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TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKISH MEDIA REACTION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010
Media Highlights:
How the US Is Playing
US Missionary Weapons. 'Bible Coded' American Rifles in Iraq (Yeni
Safak)
All major papers carry an ABC report about passages from the Holy
Bible inscribed on the binoculars mounted on the rifles used by
American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mainstream Sabah says
the serial number, 32JN812, on "Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight"
binoculars refers to a verse in Holy Bible, "Those who follow and
believe in Jesus will not be left in the dark." Islamist-oriented
Yeni Safak says such "mystery" weapons used by the US has recalled
President Bush's remark of "Crusades" regarding the war in Iraq.
Violence and Looting On the Rise in Haiti. Media outlets continue
sensationalist reports on the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
Mainstream Milliyet headline reads, "Violence Grips Haiti," and
notes, "looting and violence are growing in Port-au-Prince, the
capital of quake-hit Haiti, as international aid workers strive to
provide the survivors with basic supplies." Liberal Radikal carries
a front page headline "Eyes of Haiti" with a picture of an orphan
and expresses concern over the young victims in Haiti noting that
"UNICEF fears that as many as 'two million children' have been
affected by the disaster. French and US governments are easing the
entry of orphaned Haitian children into their countries in the wake
of the devastating earthquake." Radikal also adds the "US Aid
campaign Continues" and says that "US troops provided security for
water and food aid deliveries in Haiti." Islamist oriented Yeni
Safak in "Don't Leave Me," observes "violence and chaos slow aid
delivery in Haiti. Some of the search and rescue teams leave the
collapsed areas for lack of security," and highlights "Turkish IHH
has been looking after 700 orphans. Turkish search and rescue team
GEA has also pulled three more people alive from the rubble." In an
attached story, Yeni Safak headline reads "We Won't Occupy Haiti"
and quotes US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that "the US is
chiefly involved in distributing relief and will support the UN in
providing security."
In the Headlines
Yerevan's 'Genocide' Obstinacy (Sabah)
Media outlets report Ankara had been uneasy over a top Armenian
court's reference to the "killings of 1915" in its justification
about the "constitutionality" of protocols with Turkey. The Turkish
Foreign Ministry (MFA) sources said the "reference" is against the
essence of the normalization process with Yerevan. "This decision
contains preconditions and restrictive provisions that impair the
objective and spirit of the protocols," the MFA said in a statement
Monday. The Armenian court's January 12 decision says the protocols
with Turkey conform to the Armenian Constitution, but stipulates
that the agreement must not contradict Paragraph 11 of the
Declaration of Independence, the section that offended Ankara. It
states, "Armenia supports the task of achieving international
recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western
Armenia." The MFA sources told papers the court's reference to a
declaration rejecting even the questioning of the 1915 killings of
Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire is against the essence
of the normalization process with Yerevan. "Turkey, in line with
its accustomed allegiance to international commitments, maintains
its adherence to the primary provisions of the protocols. We expect
the same allegiance from the Armenian government," said the MFA
statement. Mainstream Haberturk says the ruling of the Armenian
court "deadlocked" the process between Turkey and Armenia.
Television stations are reporting a statement from Foreign Minister
Davutoglu this morning as "he conveys his concerns over the protocol
issue to Yerevan."
Pundits from mainstream Milliyet predominantly dedicate their
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columns to the Turkish-Armenia normalization protocols focusing on
interpretation differences. In "Protocols Are Facing Erosion" Sami
Kohen observes the current process is a result of "both sides
bringing interpretation based on concrete differences which
protocols tried to eliminate through diplomatic wording." Given the
accusation coming from both Yerevan and Ankara, the columnist
worries that "it may lead to a complete cancellation of ratification
procedure." In "Armenia Protocol Faces Difficulty" columnist Taha
Akyol considers it an important mistake by the Armenian
Constitutional Court: "By approving the protocol but at the same by
inserting genocide claims, the Armenian court broke one of the
moving legs. From now on, it will be very difficult to move ahead
with the protocol process. International diplomacy should realize
this is a mistake coming from Armenian side that has to be resolved
first." In "Have Protocols Died Already?" columnist Semih Idiz
notes "it would be too optimistic to believe" that the genocide
issue will disappear after the protocols: "Eventually all matters
come down to the Armenian genocide issue. Even if the protocols are
fully implemented this issue will not go away. This is a long
process which requires a considerable timeframe because both Turkey
and Armenia have some unchangeable points on this matter."
Energy Minister Yildiz: "Nuclear Agreement Will Come to Parliament
Soon" (Sabah)
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz stressed that, whether through opening
tenders or without it, within the framework of laws and legislation,
steps will be taken regarding the nuclear plant this year.
Mainstream Sabah quoted Taner as saying "An international agreement
will be prepared on this issue and will be submitted to the
Parliament. These kinds of agreements are above the legislation."
Yildiz also said "regarding the 'buy or pay' project on natural gas,
we expect a gesture from Iran and Russia for two to three years."
Responding to a question regarding the six billion cubic meter of
natural gas Turkey buys from Russia, Minister Yildiz said "We can
say that this issue leans towards the private sector. This is an
opportunity."
PM Erdogan: "Saudi Arabia as Important as the EU for Turkey"
(Milliyet)
Addressing a group of businessmen in Riyadh, PM Erdogan rejected
allegations that there is a shift in Turkish foreign policy and said
"we care about our cooperation with Saudi Arabia as much as we
attach importance to the cooperation with the EU."
Intellectual/Islamist-oriented Zaman headlines "Let's Lift Visa
Procedures" and reports that PM Erdogan proposed eliminating visa
requirements with Saudi Arabia and urged Saudi businessmen to invest
in Turkey. Zaman quoted Erdogan on concern for Gaza: "There is
nothing more natural than Turkey to show concern for the
Palestinians and Gaza, not because we are Muslim but because we are
humans. Would we not send aid to Haiti because the majority of them
are Christian?"
The Head of Al-Qaeda in Turkey, Abu-Zer, is a Turk (Milliyet)
Mainstream Milliyet reports, the head of al-Qaeda in Turkey, Serdar
Elbasa - who is also known by the codename Abu Zer and Abu Hureyre -
was captured during operations conducted by counterterrorism teams
in Ankara and the southern city of Adana on Monday. Information
obtained during the operations indicates that Serdar Elbasa, a Turk,
was serving as al-Qaeda's head for Turkey and the Caucasus region.
Security forces found evidence showing that the terrorist
organization was preparing for attacks against the police forces in
Turkey and Turkish forces under ISAF in Kabul.
TV Spotlight (CNN Turk)
33 suspects were taken into custody in operations against al-Qaeda
in Ankara and Adana.
On January 25, the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan will meet
in Turkey under the auspices of President Gul.
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On January 21, Turkey's business grouping TUSIAD will elect its new
chairman.
Israeli Foreign Ministry U/S Yossi Gal paid a visit to Ankara for
"political consultations."
Former Israeli Ambassador to Turkey, Alon Liel, said Israel suffered
a "defeat" in its attempt to humiliate Turkey.
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says the Turkish Parliament is going to
pass a "special regulation" for the construction of a nuclear plant.
A London court rules that British couple David and Linda Orams must
demolish their holiday home in northern Cyprus, hand the land back
to the original owner of the property, and pay him damages.
A Vatican document says Islamic extremism forments most of the
conflicts in the Middle East and makes life difficult for
Christians.
The head of Boeing France said US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has
received 851 orders for its long-range 787 Dreamliner plane from 56
airlines.
JEFFREY