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