VZCZCXRO6882
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #1294/01 2451213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021213Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0690
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0012
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 6224
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 4133
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 7535
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 7423
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4007
RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU
RHMFIUU/39OS INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU
RHMFIUU/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001294
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
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
In Today's Papers
Turkey and Armenia Begin Steps to Normalize Relations
All papers: Today's papers give extensive front-page coverage to
the steps to be taken between Turkey and Armenia to normalize
relations. Coverage is mostly hopeful and upbeat, but many are
noting the process is taking place under the shadow of the frozen
conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. Mainstream Sabah headlines, "The
Armenian Opening is a Strategic Attack," and the paper reports
Turkey and Armenia have officially announced "the Alican road and
Akyaka Border Train Station could be opened to traffic and then the
two countries could open embassies in their respective capitals,"
and, "The two countries also announced that the allegations of
genocide could be jointly investigated." Mainstream Milliyet carries
the headline, "A Journey into History for Peace," and the article
notes, "Under the protocol to be signed between Turkey and Armenia,
a committee of Turkish, Armenian and international experts will
conduct research on archives and historical documents and discuss
allegations of genocide." Islamist-oriented Zaman claims that
Turkey has three conditions to be met before establishing diplomatic
ties with Armenia - the "recognition of Turkey's territorial
integrity," ending "Armenian occupation of Azeri soil," and a
"change in Yerevan's characterization of the events of 1915 as
genocide."
Meanwhile, media also point out the Nagorno-Karabakh frozen conflict
as a potential road block to the road map for normalization.
Milliyet reports in "Baku: Erdogan Gave His Word," that, "The
biggest question mark in rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is
the Karabakh problem," as, "In the past, Armenian President
Sargsian said, "There is no precondition to the Turkey-Armenia
rapprochement regarding Karabakh." However, Milliyet notes
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman reminded yesterday that,
"Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan pledged not to open the border (with
Armenia) until the occupation (of Nagorno-Karabakh) is over."
Mainstream Vatan headlines, "The World is Pleased, but Baku is
Concerned," and the paper notes, "World leaders welcomed the
agreement," as, "The protocol to develop bilateral relations between
Turkey and Armenia is considered by the West as a step to end the
enmity of a hundred years, but it has caused concerns in
Azerbaijan." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet reports, "The agreement
with Yerevan has pleased the West but it made Azerbaijan and Turkish
political opposition parties angry." Liberal Radikal reports, "The
protocol will not come to a vote in the Turkish parliament unless
there is progress made in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue." In "Armenia
Will Withdraw Its Soldiers from Azerbaijan," Islamist-oriented Yeni
Safak reports, "The hidden side of the protocol signed between
Turkey and Armenia is that Yerevan will withdraw its troops from
Karabakh before the protocol can be approved by the parliaments,"
as, "Prime Minister Erdogan gave assurances to Azerbaijan that
Armenia would withdraw its troops." Conservative-nationalist Turkiye
reports Erdogan said, "The nod of the parliament is needed for the
implementation of the protocol for tackling problems with Armenia,"
which the paper calls "a guarantee for Azerbaijan."
Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines, "A Guarantee to Baku: No Process
Is More Than Our Friendship," and the paper notes Foreign Minister
Davutoglu emphasized the importance of Turkey-Azerbaijani relations
in a television interview with NTV. Mainstream Aksam comments, "The
fate of the protocol depends upon how the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is settled."
Islamist-oriented Zaman, mainstreams Hurriyet, Sabah, Milliyet and
Vatan report that the protocol between Turkey and Armenia was
welcomed by the US and the EU. US State Department spokesman Ian
Kelly, in a statement said "we urge Turkey and Armenia to proceed
expeditiously, according to the agreed framework as described in
today's statement." The EU sources said that the developments will
have positive impact on the ties of Turkey and Armenia with the EU.
Mainstream Hurriyet notes opposition party CHP issued a "harsh
response" to the protocol by saying, "The decision to announce this
protocol was not independently made by Turkey," and the opposition
ANKARA 00001294 002 OF 003
MHP said, "since Obama's visit to Turkey there has been pressure on
Turkey to proceed with this initiative."
Editorial Comments on Turkey-Armenia
Sami Kohen wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The process contains both
valuable opportunities as well as significant risks. Normalization
between Turkey and Armenia will bring very important chances for
both countries. There is however some undeniable risks ahead of the
process. It remains to be seen if the Yerevan administration, which
stands on a fragile ground, can move on despite strong nationalist
opposition and the Diaspora. The Turkish government on the other
hand does not have the opposition's support either. At this point
the process can move forward only if no high expectations are set
and no provocative statements are made."
Abdulhamit Bilici wrote in Islamist oriented Zaman: "Imposing a
strong precondition on the Karabakh issue fails to benefit Turkey or
Azerbaijan. Therefore Ankara is now pursuing a different approach
by not closing the negotiation door with Armenia at the beginning.
This method will pave the way for creating reconciliation between
Baku and Yerevan as well."
Fehmi Koru wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Ankara and
Yerevan are taking very important diplomatic steps which will help
resolve the conflict between Baku and Yerevan eventually. Thus the
Baku administration has to be more supportive for the process than
ever before."
Gungor Mengi wrote in mainstream Vatan: "Turkey certainly has to go
ahead and use any chance to solve problems with Armenia. However
this does not necessarily mean to take steps at the expense of
Baku-Ankara relations."
Oktay Eksi wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "When PM Erdogan went to
Baku in May he made a strongly binding statement - unless the
Karabakh occupation ends, the border gates will not be opened.
Apparently these strong words were crossed over after the Western
powers' pressure. The recent protocol clearly indicates that
solution to Karabakh problem is no longer a precondition for
Turkey-Armenia relations."
Murat Yetkin wrote in liberal-intellectual Radikal: "There is a
message between the lines which Yerevan knows as well. The Turkish
government will not take the protocol to the parliamentary approval
process unless there is a progress on the Karabakh problem."
DTP Rally for the World Peace Day
All papers and TV channels extensively cover the pro-Kurdish
opposition party DTP's rally in Diyarbakir yesterday to commemorate
World Peace Day. Sabah reported that one million people were
expected to attend the rally, however, there were around hundred
thousand people there and the crowds chanted pro-PKK and pro-Ocalan
slogans. Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir delivered a speech at the
rally and said "A ceasefire cannot be applied unilaterally and
killing does not solve problems." Mainstream Vatan headlines "A
Threat During The Peace Demonstration" and reports that only hours
before the rally DTP deputy Aysel Tugluk "issued threatening
messages" and said "a division of Turkey could come to table for
discussions if the government's democratic opening fails."
Tensions During Caglayan's Visit To Urumqi
Turkiye, Vatan, Hurriyet, Sabah report on a "scandalous" development
that unfolded during the visit of State Minister Zafer Caglayan to
China. Caglayan was visiting China as the special envoy of Prime
Minister Erdogan to convey the PM's messages to the government of
China after the escalation of tensions in China's Xinjiang
autonomous region. Caglayan became infuriated when Chinese security
officials attempted to conduct searches of the members of the
ANKARA 00001294 003 OF 003
official Turkish delegation. Minister's bodyguard intervened when
Chinese officials undertook physical steps to force the Turkish
minister to pass through the X-ray machine. Tensions further
escalated when Chinese officials "assaulted "the bodyguard.
According to conservative-nationalist Turkiye, Caglayan demanded an
apology for the scandal and threatened that otherwise he would
cancel the Turco-Chinese joint economic council meeting scheduled
for September. Turkish Ambassador Murat Esenli will submit a note
of protest to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and will demand an
apology, papers note.
TV News (CNN Turk)
Domestic
Q Health Minister Recep Akdag said that they expected swine flu
cases to increase in Turkey in the fall season. 27 million Turks
will receive vaccination against swine flu in the upcoming days.
Q Security forces find ammunitions in Adana and Trabzon.
Q Turkish Exports drop 29.8 percent year-on-year to $7.6 billion.
World
Q Deputy PM Bulent Arinc and the wife of PM Erdogan, Emine Erdogan
went to Libya to attend the celebrations for Gaddafi's 40 years in
power.
Q Turkish FM Davutoglu said Cyprus will always remain top priority
in Turkish foreign policy.
Q Slovakia adopts a new language law which restricts the use of all
languages in the country other than Slovak.
JEFFREY