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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
In Today's Papers
Controversy over the Draft Constitution
All papers: The University Rectors committee convened yesterday to
evaluate the new constitution draft. At the end of the one-hour
meeting, the Chairman of The Board of Higher Education (YOK) Prof.
Erdogan Tezic made a strong statement saying that "a clause that
would lead use of headscarf in universities is not legally possible.
The ban on the headscarf is a legal situation created by decisions
of the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights, and that it
cannot be regulated in by the constitution." Tezic also urged the
government to suspend work on the new draft until after the October
21 referendum so that the unclear situation regarding the election
of the President would be resolved. Meanwhile, Court of Appeals
Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya released an unexpected
written statement saying that the lifting of the headscarf ban would
trigger hatred, will damage trust in law, and would lead to turmoil
and polarization in the Turkish public. Moreover, it would create
the impression that the government has a tendency toward oligarchy.
Following the warnings of the university rectors and of the Chief
Prosecutor, PM Erdogan, during the press conference to brief the
public on the draft constitution, urged the rectors to "mind their
own business" and said that "the job of legislation belongs to the
parliament. The committee of rectors is not authorized to make a
decision about the constitutional reforms planned by the
government."
Papers also report that while PM Erdogan expressing his
disappointment that the Turkish press has reduced the debate over
the draft to the headscarf issue, he told the Financial Times that
the main goal of his government is to lift the headscarf ban from
the universities.
Under Secretary Nicholas Burns Visits Turkey
All papers report visiting Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs Nicholas Burns met Wednesday with Prime Minister Erdogan.
Burns told the press after the meeting that he explained to the
prime minister that the US is pursuing a "diplomatic and peaceful
strategy regarding Iran." "The best thing for us to do is work with
Turkey and other countries like Russia and China to convince Iran
through diplomatic means. In that regard, we will need support from
Asia, the Middle East and European countries to contribute to the
sanctions on Iran," Burns stressed. When reminded of Turkey's
complaints with regard to US weapons ending up in the hands of the
outlawed PKK in northern Iraq, Burns assured that the US was
"solidly with Turkey," denying extension of arms or backing to the
PKK. "The US would like to continue working with the Iraqi and
Turkish governments in order to give an end to the horrible actions
of the PKK. The PKK deserves universal condemnation," Burns said.
Burns also noted Secretary Rice was expected to come to Istanbul for
a meeting of Iraq's neighbors at the end of October.
Following talks with Erdogan, Burns was received by President
Abdullah Gul and held talks with Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA)
officials later in the day.
Editorial Commentary on Nicholas Burns' Turkey Visit
Semih Idiz commented in the mainstream daily Milliyet:
"International relations function on eternal benefits, not based on
eternal hostility or eternal friendship. In this context, the US
seems determined to restore ties with Turkey and move toward a
constructive and solid ground. The visit of U/S Burns to Turkey is
part of this effort. His remarks at the Atlantic Council prior to
his visit indicated that Washington has left behind its pre-Iraqi
occupation proud and overly-confident attitude, and is now ready to
pursue a rather realistic and modest attitude. Regarding the future
of Iraq, Washington is now relying more on its bilateral relations
with Turkey. Deterioration of bilateral ties with Washington does
not bring any benefit to Ankara either. Official circles, the
Foreign Ministry included, are emphasizing that Turkey should be in
a close working relationship with Washington to solve serious
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problems, such as the PKK. PM Erdogan hopes that his upcoming trip
to Washington will contribute to these efforts as Burns leaves
Turkey with an understanding of the importance of the PKK issue.
Bilateral ties are moving in this direction unless poisoned suddenly
by an Armenian resolution in the US Congress."
Soli Ozel wrote in the mainstream daily Sabah: "The speech by U/S
Burns set the tone for his trip which demonstrated that Washington
wants to see Turkey on its side as part of a long term strategy.
Burns' speech at the Atlantic Council gave enough clues regarding
the policy. Moreover Burns has three concrete demands from Turkey:
the US wants Turkey not to pursue the energy deal with Iran and move
closer to the US policy instead; the US wants Turkey to open border
with Armenia; and the US wants Turkey to lift its veto against Greek
Cypriots on NATO-EU security cooperation. The problem is that Burns
does not offer anything for Turkey while he makes very clear
demands. His words on the fight against the PKK and its presence in
Northern Iraq are insufficient."
Asli Aydintasbas writes in Sabah: "With this visit, U/S Burns gave
Washington's message to the ruling AKP: 'let's start all over.'
Following his visit there will be a continuation of high level
contacts both in Ankara and in Washington, which clearly indicates
that both sides are very enthusiastic about strong Turkish-American
ties. However, there are some minuses in the bilateral relations
along with the pluses. The most notable minus is the lack of
prevention of PKK attacks. There is no concrete action regarding
the PKK so far. There is no way for the US to restore its
unfavorable image in Turkey as long as the current situation on the
PKK continues as is. Along with other potential problems, such as
an Armenian Genocide Resolution in the Congress, Iraq seems to be
the most critical issue between the two countries. The US will
start a reduction of troops as of 2008 and move its presence to
Northern Iraq. Ankara does not want a US military force there. The
question is how Ankara and Washington will sort this out. It seems
the year 2008 will be a giant period for bargaining between the two
countries."
Hayrettin Karaman argued in the Islamist-leaning daily Yeni Safak:
"According to press reports, U/S Burns has something concrete in his
hands: He is here to ask for support for US policies on Iran and the
Middle East while he will, in exchange for Turkey's support, offer
America's help in eliminating the PKK in Northern Iraq. This is
nothing but an indecent proposal. Does a friend call the PKK a
terrorist organization and impose some demands before eliminating
that terrorist threat? This clearly says 'we are going to strike
Iran and establish a new order in the Middle East to better serve
Israeli interests. We will continue to support the PKK indirectly
unless Turkey supports and contributes to our plan.' All of this is
anything but friendship."
Ankara Garrison Commandant Protests the First Lady
Vatan, Milliyet, Cumhuriyet, Radikal and others: At a ceremony held
yesterday at Ankara's Esenboga airport to welcome President Gul on
his return from Northern Cyprus, Ankara Garrison Commander General
Aslan Guner, to avoid shaking hand with Mrs. Gul, left his place in
the welcoming line.
Diaspora Obstacle to Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan in US
Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Vatan and others: Washington's Georgetown-
University canceled a scheduled speech by the Patriarch of Turkish
Armenians, Mesrob II Mutafyan, after pressure from the Armenian
lobby.
Turks Injured by Americans in Iraq Sue US Ankara Embassy
Mainstream Hurriyet reports Hamit Ozkaya and Mehmet Nezir Ekdi, two
Turkish truck drivers carrying construction equipment to the airport
built by Americans in Tikrit, were heavily injured by friendly fire
from an approaching US convoy near Beji on December 11, 2006. The
Turks were airlifted to a military hospital by Americans, and one of
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the injured, Hamit Ozkaya, the father of 10 children, had to have
his leg amputated. The two Turks later filed a court case against
the American soldiers in Silopi in Urfa province, but the court
rejected the application saying only a UN court can investigate
crimes against civilians in war zones. Ozkaya and Ekdi now have
applied to a court in Ankara, this time suing the US Embassy and
asking for 700,000 Turkish Lira in compensation.
TV Highlights
NTV
Domestic News
- President Gul and of the Turkish General Staff Chief General Yasar
Buyukanit yesterday attended the funeral of the cousin of Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan, a soldier killed in fighting with PKK
terrorists in the southeastern province of Bitlis.
- Five PKK militants and one Turkish security official were killed
in clashes with a group of around 30 terrorists in Sirnak province
on the Iraqi border.
- President Gul said political equality was a main parameter for a
settlement in Cyprus.
- A high-speed 3G mobile phone license awarded to Turkish operator
Turkcell last week has been cancelled due to a lack of competition.
Last Friday, Turkcell, the sole bidder for third-generation
licenses, won one license for 321 million Euro. Three other tenders
were cancelled. Preparations are under way for a new tender.
International News
- On Wednesday, a car bomb killed anti-Syrian Lebanese lawmaker
Antoine Ghanem and at least six other people in Beirut, less than a
week before parliament's election of a new president. Syria's
opponents believe Damascus is behind the killing.
- The US Embassy in Baghdad has barred its officials from traveling
by land outside the Green Zone as Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki
suggested the US Embassy stop using American security firm
Blackwater.
- The European Union confirmed Belgian EU official Gilles de
Kerchove as the bloc's new anti-terror coordinator on Wednesday, six
months after the post became vacant.
- A court in Moscow has banned the Russian translations of 14 books
by Said-i Nursi, an Islamic thinker of Kurdish origin from Turkey.
The court ruling said the books fuelled religious tensions and had
signs of extremism.
WILSON