Cablegate: Ankara Media Reaction Report

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006442

SIPDIS

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
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2006

In Today's Papers

Iraqi PM al-Maliki in Ankara
All papers: The visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to
Turkey receives broad coverage, with the primary focus on issues
surrounding the PKK presence in northern Iraq. Papers report that
al-Maliki assured Ankara that his government would never allow the
presence of elements that constitute a threat to the security of
Iraq's neighbors. However, when asked if there were concrete steps
planned, besides the closure of PKK offices, Al-Maliki declined to
respond. At a joint press conference, PM Erdogan stressed that the
control of Kirkuk should not be given to a single ethnic group and
warned against fraud in moves to work out disagreements about
Kirkuk. Assuring Erdogan on the issue, the Iraqi premier said
"Kirkuk is Iraq's city and it will stay in possession of Iraqis in
line with the new Iraqi Constitution. We won't let any Iraqi face
injustice in the region." Sabah reports that, following his meeting
with his Turkish counterpart Edip Baser, Iraqi special envoy for
countering the PKK Shirwan al-Waili said "we are determined to end
PKK activities, but we want to solve the problem through peaceful
means. We are against military operations targeting the PKK in
northern Iraq."

Commentators continued to speculate on the US policy for Iraq as
well as Iraq's future.
Cengiz Candar writing in the conservative Bugun notes that President
Bush is calling in his father's advisors, but sees little cause for
optimism that a solution to the Iraq problem will be found: "In the
US, every official or unofficial institution is eagerly working on
finding ways to exit from Iraq. So far these efforts have come to
no avail, and in the long run it will most likely remain that way.
The fact of the matter is there is no exit way to find. Displaying a
certain helplessness, President Bush now seems closer to his
father's team, including some well-known names like the new Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, James Baker and Brent Scowcroft. This team

SIPDIS
has some fundamental characteristics. First of all they are
conservative. Second, they value stability above everything. Last
but not the least, they have no vision. If the Bush administration
adopts the style of this team, things in the Middle East will move
toward even more chaotic terms and the democratization idea for the
region will collapse. I don't share the optimism emerging in the
aftermath of the Congressional elections expecting a change in the
American policy for Iraq and the Middle East. In the next period to
come, the US will continue to experience deep failure -- only in a
different way."

Veteran commentator Sami Kohen observes in the mainstream Milliyet
that Turkey should keep in mind that the PKK problem cannot be
solved in isolation; the issue is the stability of all of Iraq:
"Although the Turkish public immediately thinks PKK when Iraq is
mentioned, the developments in northern Iraq are in fact directly
related to the future of all of Iraq. Therefore controlling the PKK
acts in northern Iraq and prevention of an independent Kurdish
entity is very difficult in the absence of a nation-wide state
authority and national unity in Iraq. Given the circumstances in
the country, the visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister to Ankara
provided a very important chance to exchange views regarding Iraq's
future and discuss possible contributions that Turkey can make. Due
to the grave security and stability concerns in Iraq as well as the
helplessness of the US, it is hard to be optimistic regardless of
official rhetoric, both in Washington and Baghdad, about the
progress made so far on restructuring Iraq. An immediate withdrawal
of American forces before the Iraqi administration establishes full
authority throughout the country can only accelerate chaos and civil
war in Iraq. For this reason, al-Maliki calls on the US and all
neighbors of Iraq to help turn Iraqi forces into a genuinely
powerful force. Realizing this goal requires time and unfortunately
time in Iraq works against peace and stability."

Turkey Ousts France from Defense Fair

ANKARA 00006442 002 OF 002

Hurriyet, Milliyet and others: Following the actions of the Turkish
military, the Turkish government has also reacted to France for the
passage of a bill on the Armenian genocide isse. During the
introductory meeting of the Inernational Defense Industry Fair
(IDEF), Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced that France would not
be invited to the 8th IDEF in May 2007. Following Gonul's comments,
French Embassy Military Attach Jean Claude Gaey walked out of the
meeting convened to discuss the fair. Meanwhile, the French Defense
Ministry said the Turkish decision to suspend military ties with
France is not considered a sign of crisis.

US Helping to Cut off PKK Resources in Europe
Star, Turkiye, Aksam, Zaman: The US is working together with
European officials to limit the PKK's financial resources in Europe.
A high-ranking US diplomat stated that the PKK receives money by
exploiting the open society and freedoms in Europe to smuggle drugs
and people, along with other organized crime activities, while
engaging in money laundering using its different connections in
various countries. The money is used to purchase weapons and
equipment for PKK terrorists. The diplomat stressed that the US
recently conveyed information obtained on PKK activities in Europe
to the relevant European officials.

Olli Rehn Comments on Cyprus
Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, and others: Speaking at the European
Parliament, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that it is
the UN's responsibility, not the EU's, to resolve the issue in Maras
(Varosa). Rehn reiterated his full support for the Finnish plan.

TV Highlights
NTV (6 a.m.)

Domestic News

- Pro-Kurdish Ozgur Gundem newspaper has been suspended from
printing for 15 days
- Danish Ambassador in Ankara expressed regret for the search of
State Minister Babacan at Copenhagen's airport yesterday

International News

- Thirteen people were killed and nine were wounded in various
attacks in Iraq's capital Baghdad

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http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

MCELDOWNEY

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