CODEL HASTERT'S MEETINGS IN ANKARA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 008633 SIPDIS CENTCOM AND EUCOM: PLEASE PASS TO POLADS AND J-5 E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2012 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS ECON TU SUBJECT: CODEL HASTERT'S MEETINGS IN ANKARA (U) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson. Reason: 1.5 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: A codel led by Speaker Hastert met Nov. 21 with P.M. Gul and Parliament President ("Speaker") Arinc. Speaker Hastert congratulated Gul on AK's landslide election victory and Turkey's recent progress on political and economic reform. Gul echoed AK leader Erdogan's commitment to EU-related political reform; pledged continued progess on economic reform; emphasized the importance of the recent UN resolution on Iraq; and stressed that the AK government will work constructively on Cyprus. End summary. ¶2. (C) In separate meetings Nov. 21 with P.M. Gul and Parliament Speaker Arinc, Speaker Hastert congratulated the AK (Justice and Development) Party on its overwhelming victory in the Nov. 3 national elections. Complementing Turkey's efforts at improving its human rights record, and its role as a model of stability in the region, Speaker Hastert underscored the House of Representatives' commitment as an advocate for Turkey's EU membership. Hastert further underlined the importance of maintaining discipline on the IMF-backed economic reform program and indicated that the House is likely to take up QIZ legislation next year. ¶3. (C) Both Gul and Arinc thanked the Speaker's delegation for the USG's efforts to promote Turkey's EU accession bid. They acknowledged that with a single-party government, Turkey will be a more politically stable yet dynamic strategic partner. (Note: Arinc repeatedly referred to his consitutional yet largely ceremonial capacity as Acting President -- with President Sezer abroad at the Prague NATO summit that day. He also held the meeting in Presidential Palace, primarily to assert the prerogatives of the popularly-elected Parliament over an Executive that reportedly tried to interfere in his election as TGNA Speaker -- septel. End note.) ¶4. (C) Claiming that future historians will look back on the current period as "a turning point for Turkey," Gul laid out the government's critical issues: -- EU membership: The AK government will continue to push for EU reforms, not so much to meet the Copenhagen criteria as to "put its own house in order." (Arinc asserted that the new government will be "aggressive" in its pursuit of EU membership.) Individual freedoms -- in every field including, Gul noted, religion -- should be "guaranteed." He claimed many laws related to Turkey's EU aspirations will be adopted in the run-up to December's crucial EU summit in Copenhagen. Nevertheless, Gul averred that some EU members did not seem as sincere as the U.S. in its efforts to promote Turkey's candidacy. -- Iraq: Gul explained that "just because Turkey is Muslim doesn't mean we will support Saddam." The recent UN resolution is very important, and Iraq should be scutinized to the fullest. (Arinc later echoed this sentiment.) The new government recognizes that Saddam has used weapons of mass destruction in the past -- though Gul admitted he had not yet been briefed by military or intelligence officials on Iraq. He expects he will be better informed after this week's vote of confidence in Parliament. Gul assured Speaker Hastert that ONW will be renewed again in the coming weeks. -- Cyprus: Turkey must work to change the perception that it does not want to solve the problem. Gul said his administration would work "in a positive way" to bring about a solution. (Arinc lightly admonished the Hastert delegation for the Senate's (sic) passing of a resolution endorsing "Greek Cypriot" accession to the EU, and intimated that further "biased" actions would be detrimental to finding a peaceful solution.) -- Economic reform: Gul underscored his government's commitment to cooperation with the World Bank and IMF and to fiscal discipline. Pointing out that AK will "never be populist on economic reform," Gul nevertheless admitted that Turkey "would need help" from the USG in continuing the reform program. ¶5. (C) Comment: The Speaker's delegation presented a useful opportunity for Washington leadership to engage the new AK Party-led Turkish Government directly at the highest levels. The Speaker reviewed a number of our essential issues and evoked useful replies on the direction of the new leadership. PEARSON