VZCZCXRO0214
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #1647/01 3211138
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171138Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1243
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0145
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 6527
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 4274
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 7649
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 7553
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4145
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 001647
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
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009
Media Highlights: Nuclear Plant Bid By Russians Suspended; New
Tenders in 2010; FM Davutoglu Angered by Environment
Chapter Blockage, Accepts French Initiative; Obama to China:
Uncensored Society is Healthy; CHP Oymen Debate;
New Independent Human Rights Institution; USS Bataan Docks in Izmir
New Nuclear Power Plant Tenders Expected in 2010
Mainstream newspapers Milliyet, Vatan, Hurriyet and Sabah predict
that the lone bid by a Russian joint partnership to build a nuclear
power plant in Turkey will be cancelled. According to
Islamic-oriented Yeni Safak and mainstream Sabah, the government
plans to hold twin tenders for the construction of nuclear plants in
Akkuyu and Sinop in 2010. Media report that Energy Minister Taner
Yildiz reasoned that because of a court case ruling by the Council
of State against the methodology used in the nuclear plant tender,
"the government cannot remain indifferent." Media also report that
Yildiz talked about new nuclear tender arrangements that experts in
the field interpreted as indicating the annulment of the current
nuclear plant tender. Sabah notes that The Russian
Atomstroyexport-Inter Rao and Turkish Park Teknik joint venture was
the only bidder for the last tender and the validity of that bid
expires on November 24.
Blockage of EU Environment Chapter Angers FM Davutoglu; French ME
Conference Proposal Noted
Hurriyet-Daily News editor Serkan Demirtas quotes FM Davutoglu from
Madrid as saying that "We are faced with a political blockage from
some countries on the opening of the environment chapter. Trying to
block the process for political reasons is unfair. We are talking
about cooperating on the energy security of Europe but we cannot
open the chapter on energy because of the Greek Cypriot veto. It is
not understandable. We are criticized by the Europeans for not
being fast enough, but is it because of us or them? In the
beginning of the negotiation process, we were told that the chapter
on environment was one of the hardest to open. But we fulfilled the
opening criteria in less than a few months time. Instead of
encouraging us, they indirectly discouraged us."
In a related story, Sabah reports that in Madrid, Davutoglu welcomed
a French proposal for having a Middle East conference in Paris by
saying "Turkey supports all good will initiatives. We support
Obama's Middle East policies. If France has this kind of
initiative, we'll support that also." Intellectual-
Islamist-oriented Zaman says that Davutoglu warned France, whose
plans include a Middle East conference without Turkey, by saying
"Initiatives without a strong infrastructure and without the support
of all parties, can cause disappointment."
"Obama to China: Uncensored Society is Healthy." (Hurriyet Daily
News) Media outlets highlight the positive messages President Obama
gave to the world during his first visit to China. In "Here's
ObaMAO," mainstream Milliyet emphasizes President Obama's popularity
in China. Islamist-oriented Zaman headline reads, "Obama Gave Warm
Messages to Chinese Students: We're Not Enemies," and notes,
"President Obama told Chinese students in a town hall meeting with
Chinese students that US and China have positive, constructive and
comprehensive relations." Mainstream Hurriyet carries the headline,
"While Obama Says He Is Against Censorship, China Censors Him," and
notes, "President Obama pointed out the importance of unlimited
access to information and called for Internet freedom during a
meeting with Chinese students. However, the meeting was not
broadcast live on national TV across China." Leftist-nationalist
Cumhuriyet writes "Obama Talked About Rights, Didn't Touch On
Tibet," saying, "Obama used the forum to champion Internet freedom
and human rights on the first day of his trip but he did not mention
China's Tibet policy. It could have created tension ahead of his
talks with Chinese leaders in Beijing."
CHP Oymen Debate
Turkish media provide extensive newspaper coverage of a debate
ANKARA 00001647 002 OF 003
within the CHP, the main opposition party, as some members campaign
against Onur Oymen following his remarks in the parliament last week
that hurt Alevi as well as Kurdish feelings. Reactions to his
rhetoric also dominate the opinion columns. From mainstream media
to the Islamists, the opinion makers mostly agreed that "the
rhetoric was wrong" and some called on him to resign. In mainstream
Hurriyet, Sedat Ergin does not agree with Oymen's self defense:
"Oymen should stop comparing apples and oranges. There is credible
evidence that the event he referred to was a massacre." Similarly,
mainstream Sabah's Nazli Ilicak finds the rehoric "totally
unacceptable" and calls CHP's Oymen "to resign immediately."
Tamer Korkmaz and Fehmi Koru, two columnists in Islamist Yeni Safak
both think that "the recent incident is not unique and actually
shows CHP's true colors."
However, in mainstream Milliyet, Melih Asik thinks differently:
"Oymen was trying to point out a historic fact that Turkey has never
thought of negotiating with insurgents even in the most difficult
circumstances." Similarly, Milliyet's Fikret Bila quotes CHP leader
Baykal as saying he thinks "Oymen was misunderstood" because "he was
talking about a methodology."
Human Rights Department Will be Replaced by New Body
Hurriyet reports that the government is preparing to establish an
independent Human Rights Institution. The Human Rights Institution,
as an autonomous 11- member body, will replace the Human Rights
Department, which has been inactive for long time. The 11 board
members will be elected from among academics, civil activists and
members of various related institutions. The new institution will
be authorized to file complaints with prosecutors and to file
objections to court rulings dismissing allegations of human rights
violations. The EU had pressed Turkey, according to reports, to set
up an independent and autonomous body, not affiliated with the
government..
USS Bataan Docks in Izmir
Sabah and Milliyet as well as Izmir's regional outlet Yeni Asir
report that one of the US' biggest helicopter and amphibian attack
vessels, the USS Bataan, docked in Izmir harbor yesterday morning.
The articles say that the vessel is returning home from Iraq and
Afghanistan and stopped for the soldiers to relax. They all
highlight the economic impact for stores in the area and Milliyet
notes that the three day stay of the vessel will contribute three
million dollars to Izmir's economy. Milliyet also notes that
security measures increased in Izmir for the visit.
Upcoming events:
- November 17: Visiting Italian President Napolitano and President
Gul will hold joint press conference following their meeting at the
Presidential Palace
- November 17: The Head of the American-Turkish Council (ATC) Brent
Scowcroft will be received by President Gul
- November 17: PM Erdogan will attend the FAO summit in Rome
- November 19: Leader of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council Ammar
Al-Hakim visits Turkey as the guest of PM Erdogan
- November 23: Israeli Industry, Trade and Labor Minister
Ben-Eliezer visits Turkey
TV News (CNN Turk)
Domestic
- Four members of the PKK group that returned to Turkey last month
ANKARA 00001647 003 OF 003
join DTP meeting in Van
- Government spokesman Cicek said the government will make new
adjustments to prevent illegal wiretapping and will increase
penalties.
- AKP Vice Chairman Huseyin Celik said the cost of neutralizing one
PKK terrorist is $10million
World
- European Foreign Ministers agree that Albania should be considered
for official EU candidate status
- The Obama Administration steps up pressure on Pakistan to expand
and reorient its fight against Taliban and Al-Qaeda
- The US opposed to unilateral Palestinian move to seek recognition
for an independent state and said negotiations with Israel is the
best way forward
JEFFREY