TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000835

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
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2009

In Today's Papers

Alleged Military Plan to Combat Religious Reaction Triggers Heated
Debates
All papers: Today's papers give extensive front-page coverage to
reactions to a controversial document which leftist Taraf said on
Friday indicated a military plot to overthrow the civilian
government. The April 2009 plan was allegedly prepared by Naval
Colonel Dursun Cicek and the plan indicated unease in the military
ranks due to the Ergenekon investigation. After the document was
revealed by Taraf, the military prosecutor said that the document
"was not prepared by the General Staff" and the military announced
that it would "not harbor any conspirators." Mainstream Milliyet
reports that Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek commented on the case
when he said, "The government will turn to the Public Prosecutor's
office and take all necessary actions to enlighten the details of
the issue." Mainstream Vatan notes that yesterday the military
prosecutor and the General Staff issued statements in connection
with the document. The military prosecutor said "following the
publication of reports about the document in Taraf daily last
Friday, the General Staff immediately initiated an investigation in
connection with the allegations. So far there is no evidence to
indicate that the document was prepared by the General Staff." The
prosecutor added that the final decision will be made when he
acquires the document and completes an investigation. Following the
statement of the prosecutor, the General Staff posted a statement on
its web site saying, "The Turkish Armed Forces is committed to the
rule of law and the principles of the state and has not one single
reservation on these. Moreover, the legal process implemented so
far by the independent Military Judiciary is also apparent. The
Turkish Armed Forces cannot harbor any personnel who take on
attitudes and views that do not correspond with the principles of
democracy and rule of law. The Military Prosecution has not been
able to reach any conclusion that the alleged document was prepared
in any unit of the General Staff. The Military Prosecution will be
able to reach a final conclusion as to whether the document is real
or counterfeit. The Turkish Armed Forces will follow up this issue
closely until the end." Today's papers report that the weekly
meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief of General Staff
was move up from Thursday to today. TV Channels report at this hour
that PM Erdogan and General Basbug met at the Prime Ministry at 10
am and the meeting still continues.

General Basbug Answers Questions About Controversial Document
Mainstream Hurriyet interviewed General Basbug regarding a
controversial document which leftist Taraf said on Friday indicated
a military plot to overthrow the civilian government. When Hurriyet
asked Basbug if he gave the order for the plot, Basbug called the
question "insulting." According to Basbug, Col. Dursun Cicek, who
is accused of drafting the plan against the AKP government, denied
he had any role in the document and noted the signature at the end
of the document was not his. Basbug added that the army examined
all of its computers onsite at TGS, but could not find any evidence
of the document. In response to a question about vague expressions
in the army statement issued yesterday, Basbug said "If it becomes
clear that the document is authentic, the army will act with utmost
sensitivity and will undertake all necessary steps." When asked
what the military will do if the document is authentic, Basbug
replied, "Then everyone will see what we will do."

Editorial Commentary on the Alleged Military Coup Plot Document
Mehmet Y. Yilmaz wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "I wish there were a
way to take all of this seriously. The way this alleged coup plan
was designed looks as if it was drafted by a group of college kids.
It seems there will be lots of talk and time wasted in the days
ahead."

Ertugrul Ozkok wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "A speedy investigation
process is needed so that we can clearly see if this was a plot
against the civilian authority or a plot against the military and

ANKARA 00000835 002 OF 003


its prestige."

Fikret Bila wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The statement from TGS is
clear enough to eliminate clouds of doubt. The military is
demonstrating it takes the issue seriously by starting an immediate
investigation. It is also very important that the military
expresses readiness for any legal action in this regard as well.
Meanwhile, the civilian authority should be very careful not to
present this case as a proven fact before the legal process is
concluded."

Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak: "The military's
statement was not satisfactory and convincing at all. The only
concrete thing was the denial that the document was prepared at TGS
headquarters. We need more than that because the military's image
is weakening day by day.

Ali Bayramoglu wrote in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak: "Even after
all of the statements yesterday, the military still owes an
explanation regarding why it has become a coup-plotter institution.
It will be interesting to see the developments in the months ahead.
The government should even think of firing General Basbug if
necessary."

Credit Card Debts to be Paid in Installments
All papers: Mainstreams Hurriyet, Milliyet and Vatan report that
State Minister for Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan
announced yesterday that the government has prepared a new repayment
plan for credit card debtors who fail to meet their financial
obligations and who are pursued by the banks. Under this plan, a
credit card debtor will be able to pay his /her debt in installments
up to 36 months with low interest rate. Leftist-nationalist
Cumhuriyet notes that 1.3 million citizens who are in default as of
May 31st , 2009 will benefit from the plan.

U.S. Ambassador Goes to Diyarbakir
Mainstream Vatan reports that U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey will
visit Diyarbakir tomorrow, marking his first visit to Southeast as
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. Following his meetings with Diyarbakir
Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu and Mayor Osman Baydemir, Ambassador
Jeffrey will have lunch with the head of Southeastern Industrialists
and Businessmen's Association (GUNSIAD),the head of Diyarbakir
Chamber of Trade and Industry and the head of Diyarbakir
Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (DISIAD). Following
his meetings with Diyarbakir Bar of Lawyers and Human Rights
Association, in the evening Amb.Jeffrey will join a reception
organized by GUNSIAD. At the reception Jeffrey is expected to
address the guests in Turkish. The observer says that Jeffrey has
played key role in shaping Washington's policies regarding Turkey,
Iraq and the Kurdish issue. Therefore, his contacts in Diyarbakir
will have an impact on American foreign policy.

Blood Is Spilled in Iran, but The Reformists Are Not Intimidated
(Radikal)
Media are closely following the demonstrations after disputes over
the election results in Iran. Some media are covering the story
from the angle that yesterday's protests are reminiscent of the
civil upheaval during the 1979 revolution. Mainstream Vatan reports
in "Rebellion," that "Two million Iranians filled Independence
Square when the Shah was overthrown," and "Yesterday two million
supporters for the reformist candidate Musavi filled the same
squared and chanted "Death To The Dictator." Islamist-oriented
Zaman headlines, "Blood Stains Election Protests in Iran," as
"Supporters of Musavi filled the streets despite a ban on
demonstrations and the country's spiritual leader Khomeini's call
for calm." Mainstream Sabah headlines on its front page, "Hundreds
of Thousands of Faces Fill the Streets of Iran," and notes, "1.5
million people turned out to protest the election results in Freedom
Square." CNN Turk reports in, "Did Ahmadinejad Not Win The
Election in Iran?" that ,"Leaked election results show Musavi won

ANKARA 00000835 003 OF 003


with a total of 19.1 million votes, which is three times the amount
of votes won by Ahmadinejad." Liberal Radikal notes there is no end
in sight for the demonstrations as "A call has been made for a
general strike today."

Netanyahu Can't Please Anyone (Taraf)
Media are skeptical of Netanyahu's conditional acceptance of a
Palestinian state. Liberal Radikal headlines, "Bibi Angers Both the
Arabs and the Israeli Right." Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines,
"Only a Flag And a National Anthem," and notes, "Netanyahu answered
U.S. President Barack Obama's efforts for a two-state solution by
placing conditions on the creation of a Palestinian state - only in
a flag and a national anthem." Zaman posits that, "this appears to
be an advancement in Netanyahu's acceptance of a Palestinian state,
but it highlights the tensions in the peace process." In "Netanyahu
Is Playing With The Media," mainstream Sabah writes, "Netanyahu gave
a 'conditional yes' to a Palestinian state during his speech on
Sunday and outlined preconditions including a non-militarized
Palestinian state and the Palestinians' official recognition of
Israel as a Jewish state." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet
headlines, "Netanyahu's Palestinian State," and reports, "the
Israeli Prime Minister's speech is being criticized in Arab
capitals, but met with positive responses from the U.S. and Europe,"
and "Jewish settlers are put at ease by the speech."
Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak notes, "the Palestinian side is stirred
up by Netanyahu's promise to recognize a 'non-militarized'
Palestinian state."

TV News (CNN Turk)

Domestic

- The MHP administration rejects demands for holding an
extraordinary party convention.

- The relative of a martyred soldier is taken into custody while
attempting to make a press statement in front of the Prime
Ministry.

- The two-month Parliamentary recess begins on July 1.

- Turkish Security Forces carry out operations against PKK
terrorists in northern Iraq.


World

- Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin dissolves the parliament and
calls fresh elections.

JEFFREY