TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000920 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 29, 2009 In Today's Papers TGS Chief General Basbug's Press Conference All weekend papers report on the response by TGS Chief Ilker Basbug to allegations that the army was involved in a conspiracy against the government. General Basbug, in a press conference on Friday, dismissed as just a "piece of paper" the alleged document found in the office of Ergenekon suspect Serdar Ozturk which supposedly contained a strategy for combating fundamentalist groups. General Basbug called on the prosecutors to find out who manufactured the plan. He said the plan was prepared to wear down the army. He said that the media was manipulated in an "asymmetrical psychological war" targeting the army. General Basbug added that the campaign against the army was a problem of Turkish national security. He also said that the army was planning to share its uneasiness with the developments at the next meeting of the National Security Council (MGK) scheduled to take place on June 30. Parliament Passes Two Reforms Targeting the Military Judiciary All papers: AKP's midnight amendment aiming to limit the authority of military courts has caused tension between the ruling AKP and main opposition CHP. The AKP made a one word changeto Article 250 of the Criminal Procedure Law. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says with this amendment, the parliament paved the way for the trying of military personnel, including the Chief of General Staff, by civilian courts. The paper notes that the regulation is considered an intimidation against the General Staff. The government says that the amendment was passed after debates with the opposition while the CHP insists that they were not informed in advance about the arrangement. Liberal-intellectual Radikal reports that during a party group meeting in Kocaeli, PM Erdogan responded to the CHP's criticism and said "we passed it against those who support military intervention. All party groups lifted their arms when asked who was accepting the law." Editorial Commentary Tufan Turenc wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "The PM is asking the political parties and the media to act responsibly. But he himself is busy with coup scenarios and the Ergenekon investigation. He doesn't realize that this strategy damages himself, his party and the country. Turkey has many problems, and it can't find an opportunity to discuss even one of them. OSCE Foreign Ministers Meeting in Corfu Mainstream Sabah reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu had a sincere and constructive meeting with Greek FM Bakoyanni at the OSCE meeting in Corfu and Turkey and Greece reached consensus for the settlement of problems. FM Davutoglu held meetings with the Foreign Ministers of other countries who were attending the meeting. However, he did not have a meeting with Armenian FM Nalbandian and Turkey and Armenia failed to make any progress in bilateral ties at the meeting. New Formulas to Re-Open the Halki Seminary Mainstreams Hurriyet, Milliyet and Vatan report that the Turkish government is getting prepared to reopen the Halki Seminary in Heybeliada. Sunday's Milliyet quoted Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay saying "the seminary is not compatible with the current university system in Turkey, but the government might find a different formula for it. There are no political problems, and technical preparations for the opening of the seminary continue." Today's Milliyet quotes State Minister Egemen Bagis as saying "The Halki Seminary should be re-opened. The orthodox community in Turkey are Turkish citizens who pay their taxes and fulfill their military services. If they need religious personnel to have a happier life, then we should help them to realize this." Vatan says that according to CNN Turk, a report was prepared on the demand of Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu. In the report, two alternatives were suggested. The high school section of the seminary will be opened as a special religious school just like vocational religious ANKARA 00000920 002 OF 002 high schools, or Imam Hatips, and the college section of the seminary will be under the Higher Education Council's (YOK) supervision. The second alternative is the opening of the seminary within the structure of a foundation. The paper notes that the patriarch prefers the second alternative. PM Erdogan Criticizes the EU Saturday's Milliyet reports that during his visit to Brussels, PM Erdogan harshly criticized initiatives designed to block Turkey's EU bid and European politicians giving support to such initiatives saying that European politicians manipulated Turkey's EU entry in their campaigns before the European elections. Editorial Commentary on the Turkey-US Relationship Omer Taspinar wrote in mainstream Sabah: "The honeymoon with the Obama administration is coming to an end leaving itself to serious problems again. The problems mainly are: first, the normalization period with Armenia is stuck; second, Turkey doesn't look very enthusiastic on EU issues; and the last, Ankara's reaction to the Iranian elections. Turkey has to create a balance between realism and democracy which is crucial in foreign policy." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - PM Erdogan and Chief of General Staff General Basbug meet today prior to tomorrow's NSC meeting - President Gul visits China's autonomous Uygur region and becomes the first Turkish president to go to the area - UNESCO gives Istanbul two years to meet the requirements for preserving its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site World - Attempt to change the constitution triggers a coup in Honduras - Albanians are voting in a general election that is seen as crucial for the country's European Union aspirations - Hundreds of fans join in a spontaneous moonwalk, Michael Jackson's signature dance move, in many cities all over the world to mourn the death of the pop star. - Eight staff members of the British Embassy in Tehran were arrested for allegedly interfering in Iran's internal affairs. - Azeri President Aliyev said his country is ready to go to war with neighboring Armenia at any moment in order to regain the disputed Nagorno Karabakh territory JEFFREY