EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS GIVE HIGH MARKS TO NEW GOT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008738

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2007
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS GIVE HIGH MARKS TO NEW GOT'S
FIRST STEPS

REF: A. ANKARA 8586

B. ANKARA 8564

C. ANKARA 7290


Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter; reasons 1.5 b and d.



1. (C) Summary: Ankara-based Eurodiplomats say ruling AK
Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other members of the
new GOT have impressed EU leaders with their approach to
human rights reform and commitment to EU membership. So far,
they say, Erdogan appears willing to break with GOT tradition
in order to solve longstanding problems, but is constrained
by a conservative bureaucracy. End Summary.



2. (C) Poloff met with Ankara-based British, Danish, Italian,
Greek, Swedish, Dutch, German and EU Commission diplomats to
discuss the new GOT's efforts to promote human rights-related
reform and bolster Turkey's EU candidacy prior to the
December 12-14 Summit in Copenhagen (reftel A). The
diplomats agreed leaders of the ruling AK Party had made a
positive impression with their pro-EU statements, planned
legislative reform package, and AK leader Recep Tayyip
Erdogan's visits to EU capitals. However, it was not clear
to these diplomats whether the GOT's latest efforts will
affect the outcome of the Summit; see septel. They asserted
that they were advising their capitals to work with the new
government, and were reporting that AK leaders appeared
willing to break with longstanding policies on human rights.
Several noted that Erdogan was more open to new approaches
than previous GOT leaders, but was constrained by the more
defensive bureaucracy.



3. (C) Key observations of the Eurodiplomats include:


-- Greek: According to our contact, Erdogan on his own is
open to consider new approaches to Greek-Turkish bilateral
issues, but becomes very circumspect when MFA "handlers" are
around. During a recent meeting in Ankara, Erdogan spoke
freely with Greek diplomats until MFA Deputy U/S Ilkin
entered the room, at which point he reverted to "yes" or "no"
responses. For this reason, the Greek Embassy recommended
that PM Simitis meet one-on-one with Erdogan during his
recent visit, which he did, for two and a half hours.
Erdogan offered his support for a Cyprus solution in exchange
for Greek backing of a date for Turkey to begin EU accession
talks; President Sezer, by contrast, only repeats oft-heard
warnings against trying to rush a Cyprus agreement. Our
contact said the Greek Embassy considers AK easier to work
with than more traditional Turkish parties. AK, they
believe, is less bound by Kemalist policies and more like a
typical European political party with grassroots support.
Unlike other party leaders, Erdogan is an opportunist who
will take risks if he believes they are in Turkey's interest.




-- UK: A British diplomat said PM Blair also noted that
Erdogan was much more flexible than the "scripted" Sezer in
recent meetings. Erdogan impressed the British by
emphasizing that human rights reform was good for Turkey,
regardless of EU membership. The British also appreciated
Erdogan's willingness to accept the tacit linkage of EU
membership, Cyprus, and ESDP. Erdogan is not yet up to speed
on the details of the Cyprus negotiations, but instinctively
understands the time is right for a breakthrough.


-- EU: The number-two official at the EU Commission office in
Ankara said AK leaders have wisely admitted the shortcomings
of past GOT reform efforts. The previous administration
stubbornly insisted that the GOT had fully met the EU's
Copenhagen political criteria; the new government, by
contrast, has highlighted areas where past reforms fell short
and has begun preparing solutions. Specifically, GOT
officials have indicated they intend to revise recent, highly
restrictive regulations on non-Turkish broadcasting and
minority foundations (reftels B and C.)






DEUTSCH