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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, JULY 27, 2007
In Today's Papers
MHP Promises not to Stir Tensions on Presidential Elections
Hurriyet, Sabah, Yeni Safak, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others: Papers
report that MHP leader Devlet Bahceli's statement that they will be
present during the parliamentary session convened to elect the
President eased tension, as the presence of the MHP deputies
combined with the AKP deputies would ensure the necessary quorum.
Sabah quotes Bahceli as saying "My party will only participate in
the voting, not give support to any of the candidates named by AKP."
Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that FM Gul called MHP leader
Bahceli to convey condolences on the death of MHP deputy-elect Cihat
Ozonder and, at the same time, thanked him for the MHP's support for
the upcoming Presidential elections. MHP has asked to the High
Electoral Board to allow the next candidate on MHP's list to go to
parliament in place of Ozonder, who lost his life in a traffic
accident yesterday.
Editorial Comment: Gul as President
Ismet Berkan comments in the liberal Radikal: "Following MHP's
decision not to boycott the presidential voting, the election has
become only a matter of procedure. Roughly speaking, Foreign
Minister Gul is expected to take over the presidency from Sezer
before the end of August. If we compare between political climates
before and after the elections we see that things have completely
changed. Three months ago, the 367 quorum was the main problem and
the tension in the country was high. The rules of engagement
changed following the military e-warning and everybody wondered if
the presidential election process could even turn to a reason for a
military coup. During this process, many political parties -- CHP,
ANAP and DYP -- have committed suicide by boycotting the
parliamentary presidential election session. Furthermore the main
opposition party CHP shot itself in the foot by not taking a stand
against the military warning statement. Fortunately, the
presidential election process, given the new parliamentary
composition as well as MHP's positive stance, is not a problematic
matter any longer. We can at least now move on to debate the real
issues of Turkey."
Gas Deal Signed Between Turkey, Greece and Italy
Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Zaman and others:
Turkey, Greece and Italy signed an agreement yesterday in Rome to
construct a pipeline to bring natural gas from central Asia to
European markets by 2011. The agreement aims at piping natural gas
from the Caucasus to Western Europe through Turkey and Greece.
Meanwhile, mainstream Hurriyet reports that US Ambassador Ross
Wilson, answering a question on the Embassy website's "Ask the
Ambassador" page, said that Turkey's signing the Memorandum of
Understanding with Iran on energy, would "seriously set back the
work that Turkey and the United States have been doing for a decade
to develop Caspian Basin gas resources as well as a pipeline
infrastructure to bring those resources to Turkey and to
international markets."
US Congressmen Remarks on the Elections and the PKK
Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Zaman and others: US Congressional
Helsinki Committee Co-Chairman Alcee Hastings said that PM Erdogan
has made a major contribution to democracy in Turkey. Speaking at a
special session where Turkey's July 22 elections were evaluated,
Hastings added that PM Erdogan worked for Turkey's EU membership and
this was reflected positively in the markets. Hastings noted that
democracy in Turkey is very important for the US. Speaking at the
same meeting, Congressman Robert Wexler said that the US did not
exert enough effort to eliminate the PKK.
TV Highlights
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NTV, 7.00 A.M.
Domestic News
- A sergeant was killed in clashes between PKK terrorists and
security forces in rural parts of the Black Sea province of Giresun
- One non-commissioned officer was injured in a mine blast in
Hakkari
- Turkey rejected passage through the Bosporus of a ship carrying
heavy weapons to Armenia from Albania
International News
- Explosion at a military depot in Syria kills 15 soldiers
- Palestinian Security Chief Mohammad Dahlan resigned yesterday
WILSON