TURKS: RESOLUTION ON AEGEAN CLAIMS "NOT PRODUCTIVE"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002254

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2013
TAGS: PREL PBTS PHSA GR TU
SUBJECT: TURKS: RESOLUTION ON AEGEAN CLAIMS "NOT PRODUCTIVE"


(U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Stuart Brown. Reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary. MFA's DDG for Maritime and Aviation
Affairs, Vakur Gokdenizler, convoked pol-mil counselor to
tell us that Congress' adoption of House Concurrent
Resolution 87 on Aegean claims would be a "symbol of
deteriorating U.S.-Turkish relations." He asked that the USG
do what it could to avoid that, and foresaw that the
resolution could further strain Turkey's relationship with
the EU and Greece. Post undertook to make Turkey's
displeasure with the resolution known to the Department.
Text of the MFA's nonpaper on the subject is at para 5. End
Summary.



2. (C) On April 7, MFA DDG for Maritime and Aviation Affairs
Vakur Gokdenizler convoked pol-mil counselor to express
concern regarding House Concurrent Resolution 87. The
resolution concerns Aegean claims, mainly regarding the
Imia/Kardak islets. Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ) is the
sponsor, with Congressmen James McGovern (D-MA) and Michael
Bilirakis (R-FL) cosponsoring. Gokdenizler said that the
resolution, which Con. Andrews submitted to the House
Committee on International Relations on March 11, was
identical to one submitted in 2001.



3. (C) Mentioning that the GOT saw some "factual errors" in
the resolution's text, Gokdenizler said that the MFA could
"always get into the details of Aegean problems." At this
time, however, he thought that there was a more important
"political argument" for the US to avoid taking a stand on
Aegean issues. Gokdenizler pointed out that Cyprus and
Aegean issues are "going through a bottleneck in 2004" as the
EU, Greece, and Cyprus attempt to link Turkish EU membership
to solutions in both areas. Asking that the US not aggravate
either issue, he noted that resolutions like this seem to
come at "critical times." He urged us not to let this
resolution become a "symbol of deteriorating Turkish-U.S.
relations." Gokdenizler said the Turkish Embassy in
Washington was also working the problem.



4. (C) Pol-mil counselor replied that Secretary Powell's
April 2 visit had gone a long way toward re-strengthening
bilateral ties, but that much work remained. He undertook to
make the GOT's concern regarding the resolution known to the
Department.



5. (U) Following is the text of the nonpaper Gokdenizler
presented:


Begin Text:


-- Hon. Robert Andrew (D-NJ),Hon. McGovern (D-MA) and Hon.
Bilirakis (R-FL) prepared a concurrent resolution on 11 March
2003, entitled "Expressing the Sense of Congress regarding
Turkey's claims of sovereignty over islands and islets in the
Aegean Sea." The draft resolution was referred to the
Committee on International relations.


-- This is not the first draft of its kind. The Committee
received a similar one on 4 April 2001 but it did not take
any action.


-- The content of the draft is unacceptable. It contains
one-sided, biased, prejudiced arguments. It jumps into hasty
conclusions without any detailed legal basis about the status
of the Aegean island, islets.


-- It also contradicts the declared US position on the Aegean
issues. The US has exerted important efforts in the past for
the settlement of these issues and has displayed a balanced
and evenhanded approach (madrid agreement, bilateral talks,
etc.) The US therefore is well aware of the complex and
interrelated nature of these issues than any other country.


-- Despite these facts, the draft, if accepted, would mean a
fundamental change in the US position which would have
negative repercussions on the Turkish-US relations at this
critical time. The timing of this renewed attempt therefore
raises concerns about its real motive as well.


-- The draft is also unhelpful and counter productive at a
time when the Aegean issues are being discussed between
Turkey and Greece in the form of exploratory contacts.


-- Turkey hopes this draft, as in the past, will not be
supported in the Committee for further action and the US
Administration will spare no effort to this end.


End Text.


PEARSON