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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002862
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 30, 2007
In Today's Papers
Negroponte: The PKK Threatens Security
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Referans, Zaman,
Yeni Safak and others report US Deputy Secretary of State John
Negroponte, in a news conference Wednesday following his meeting
with Kurdish regional administration PM Nechirvan Barzani, said
Turkey, the US and Iraq share the same position regarding PKK
presence in northern Iraq. "The PKK is threatening security," he
noted, and a mechanism between Turkey and the US would "resolve the
problem." Barzani said that the PKK is "a common problem,"
stressing the Iraqi Kurdish administration's response against the
PKK. "More checkpoints have been established in border areas and
security measures have been enhanced," he said. The
economic-political daily Referans says in a news commentary, the US
is pursuing a plan to block PKK operations, force the organization
into a ceasefire and liquidate it. The plan will progress parallel
to efforts toward peace between Israel and Palestine. President
Bush wants to resolve all problems in the region before the end of
his mandate, according to Referans.
Germany Extradites 2 PKK Members to Turkey, Wants al-Qaeda Suspect
in Return
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman and others
report Germany has extradited two PKK members sought by Turkey. In
return, Germany asks for the handover of a German citizen, Atilla
Selek, who is being held in Turkey for suspected links to al-Qaeda.
The Turkish Justice Ministry stated that PKK members Mehmet Iltas
and Mehmet Esref Kizilay - both wanted by Interpol - were
transferred to prisons in Diyarbakir and Ankara, respectively.
Iltas is wanted for attacks on a police station and a minivan in
1991 in which eight people were killed. Kizilay is charged with
killing a policeman in 1991. Atilla Selek was captured in Konya on
November 7 and is accused of playing a key role in a botched plot to
attack Ramstein Airbase and Frankfurt Airport in December 2006.
FBI-Turkish Police to Set up anti-Terror Database
Islamist-oriented Zaman reports on a proposal from the FBI which
includes the establishment of a "terror intelligence pool" between
the FBI and the Turkish police. According to the draft, Turkey and
the US will set up a joint database containing information about
terror organizations such as the PKK, Hizbullah and al-Qaeda.
Turkish police will consult the Turkish General Staff (TGS), the
National Intelligence Service (MIT) and the Turkish Foreign Ministry
(MFA) before making a decision about the proposal. US Ambassador
Wilson is to meet Interior Minister Besir Atalay next week in order
to convince Atalay of the heavy blow this partnership could make on
terror networks. Turkish security sources have found the common
database very important in the fight against terror in the two
countries, says Zaman.
EDITORIAL OPINION:
US Ambassador: "We are not interfering with Turkey, we are not
stalling, we are serious"
Murat Yetkin wrote in the liberal Radikal (11/30): "US Ambassador
Ross Wilson said that the goal of a recent breakfast meeting with a
group of politicians and businessmen was to understand the latest
developments in the southeastern region of Turkey. His intentions
were not to interfere with Turkey's domestic affairs. Responding to
Radikal's questions, Ambassador Wilson said "our aim regarding the
PKK issue is to continue joint efforts against the PKK as President
Bush and PM Erdogan agreed on during their last meeting. This
cooperation continues seriously and this cooperation is definitely
not a stalling tactic. Effective intelligence sharing has already
started and Turkish officials will decide on how to use this
intelligence". When he was asked why DTP deputies were not invited
to the breakfast, Ambassador Wilson said "the DTP must distance
itself from the PKK." The Ambassador added that "meetings always
take place between diplomats and politicians. I have such political
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and social meetings almost every day. Turkish diplomats also attend
these kinds of meetings at their relevant posts in different
countries. Congressman Shays has been in Turkey several times and
closely follows developments in Turkey. Because of the latest
developments, he wanted to go to Diyarbakir and the border region
this time. In order to get more information about the situation in
the region, he wanted to meet with people from different circles.
He had meetings with diplomats and the military. That is why we
invited deputies and businessmen from Diyarbakir and its region for
breakfast. This was a very useful meeting.
We are aware that our duty is a 'joint struggle' against the PKK, as
PM Erdogan and President Bush discussed in Washington. We are not
trying to stall. Everyone will see how serious we are on the PKK
issue, but I cannot give a timeline." On the cooperation between
Iraq, US and Turkey, Ambassador Wilson said "the cooperation is
working well. We respect FM Babacan's criticism on Iraq, but we
have noticed certain steps Iraqi officials have taken. They set
check points at the border to prevent PKK infiltrating into Turkey
and some other precautions I can't mention. The Ambassador added
that effective intelligence sharing has begun between the US and
Turkey, however, he could not comment on whether any concrete
results came out of this. The Ambassador ended his remarks by
saying "We do not interfere with Turkey's domestic affairs, we are
trying to help Turkey in its fight against terrorism, we are not
wasting Turkey's time, and we are very serious."
Wilson: Our Target is PKK
Semih Idiz wrote in the mainstream Milliyet (11/30): "Ambassador
Wilson talked about the recent breakfast: "diplomats talk to as many
host-country citizens as possible in order to get accurate
information on that country. And that was exactly what we did on
Tuesday morning. I was sorry to see that the breakfast was
politicized. We never host events based on ethnic identities."
Ambassador Wilson said that he had to cancel the lunch he was
supposed to host yesterday to avoid further speculation. When asked
whether or not the Embassy imposed an embargo on the DTP, Ambassador
Wilson said that "the Embassy always meets with selected politicians
and legal political parties, including the DTP. But, whenever we
meet with them we emphasize that they should distance themselves
from the PKK." Ambassador Wilson added that "at the November 5
meeting we declared the PKK a common enemy of Turkey and the US.
Our target is the PKK and our goal is to end the PKK violence."
TV Highlights
NTV
Domestic News
- An "Atlasjet" plane carrying 56 people crashed near the
Mediterranean province of Isparta in the early morning hours on
Friday, killing all onboard. The plane was en route from Istanbul
to Isparta.
- A controversial bill regulating the appointments of new judges and
prosecutors will be debated in the parliament Friday.
- In response to a parliamentary inquiry about the absence of Turkey
in a Euro coin map, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said the Turkish
government, not being part of the EU's decision making mechanisms,
has not been able to influence the decision.
- The strike of Turk Telekom workers has ended. Losses caused by
sabotages during the strike are estimated to amount to 100 million
Turkish Lira. Transport Minister Binali Yildirim has intervened to
end the long-running strike, offering 200 Lira bonuses for each
worker.
International News
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- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said the Annapolis peace
conference put prospects for an independent Palestinian State "back
on track."
- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a newspaper interview Thursday
that failure to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians
could threaten Israel's long-term survival.
- As President Sarkozy prepares to visit Algeria, the influential
National Organization of Fighters, which represents veterans of the
1954-62 independence war against France, has asked Paris to
apologize for the killings during its 132 years of colonial rule.
- Iran plans to launch a crackdown on rap music, complaining about
the "obscene" language used in the songs, the state IRNA news agency
reported.
WILSON