How Did Turkish Newspapers Receive Obama?

US President Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey was on the front pages of Turkey’s daily newspapers today.

The Hürriyet newspaper referred to Obama’s slogan of “change” and said “We Must All Change”. The first page was devoted to Obama’s comments on the importance of Turkey and praise for the country.

The Zaman newspaper announce Obama’s visit under the heading “Historical and Warm Messages.” The newspaper acknowledged Obama’s gesture of visiting Prime Minister Erdoğan at the Prime Ministerial Office and further discussed four messages of the US President:

“The USA is not at war with Islam, nor will it be. We support EU membership for Turkey. We will form a model partnership with Turkey. PKK and Al Qaida are common enemies. Many American families have Muslim members. I am one of them.”

The Sabah newspaper’s headline ran “Obama’s Ankara Manifesto.” The newspaper reported that Obama supported an opening of the border with Armenia, a discussion of the events of 1915 in parliament, and a re-opening of a priests’ seminary on Heybeliada in Istanbul.

The Radikal newspaper read “Let Our Partnership Be a Model”, with another heading saying “Two laicist democratic countries must form a model partnership.”

The Birgün newspaper was more critical, saying “Obama’s Bargain for Cheap Soldiers.” Referring to the Atatürk quote “Peace in the country, peace in the world,” which Obama wrote into the visitor’s book at Atatürk’s mausoleum in Ankara, the newspaper said, “He might write [that], but he has visited in order to place more Turkish soldiers in the region, especially Afghanistan.”

The Evrensel newspaper said “Trying to Please Everyone”, saying that he was trying to win over everyone with different messages.

The Milliyet newspaper covered Obama’s visit with the headline “Setting off with Turkey,” reporting that Obama’s speech in Turkish Parliament on Monday showed the path ahead.

The Habertürk newspaper’s headline read “He Didn’t Budge,” adding below, “On his first visit to a foreign country, US President Barack Obama spoke candidly, emphasing a laicist democracy. He sent the world important messages.”

With its heading “You Change, Too”, the Vatan newspaper said that Obama was calling on Turkey to change. The newspaper also covered the president’s comments on the 1915 events and priests’ seminaries.

The Star and Taraf newspapers had nearly the same headline, the Taraf writing “We Will Not Fight with Islam”, and Star saying “We Will Never Fight with Islam.”

The Günlük newspaper said, “Obama Came, Bush Talked,” arguing that Obama was following Bush’s policy and supporting Turkey against the PKK.

The Yenişafak newspaper put Obama’s sentence “There are Muslims in My Family” on the front page and emphasised that Obama would try to make good Bush’s mistakes. (EZÖ/AG)