TURKEY: POSSIBLE VISIT BY SWEDISH FM COULD BOOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008535

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2007
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SW TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POSSIBLE VISIT BY SWEDISH FM COULD BOOST
AK'S HUMAN RIGHTS IMAGE

Classified by Acting Political Counselor Nicholas S. Kass.
Reason: 1.5(b)(d).



1. (C) Anne Dismoor, Swedish Ambassador to Turkey, told
poloff at a November 20 reception that she was hopeful
Swedish FM Lindh would visit Turkey soon. According to
Dismoor, Lindh canceled her trip last year after GOT
officials stated she would have to cancel a planned visit to
Diyarbakir, a southeastern province under a state of
emergency, due to the possibility of "bad press." Dismoor
commented that during a meeting last week AK Party Chairman
Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed puzzlement over why Lindh felt
forced to cancel her trip and stated she should be able to
visit Diyarbakir. Erdogan further indicated that Lindh would
be given all accommodations should she choose to visit
Turkey. Dismoor said Erdogan was scheduled to go to Sweden
next November 27 and implied plans for a visit to Turkey by
Lindh may be discussed.



2. (C) Comment: Sweden has at times been among the leading
critics of Turkey's human rights record. A visit to the
troubled southeast by Lindh at this time would highlight the
AK Party's efforts to portray itself as willing to break with
the past on this issue. After assuming office, Interior
Minister Aksu immediately issued a message to all governors
stressing the importance of combating torture, abduction,
excessive force, and extrajudicial killing. The AK party
also elevated the status of human rights in the Cabinet by
appointing a Deputy PM, Ertugrul Yalcinbayir, as Minister for
Human Rights; the GOT had previously assigned a State
Minister to this role.
PEARSON