VZCZCXRO3597
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #0476/01 0611447
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021447Z MAR 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1179
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7862
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2242
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1702
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5778
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 5524
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2146
RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU
RHMFIUU/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU
RHMFIUU/39OSS 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 000476 
 
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, MARCH 2, 2007 
 
 
In Today's Papers 
 
Erdogan-Buyukanit Clash over Iraq 
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak 
and others report the Turkish General Staff (TGS) said in a 
statement yesterday the views expressed by Chief of General Staff 
Yasar Buyukanit in a press conference in Washington last month were 
"not personal," but rather "the institutional views of the Turkish 
armed forces," contradicting comments by Prime Minister Erdogan. 
Erdogan has said on Thursday that the remarks were the "personal" 
s TalaQrriyet, Milliyet, Radi`ni Safak and 
others `gan phoned the Iraqi President 
Talabani to wish him a speedy recovery after he was taken to a 
hospital in Jordan.  Sources quoted Talabani as telling Erdogan that 
he believed that problems would be resolved by joint efforts of 
Turkey and Iraq. 
Erdogan also called the Iranian President Ahmadinejad to discuss 
current political developments in the region.  Papers comment the 
Iraqi and Iranian leaders' support was important for Turkey on the 
eve of a possible gathering of Iraq's foreign ministers in Istanbul 
in April.  Meanwhile, sources told Cumhuriyet and Zaman special Iraq 
envoy Oguz Celikkol will represent Turkey at the March 10 meeting to 
be held in Baghdad at ambassadorial level. 
 
Former President Evren Suggests Division of Turkey into States 
All papers report most Turkish politicians reacted negatively to 
comments by former president Kenan Evren, who led the 1980 military 
coup, that Turkey should be divided into semi-autonomous provinces, 
saying such a plan would endanger the country's unity and security. 
Turkey should adopt the "state system," Evren announced earlier this 
week, saying that it is possible to divide the country into eight 
states, namely Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Erzurum, Diyarbakir, 
Eskisehir, and Trabzon.  Cumhuriyet says on page one Evren speaks 
like "a US spokesman," reporting Ali Topuz, a senior figure in the 
main opposition CHP administration, said Evren has done everything 
the US has asked for, "including a military takeover."  Deputy Prime 
Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said "loosening the unitary structure in 
Turkey will not bring any good." 
 
Editorial Commentary: Iraqi Oil; PKK in the Political Process 
Fatih Altayli, comments on Iraq's oil law in the mainstream Sabah: 
"According to this draft law, an independent expert commission will 
be able to audit the agreements the Kurdish administration signs; 
however, the final decision will be made by the Kurdish 
urkey's main Kurdish party] deputy chair 
Aysel Tugluk stressed that the 'PKK should be given the chance to 
participate in politics under the condition that it does not 
interfere with the unitary state structure.'  A significant number 
of Kurdish politicians cannot make a political decision without 
getting jailed PKK leader Ocalan's approval.  Indeed, they cannot 
even announce the possibility that they might run as independent 
candidates until Ocalan reportedly gives such an instruction.  This 
proves that the PKK already is involved in legal and democratic 
politics." 
 
 
ANKARA 00000476  002 OF 003 
 
 
Papers: US 'Corrects' Rice's 'Kurdistan Gaffe' 
Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Yeni Safak and 
others report State spokesman Sean McCormack said in response to a 
press question, the word "Kurdistan" used by Secretary Rice was 
"reference to a geographical area."  On Tuesday, Rice had described 
the PKK during testimony at the Senate Appropriations Committee as a 
terrorist group operating "on the border between Turkey and 
Kurdistan," drawing reactions in Turkey.  McCormack said "the border 
is between Turkey and Iraq."  Opposition CHP lawmaker Ali Topuz told 
a press conference yesterday that Secretary Rice has revealed "her 
true intentions":  "The US Greater Middle East project has been 
given a kick-off.  A Kurdish state is to be formed in northern Iraq 
as a prelude to an independent Kurdistan on land from Turkey, Iraq, 
Syria, and Iran." 
 
Ankara Reacts to Cyprus-France Agreement 
Milliyet and Zaman report according to a deal signed Monday between 
France and Greek Cyprus, France will be able to use air and naval 
bases in south Cyprus and will execute joint military exercises with 
the Greek Cypriots.  Frenchwould jeopardize stability and 
security in the eastern Mediterranean, disrupting efforts for a 
comprehensive resolution under the UN. 
 
TV Highlights 
NTV (6 a.m.) 
 
Domestic News 
 
- The Ankara prosecutor has launched an investigation into the 
Kurdish party DTP convention held earlier this week in Ankara. 
 
- Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of Turkey-EU joint parliamentary 
commission, said Kurdish parties should be represented in the 
Turkish parliament. 
 
- A prosecutor in Ankara has demanded four "life without parole" 
sentences for each of the defendants Alparslan Arslan, Osman 
Yildirim, Ismail Sagir and Erhan Timuroglu, suspects involved in 
attacks against the Council of State (Danistay) and daily 
Cumhuriyet, for attempts of "destroying the constitutional order" 
and "intentionally committing murder." 
 
- The PKK's chief Abdullah Ocalan has been poisoned in jail in 
Turkey, his lawyers told the press in Rome on Thursday, asking the 
UN to dispatch a medical team to investigate. 
Ocalan's defense team showed the results of tests indicating the 
presence of toxic metals in the Kurdish leader's hair.  Turkish 
Justice Ministry denied claims, saying Ocalan has no serious health 
problem. 
 
- Turkey's leading business forum TUSIAD urged the EU to set a 
target date, January 1, 2014, for Turkey's full membership, saying 
this would be a positive psychological impulse for the country. 
 
International News 
 
- NATO exercises in the Aegean were cancelled when Turkey said 
Greece was not abiding by a Lausanne Treaty provision for the 
demilitarization of Aegean islands.  Greece said the annulment 
infringed on its sovereign rights. 
 
- The EU Commission has asked the Greek Cypriot administration to 
remove the barricades blocking Ledra Street through the buffer zone 
in the southern part of the island. 
 
 
ANKARA 00000476  003 OF 003 
 
 
- Officers advising the US commander, General David Petraeus, in 
Baghdad have warned they have six months to win the war in Iraq or 
face a Vietnam-style collapse. 
 
- Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg said 
illegal interrogation methods and torture are "routine" in Chechnya. 
 
 
- Republican Senator John McCain officially announced he will run 
for president in 2008. 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
WILSON