TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000948 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 THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2009 In Today's Papers Confidence Building Package from the Government Mainstream Sabah reports that the government is preparing a confidence-building package to reduce the tension regarding the military at the recent meeting of the National Security Council. The package contains the message, "we are not prejudiced against the military," and will establish a committee comprised of jurists of the National Defense and Justice Ministries to examine the amendment passed by parliament that would allow for military personnel to be tried by civilian courts. In addition, it will be explained to the military that the amendments to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) are one result of Turkey's EU accession process. The military will also be told that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) demanded the amendments and finally, the trial of high-ranked military officers will be possible only with the permission of the president. In a related story, liberal Radikal reports that President Gul said "the jurists of the Defense and Justice Ministries and the Turkish Armed Forces should prepare a report regarding the legislation. Radikal speculates that this is a signal that the legislation "might be amended" and this can be done either by "a veto" or an alternate legal arrangement. Meanwhile, mainstream Milliyet reports that the politicians reacted differently to the NSC statement the other day. Main opposition party CHP spokesperson Mustafa Ozyurek said "the statement is not satisfactory", opposition party MHP deputy Oktay Vural said "the statement shows us that the Prime Minister was warned at the meeting", and finally, AKP deputy Bekir Bozdag said "it is a positive statement, and mutual sensitivities were highlighted." Editorial Commentary on the Civilian-Military Relations Cuneyt Ulsever wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "While the AKP was trying to change the current structure in order to establish civilian court supremacy over military courts, the country's prime minister was depicting policemen as "insurance to the regime." This is absolutely an expression of autocracy and has nothing to do with the rule of law or democracy. Turkey's internal and external issues require the AKP government to be in close cooperation and be in harmony with military. Thus the AKP is standing before a crossroads where it has to make a choice. Turkey's internal dynamics as well as U.S. expectations call for harmony and coordination with the military." Ali Bayramoglu wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "It is hard to understand why president Gul has been facing criticism from some circles and has been put under pressure to veto legislation which paves the way for trial of military in civilian courts. This (reform) is about Turkey's path to democracy." Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "This hastily passed legislation does no good for civilian-military ties. If the genuine intention is to have military personnel tried by civilian courts, the existing laws are already providing it. The arrest of Navy Colonel Cicek with charges related to Ergenekon case by a civilian court is a good example. In fact president Gul has signaled that he is going to veto the pending legislation because it is not compatible with the constitution." Colonel Cicek Released After Brief Detention All papers and TV channels report that Colonel Cicek, who was arrested by a court in Istanbul under the Ergenekon probe, was released late on Wednesday after twenty hours of detention, notes mainstream Hurriyet. Cicek's lawyers appealed to the court's arrest order earlier Wednesday. Colonel Cicek was alleged to be involved in an alleged anti-government plot document. DTP Leader Ahmet Turk on Kurdish Issue Mainstream Milliyet reports that DTP leader Ahmet Turk told DTP supporters in Batman, "There will be no solution to the Kurdish ANKARA 00000948 002 OF 003 problem unless Kurdish people, their leader and Kurdish politics are all taken into consideration." CENTCOM Commander Petraeus Visits Ankara Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu and TGS Chief Ilker Basbug met Wednesday with chief commander of the U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus in Ankara. According to media, they discussed issues such as security and military cooperation between Turkey and the U.S., foreign policy matters, routes for the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, NATO operations in Afghanistan, and the situation in Pakistan. Liberal Radikal reports in "Petraeus Wants The Biggest Support for Afghanistan," that "Petraeus noted Turkey is a strong and powerful ally," and answered a question regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq by saying, "our logistics cooperation continues to pass supplies through the Habur Gate and other routes." In "General Petraeus Met with Davutoglu," leftist Taraf reports, "Petraeus met with the foreign minister in order to update him on the U.S. withdrawal plans from Iraq, but he did not request anything from Ankara regarding this withdrawal." In "A U.S. General's Critical Ankara Summit," mainstream Milliyet writes, "no official request was made of Turkey regarding the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq." U.S. Launches Major Operations Against the Taliban in Afghanistan Mainstream NTV reports, "Obama Strikes the Taliban," as "Obama signaled he would step up the war in Afghanistan during his elections campaign," and with the start of the latest operations, "he has begun the broadest and most comprehensive operations there yet." CNN Turk headlines, "The First Major Attack," and notes, "The first major attack against the Taliban in Afghanistan since President Barack Obama came to power has begun in the Helmand Province." Mainstream Hurriyet's website reports, "Obama Makes His First Major Attack." Ahmadinejad Lashes Out at The West Amid Increasing Domestic Pressure Media continue to report on Iran's political crisis. NTV reports, "Moussavi strongly criticizes Ahmadinejad," while CNN Turk headlines, "According to Moussavi, The Government Is Not Legitimate," and the story notes, "Moussavi made a call on the government to release the children of the revolution." Leftist Taraf headlines, "Kerrubi and Moussavi: We Will Not Recognize Ahmadinejad's Government." However, Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "Moussavi is found guilty by the Besij," of "damaging national security," and "crimes against the state." In addition, the paper notes in, "A Hard Line from Hatemi," that "Former president and reformist leader Mohammed Hatemi has charged the government with making a revolution against the people." Meanwhile, mainstream Sabah reports in "The Iranian Leader Calls for Revenge," that "Ahmadinejad has called for revenge against the countries (he says) are behind the demonstrations," in what Sabah calls, "a hard-lined message to Western nations." TV News (CNN Turk) Domestic - Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan will be assigned as the UN permanent Ambassador. His deputy Feridun Sinirlioglu is expected to take his place. - The Defense Industry Committee holds a meeting chaired by PM Erdogan. - German Ambassador Eckart Kuntz visits a village in the provice of Sirnak and donates 12,500 Euro to a church in the village. - Turk-Is labor Union and the government fail to reach compromise in collective bargaining talks. The labor union readies to stage protests. ANKARA 00000948 003 OF 003 World - Croation PM Sanader unexpectedly resigns. - Iran's military chief General Firouzabadi says "The EU is no longer qualified to take part in talks on Iran's nuclear program" JEFFREY