of an Iraqi diplomatic delegation to Ankara, Turkey and Iraq have agreed to close the Makhmur camp in northern Iraq, which was used to extend logistical support to the PKK. On Wednesday, representatives of the Prime Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Health Ministry, the military General Staff (TGS),the intelligence service MIT, the Gendarme Command and police came together to discuss the issue. At the meeting, the officials agreed to determine the number of Turkish and other refugees in the camp, and to gather information about the refugees willing to return to Turkey, according to Milliyet. Ankara Minor Criminal Court Freezes the Assets of RTUK Chair Zahid Akman Weekend papers reported that the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's office requested the court freeze the assets of 18 people, including RTUK Chair Zahid Akman, under the Deniz Feneri investigation. Following this request, the Ankara Minor Criminal Court ordered the assets of all those who were mentioned in the investigation related to the German based Deniz Feneri, including Zahid Akman and Kanal 7 President Zekeriya Karaman, frozen. The process will be implemented by the Directorate General of Title Deed Records, directorates of vehicle registration and the offices of commercial records. Earlier there were allegations that 18 people whose names were mentioned in the investigation were moving their assets out of the country by reducing their shares in companies where they were partners. Local Elections Repeated in Several Towns Sabah, Vatan, Radikal, Hurriyet, Milliyet, Zaman and others: Local elections were repeated in 30 towns on Sunday upon a decision of the High Electoral Board (YSK). The ruling AK Party won 12 mayoral seats, main opposition CHP won 10 seats, MHP two seats, DP three seats, DTP and Anavatan won one seat each. Mainstream Sabah reports that the AKP and DTP supporters clashed in Mardin's Nusaybin town. 9 people, six of them soldiers, were injured during the clashes. Lebanon Elections Media report the results in Lebanon show the hotly contested race has resulted in a victory of those backing the West over those backing Hezbollah. Islamist-oriented Zaman reports "Critical Elections in Lebanon Take Place in A Peaceful Atmosphere." In "Critical Elections in Lebanon," leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "the elections amounted to a struggle between supporters of the West and supporters of Hezbollah." Mainstream Milliyet reports in "A Hariri Surprise in Lebanon," that "Pro-West candidate Saad Hariri has declared victory" and "Hezbollah has accepted defeat." CNN Turk headlines, "Victory for the Pro- West March 14th Movement," and notes, "In the race between pro-Iran and pro-Syria Hezbollah and pro-West parties, Saad Hariri's pro-West March 14th movement has won." Editorial Commentary on President Obama's Cairo Speech Semih Idiz wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The timing as well as the venue of Obama's message regarding Washington's strong support for Turkey's accession to the European Union has been noticeably important. President Obama reiterated this policy commitment at the anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy. There are quite number of European circles who believe that the U.S. has nothing to do with their affairs. The message in France was basically a good response to these circles as well. Ankara meanwhile should notice the importance of Washington's support and make use of it." Omer Taspinar wrote in mainstream Sabah: "President Obama's Cairo address was a clear indication to the entire world as he described a brand new page in relations with the Islamic world. Peace and justice will be the main motives in shaping Washington's policy line toward the Islamic world. Meanwhile his message in France while he and Sarkozy did not agree with each other was also very important one. President Obama was telling not only France but all of Europe ANKARA 00000803 003 OF 003 that Turkey's EU accession would be the best answer against the conflict of civilization theory." Ali Bulac wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "Those who supported the American military presence in Iraq are now applauding President Obama's message in Cairo. When the two most recent speeches, in Ankara and Cairo, are put together there is a clear picture of how the U.S. considers and shapes Turkey's future. Turkey will be placed in the Western alliance strongly to accomplish duties shaped by the powers and will not be allowed to form any union with Islamic world. Domestically, Turkey will be shaped based on an encouraged secularism with Islam regardless of whether the two can match or not." Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "Even though President Obama gave very important support for Turkey's EU accession, the recent visit by EU Commissioner Olli Rehn to Washington highlighted the other side of the coin. As Rehn expressed clearly to the American government officials, Turkey should not blame only Europeans for being reluctant on the accession process because Ankara has failed on fulfilling major policy harmonization. The EU circles are confused even more when Turkey's foreign minister and the minister in charge of EU affairs do not speak the same language." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - On Sunday, one village guard was killed and two others were wounded when a landmine believed to have been planted by the PKK went off in Uludere in the province of Sirnak. - The Economy Coordination Board will decide whether to extend the tax incentives in the automotive industry and other sectors. - On Sunday, State Minister for women and family, Selma Aliye Kavaf, joined a dinner of the Fettullah Gulen sect in Denizli. - On Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will pay a farewell visit to Turkey before handing over his post to Andres Fogh Rasmussen. World - Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou said Nicosia was examining 'alternative scenarios' about the EU summit in December when the EU will review Turkey's EU entry bid. - Iraq calls on Turkey to release more water down the Euphrates River. - Secretary Clinton warns that the Obama administration is considering placing North Korea back on the list of states that sponsor terrorism. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that that he plans to deliver a major speech on his foreign policy this week. JEFFREY