TURKISH MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000102 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 FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010 Media Highlights: Breaking News: All-news broadcaster NTV reported 120 suspects have been detained in "simultaneous security operations" held early Friday morning targeting al-Qaeda in 16 provinces including Istanbul, Malatya, Mersin, Van and Sanliurfa. How the US is Playing Vice-President Biden to Iraq Prior to the Elections in March (Hurriyet) Mainstream Hurriyet reports that the Iraqi Election Commission "black list" forbidding 500 pro-Baas names from joining the elections as candidates which caused unrest in the country was supported by President Talabani. US Vice President Joseph Biden will travel to the region in order to find a solution to the situation, adds Hurriyet. Clinton's Internet Freedom Speech NTV calls it a "US - China Verbal Duel" in one of many numerous on-line articles about the speech. While reporting on the speech, headlines have focused more on China's response with TRT highlighting "China Reacts to Clinton's Internet Comments," Haber7 reporting "China Denounced the US Accusations on Internet" and Milliyet focusing on "China Responds to US Accusations." Mainstream HaberTurk calls it the "International Google Crisis," and opines that "the internet giant Google caused a crisis between China and the US." Secretary Clinton warned there would be consequences for hackers after a series of cyber attacks on US internet firms, including search giant Google. HaberTurk notes that in her speech on internet freedom, Secretary Clinton said "countries or individuals that engage in cyber attacks should face consequences and international condemnation." Prejudice toward Islam in the US (Sabah) According to the American polling company Gallup's survey, 43 percent of the Americans are prejudice towards Islam. Mainstream Sabah also reports that18 percent are prejudiced towards Christianity, 15 percent towards Judaism and 14 percent towards Buddhism. Turkey-Armenia. "The US Intervenes in Protocol Crisis" (HaberTurk) Mainstream HaberTurk reports an upcoming meeting between Secretary Clinton and FM Davutoglu in London to discuss the problems over protocols. In a follow up story about the latest on Turkey-Armenia normalization protocols, HaberTurk reports: "Ankara immediately contacted Washington and expressed its disappointment regarding the future phase of protocol process, and asked the US engagement in this issue. Secretary Clinton is expected to check Yerevan's pulse and get more details about the Constitutional Court ruling. After that, Clinton and Davutoglu will have a meeting next week in London." In the Headlines Armenia Warns of Breakdown in Turkey Reconciliation (Hurriyet, CNN Turk online) Hurriyet and CNN Turk websites report Friday morning Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian warned that historic efforts to establish ties with Turkey may break down, blaming Ankara for obstructing the process. "If Turkey is not ready to ratify the protocols, if it continues to speak in ultimatums, set preconditions and obstruct the process, then I do not exclude that negotiations will break down," Nalbandian said at a press conference in Yerevan Friday morning. Civilian Jurisdiction over Military Personnel Cancelled (Milliyet) All papers and TV channels report that the Constitutional Court unanimously cancelled a law allowing trial of military personnel at civilian courts. The Constitutional Court rejected the arrangement which was passed by AKP government on June 26, 2009 making an ANKARA 00000102 002 OF 003 amendment to article 250 of the Law of Criminal Procedure. With this annulment, many cases from Ergenekon to Cosmic Room, will be transferred to military courts, Milliyet notes. 'Sledgehammer' Allegations: "Military Denied, Prosecutor Intervened" (Cumhuriyet) Turkish General Staff (TGS) issued a statement yesterday denying the leftist Taraf newspaper's claims that under the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) operation, a coup atmosphere was planned by attacks on mosques, and said that "such allegations would serve those who are trying to escalate tension in the society." The TGS stressed in the statement that the mentioned plan-seminar was included in the General Staff's concerted maneuvers for the years of 2003-2006. Hurriyet and Cumhuriyet report that Istanbul prosecutors launched an investigation regarding the documents delivered by Taraf. Editorials on 'Sledgehammer Plan' Pundits across the board agree on the negative impacts of "Sledgehammer Plan" and find the TGS statement "unsatisfactory." Sedat Ergin in mainstream Hurriyet calls it "shameful if it is all true" while Fikret Bila of mainstream Milliyet expresses disappointment: "TGS statement should have been more explicit and more satisfactory." Similarly, Islamist Zaman's Mustafa Unal calls the TGS statement "weak" and advises that "General Basbug should start an image-restoration plan and implement it immediately." Questioning military's overall responsibilities, Islamist Yeni Safak's Fehmi Koru wonders: "How come the military designs war-game plans by creating internal enemies instead of focusing on external threats? In its statement, the military tried to clarify this argument but it was an explanation which needed to be explained." Mainstream Vatan's Gungor Mengi also calls the army "to be proactive instead of defensive" and he finds the TGS statement unsatisfactory. Murat Yetkin in liberal Radikal brings up another dimension to the debate by saying: "This is the time to discuss and redefine the military's role and responsibilities including the protection of the Turkish Republic." Haiti. "Happiness After the Miracle" (Radikal) Liberal Radikal is one of the few papers still giving prominent coverage to the Haiti story while highlighting the rescue after 7 days of a 5 year old child on its front page. In "The Name of the Miracle: AKUT," mainstream Milliyet gives credit to Turkish search and rescue team, AKUT, which pulled a woman alive from under the rubble of a supermarket seven days after the Haiti earthquake. Milliyet reports that "AKUT was working together with French and Haitian teams when they pulled 24 year old woman alive who was trapped under rubble." Liberal Radikal notes, "Turkish teams rescued six Haitians in nine days." Other small inside articles carry warnings about children's situation with leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet in "Orphans May End Up At the Hands of Human Traffickers," carrying the statement that "UNICEF is concerned about the safety of the Haiti's orphans and says, they are also targets of kidnappers and sex traffickers." Mainstream Milliyet carries a small story reporting that the "US is sending more troops and will increase the number of US troops in Haiti to around 16,000." While noting in the same article that "Venezuela and Bolivia harshly criticize the US of 'stacking' troops in the quake hit country," Milliyet's focus is on the rescues and the reports that were so prominent 2 days ago are now mere references. Gul: "We Cannot Sweep Problems under the Carpet" (Sabah) Papers report President Gul delivered a speech at a gathering of the Ankara Chamber of Industry. Gul said "stability" does not mean "authoritarian rule." He said he took pride in the "deepening democracy" in Turkey, stressing Turkey still had some distance to cover. "What we went through 20-30 years ago is still fresh in everyone's memories," emphasized Gul, and called on everyone, including the political parties, to adopt "constructive" positions. Businesswoman Boyner Elected to Lead TUSIAD ANKARA 00000102 003 OF 003 Media outlets report Turkey's leading business organization TUSIAD Thursday elected a businesswoman, Umit Boyner, as its new chairman. Boyner told TUSIAD members in Istanbul of the group's determination to pursue full EU membership for Turkey. Boyner emphasized TUSIAD supports "full democratization," saying Turkey did not want to be governed by a "Coup d'etat Constitution" anymore. She also called for the annulment of the 10 percent election threshold. "We wish to strengthen our democracy and elevate our wealth level," said Boyner. Poll: AKP Votes below 30 Percent (Cumhuriyet) Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet carries a survey held by Sonar company, conducted in 15 provinces from January 3-13 with "face-to-face" interviews with 3,000 respondents. If parliamentary elections were held today, the distribution of votes would be as follows: AKP 29.50 percent, CHP 27.11, MHP 20.41, and BDP 6.28. Sonar said for the first time, the ruling AKP has fallen below 30 percent, and stressed a "coalition government" without the AKP would be possible. TV Spotlight (CNN Turk) Police have detained around 60 suspects in operations in the provinces of Istanbul, Van Batman and Diyarbakir over accusations of membership and aiding of the PKK. Former state tobacco and liquor monopoly Tekel workers gave a hiatus to their hunger strike for three days. The Turkish Parliament approved Thursday a bill stipulating full-time employment of doctors working in state hospitals, ending their right to work in private clinics. On January 25, President Gul will bring together the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul. Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh will visit Ankara on Friday to meet his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu. Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek has announced the government adopted a four-year action plan for fighting corruption. UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon will visit Cyprus on February 2. Former British foreign secretary Jack Straw has testified before the Iraq inquiry set up to investigate Britain's role in the US-led invasion. Turkish Airlines (THY) has signed a sponsorship agreement with British soccer club Manchester United, weeks after signing a similar contract with Spain's Barcelona. JEFFREY