

Currently released so far... 64621 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Browse by tag
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09ANKARA372, ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09ANKARA372 | 2009-03-12 13:58 | 2011-08-24 01:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Ankara |
VZCZCXRO7611
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #0372/01 0711358
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121358Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9031
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 9526
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 5500
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 3675
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 7168
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 7033
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3621
RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU
RHMFISS/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU
RHMFISS/39OS INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFISS/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU
RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFISS/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000372
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: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009
In Today's Papers
Iran Rejects Turkey's Mediation Offer
Media outlets highlight that, during President Gul's trip to Tehran,
Iranian President Ahmadinejad reneged on his prior acceptance of
Turkey's offer to mediate between the U.S. and Iran. CNNTurk
reports, "Iranian President Ahmadinejad rejected Turkey's offer to
act as a mediator between Iran and the Obama administration," and
NTV reports Ahmadinejad told Gul, "If there is justice in the world,
there should be no problems." Liberal Radikal carries the headline,
"The Iranian Leadership Is Not As Optimistic as Gul" about the new
U.S. administration as the paper notes religious leader Ayatollah
Ali Khomeini told Gul, "We have not seen any signs yet that Obama is
any different from Bush." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports, "Tehran
Reneges on Ankara's Mediation between the U.S. and Iran," even
though "Turkey was prepared to help initiate efforts toward dialogue
between the two countries for the first time in 30 years."
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet headlines, "Ahmadinejad Says He
Doesn't Need a Mediator."
While all other papers report that Tehran dismissed Turkey's
mediation offer, mainstream Sabah reports that President Gul's
efforts to mediate between the U.S. and Iran have influenced the
Iranian leadership to refrain from politically criticizing the U.S.
In "Gul's Mediation Between the U.S. and Iran," Sabah says, "Gul is
breaking the ice between the U.S. and Iran" because he "took U.S.
messages to Tehran" and Gul will "take Iran's messages to the U.S.
when he meets U.S. President Obama at the NATO's 60th Anniversary."
The front page of today's liberal Radikal carries columnist Murat
Yetkin's interview with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey
under the headline, "Gul Conveyed Our Message to Iran Sincerely,"
and the article notes Jeffrey said, "We are prepared to discussed
the topic of integrating Iran into the international system," and
for this reason, "Turkey's relations with Iran and Syria could be
helpful." Columnist Cengiz Candar of Radikal notes, "Gul's actions
in Tehran indicate to Washington that Gul is ready and willing to
make progress in negotiations with Iran," and "Washington watched
Gul closely as he urged Iranian leaders to take advantage of this
opportunity to restart dialogue with the U.S." Papers yesterday
noted that Gul had urged both Ahmadinejad and Khomeini during his
visit to consider dialogue with the U.S. by saying "You can't shake
hands when your fists are clenched."
Editorial Opinion on the Turkey-U.S./Obama Visit
Kadri Gursel wrote in mainstream Milliyet: "The U.S. is actively
involved in eliminating the post-Davos stress and is working toward
normalization between Turkey and Israel. Gul is doing his part by
planning to visit Israel. Obama is now visiting Turkey not because
of what happened in Davos, but because Erdogan's Davos attitude is
dead."
Yasin Dogan wrote in Islamist oriented Yeni Safak: "Obama's visit
demonstrates his appreciation Turkey's role and influence in the
region. Washington is also showing its political will to work with
the AKP."
Talabani Comes to Turkey
Mainstream Sabah and Islamist-oriented Zaman report that Iraqi
President Talabani will come to Istanbul on March 16 to participate
in the World Water Forum. Presidents Gul and Talabani are expected
to have a "mini summit" bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the
forum. Gul is expected to travel to Baghdad before the end of March
to meet with Talabani and others in Baghdad.
EU Parliament Takes up Turkey Report
Vatan, Hurriyet, Milliyet,Zaman,Sabah, Aksam: EU Commissioner Olli
Rehn spoke to the European Parliament regarding the latest Turkey
report and said, "The freedom of press is a basic principle of
Turkey's democratic transformation process and should be respected
ANKARA 00000372 002 OF 002
fully." In stark contrast, Islamist-oriented Zaman instead notes
that during the debate, "The European Parliament issued a warning to
Turkey regarding law suits that seek to ban political parties."
Sabah notes that the European Parliament was "hopeful for reforms in
2009."
Reaction from the Scientific Community to TUBITAK's Decision to
Censor an Article on Darwinism
Milliyet, Zaman, Cumhuriyet: The Administration of the Scientific
and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), which
censored articles in a scientific publication recently regarding
Darwin's evolution theory, was asked to resign from their posts by a
group of scientists. Milliyet notes that leading world academics
described TUBITAK's censorship as "unacceptable and a source of
concern." Islamist-oriented Zaman reports that "the truth was
different" and "the science magazine, so far, has never carried a
cover story about Darwin." Instead, Zaman says, "The editor of the
magazine decided on her own to devote the cover of the March issue
to Darwin while the original plans were to publish a cover story
about climate change."
Editorial Opinion on the PKK/Kurdish Issue
Mehmet Yilmaz wrote in mainstream Hurriyet: "The government must
realize the magnitude of the problem with imprisoning vast numbers
of the youth on charges of terrorism. Those kids who are in prison
on terrorism charges will be recruited and used by PKK because the
PKK uses jails as recruitment centers. If Turkey is truly a social
state, then this issue must be addressed."
TV News (CNN Turk)
Domestic News
- Excavations of BOTAS wells in Silopi revealed more remains of
bones and hair.
- CHP leader Deniz Baykal says the left and the right should unite
to defend secularism in Turkey.
- The Turkish lira rebounds against the US dollar, closing at
1.7340.
- Turkey's Privatization Administration says there will be no bank
privatizations in 2009.
International News
- Police shot dead a 17-year-old gunman who killed 16 people in a
school shooting in southwestern Germany. One of the victims was a
Turk.
- President Nicolas Sarkozy announces France intends to become a
full member of NATO, 43 years after France pulled out of the
alliance's military command.
- An Iraqi court sentences Iraq's former foreign minister, Tariq
Aziz, and Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as 'Chemical Ali,' to 15 years
in prison for their role in the killing of 42 merchants in Baghdad
in 1992 for profiteering.
- The US Congress votes to ease travel and medicine sales
restrictions to Cuba.
JEFFREY