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Cablegate: Turkish Media Reaction

Published: Thu 3 Sep 2009 12:47 PM
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
In Today's Papers
EU Report Praises Turkey's Kurd, Armenian Moves
Media outlets report the EU Commission's annual enlargement report
to be made public October 14 praises the government's 'Kurdish
democratic initiative' and the dialogue with Armenia. Papers report
EU sources expect Ankara to use the six-week period until the
release of the report to take forward steps regarding the Kurdish
question. A statement released by the EU term president Sweden has
also welcomed Turkey and Armenia moving toward each other.
Papers report the EU report lauds a regulation for the trial of
military officials by civilian courts; welcomes the launch eight
months ago of Kurdish-language TV broadcasts on state-owned TRT-6
television; supports the Kurdish democratic initiative process; and
mentions briefly Turkey's Armenia move. The EU report, however,
slams Turkey over the ruling party exerting pressure on the media,
over the fact that ties between the military and civilians were far
from the EU standards, that Turkey has not opened its ports to Greek
Cypriot vessels, and that the Halki Seminary has not been opened
yet.
Rehn Welcomes Turkish Government's Kurdish Move
Papers report the EU Commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn, said
the Turkish government's Kurdish move topped the list of important
issues going on in Turkey. Rehn expressed pleasure over the move,
but stressed the EU expected concrete action from the government.
Rehn said the EU had to see whether the Turkish government could
offer an initiative to the southeast that would bring economic and
social development as well as expand language and cultural rights.
Reactions to Armenian Protocol
Sabah, Milliyet, Vatan, Radikal, Yeni Safak, Haber Turk and others:
Mainstream Milliyet reports that, commenting on Turkish protocol for
normalization of ties with Armenia at his party group meeting, main
opposition party CHP leader Deniz Baykal said his party will not
support the protocols between Turkey and Armenia until Armenian
occupation of Azerbaijani territory is over. Mainstreams Hurriyet
and HaberTurk report that deputy chairman of the MHP Oktay Vural and
Mehmet Sandir said that PM Erdogan might be nominated for a Nobel
prize by the Western countries for supporting their projects like
Kurdish opening and Armenian opening. Democrat Party chair
Husamettin Cindoruk, on the other hand, claimed that the Armenian
initiative is an initiative that was directed by President Obama
during his speech at the Turkish Parliament. Liberal Radikal
reports that the EU, in Turkey's progress report praised a series of
reform steps. Milliyet reports that EU enlargement commissioner
Olli Rehn delivered a speech in European Parliament's Commission for
Human Rights yesterday. Rehn praised the protocol initialed by
Turkey and Armenia and described the protocol as very important sign
of improvement.
Editorial Opinions on Turkey-Armenia
Oktay Eksi wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "The government describes
its goal of zero problems with neighbors which calls for a miracle
to happen for any government in any given country. One wonders how
this miracle will occur for Turkish-Armenian relations and how to
convince Baku especially after pronouncing the Karabakh issue as a
condition for normalization."
Ali Bayramoglu wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Normalization
with Armenia will facilitate a better relationship and cooperation
model in the Caucasus. Turkey will be a key regional player on
bilateral grounds as well as be a facilitator between Europe and the
Caucasus region."
Kadri Gursel wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "This is the time to talk
about realities as opposed to fantasies. The Karabakh issue is the
name of a domestic political power game between the ruling party and
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the opposition in Baku. Therefore it is hard to expect Baku to be
happy about Turkey-Armenia rapprochement without seeing a solution
on Karabakh. However Turkish diplomacy should be working on
convincing Baku on the bare realities. Working on a settlement for
Karabakh is one thing, but on the other hand going back to the 1992
conditions, i.e. status quo ante, is not possible at all."
Cem Sey wrote in leftist Taraf: "Ankara made a brave decision by
proceeding on the Armenia normalization process, and took a big
risk. There is no chance for Ankara to push for settlement on
Karabakh on either sides. Unless the Western powers, the U.S. and
EU, keep up their promise and impose a solution that is acceptable
for both Baku and Yerevan, the Turkey-Armenia process cannot go
anywhere."
At White House Iftar, Obama Praises Islam and Religious Freedom
Obama's Iftar plays well for Muslim outreach, while his comments
regarding religious dress draw attention from the staunchly secular
and the Islamist-oriented outlets. Liberal Radikal headlines,
"Obama Praises Islam at The Iftar." Mainstream Sabah notes, "Obama
showered praise on Islam," as "he drew attention to the level of
Muslims' participation in the U.S." Mainstream Hurriyet reports in
"Obama's Turban Opening," that U.S. President Barack Obama said an
Arab-born student in Oklahoma served as "an example" by suing her
university for the right to wear the hijab at school.
Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines, "Obama Praised the Headscarf
Struggle," and notes, "Obama emphasized that tolerance is a value in
the United States."
Scandal at the U.S. Embassy Amid An Intensifying War in Afghanistan
Media note that the latest U.S. security firm scandal has hit the
U.S. Embassy in Kabul at a most inconvenient time. Mainstream
Hurriyet reports, "As the attacks intensify against NATO forces from
Taliban extremists, allegations of hazing have emerged at the U.S.
Embassy in Kabul." Mainstream Sabah reports in "Scandal at the U.S.
Embassy," that "a private security firm named ArmorGroup engaged in
sexual abuse and maltreatment of its employees" at a time when, "The
war in Afghanistan is worsening and the headquarters of the U.S.
Mission is in trouble," due to this scandal. Sabah also says "It
wasn't as bad as Abu Ghraib," but, "The State Department is
investigating the allegations."
TV News (CNN Turk)
Domestic
- On Thursday, PM Erdogan will hold a terror summit with the
participation of TGS Chief General Basbug, force commanders and some
cabinet ministers to discuss the Kurdish "democratic initiative."
- President Abdullah Gul has hosted a Ramadan fast breaking dinner
for the representatives of labor unions.
- South Korean steel giant POSCO and China's third biggest
automotive manufacturer Dong Feng Motor chose Turkey as their
production bases.
- As of Thursday, Turkish Airlines (THY) will begin its flights from
Istanbul to Jakarta, Indonesia five times a week.
World
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Abou Gheit told a Cairo press conference
with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that Turkey was
playing an important role as a bridge between the Islamic world and
the EU.
- The first meeting of the second round of Cyprus negotiations,
which was scheduled to take place Thursday, has been postponed by
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the Greek Cypriot side due to Wednesday's dispute at the border when
Greek Orthodox pilgrims were not permitted passage.
- Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis calls a snap national
election, saying he needs a fresh mandate to deal with the economic
crisis.
- Israeli and Palestinian ministers meet in Jerusalem for the first
time after the appointment of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli Prime
Minister.
JEFFREY
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