TURKS AND ISRAELIS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002504

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2008
TAGS: PREL TU IS
SUBJECT: TURKS AND ISRAELIS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH
FOREIGN MINISTER SHALOM'S VISIT TO TURKEY


REF: TEL AVIV 1959


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary: The Israeli Embassy used terms
like "positive, excellent," and Turkish MFA "successful"
to describe Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom's first
official visit to Turkey April 13-14. End summary.



2. (C) Israeli DCM Nahshon told us April 15 plans for
FonMin Shalom's April 13-14 visit had been in suspense
a "long time" -- the last time an Israeli FonMin
visited Turkey was during Turkish FonMin Cem's tenure,
more than a year ago. Nahshon averred that the two
countries share interests in many fields. He noted
Israel accepted "with gratitude" Turkey's offer to
play "any role" it could in the Middle East Peace
Negotiations, although nothing formal is envisioned
currently. Turkish MFA Levant desk officer Demirok
told us Shalom began his travel with a private visit
with the Jewish community in Istanbul prior to his
official meetings with President Sezer P.M. Erdogan
and FonMin Gul.



3. (C) Nahshon and Demirok noted discussions also
focused on working together on water projects in
Turkey's GAP region. The two counties expect to
sign a bilateral agreement in May to transport 50
million cubic meters of water/year for 20 years from
Manavgat, Turkey, to an Israeli port, most likely Haifa.
Israel plans to offer the water shipping contract for
public tender.



4. (C) Nahshon said Israel and Turkey have different
perspectives, but not necessarily different opinions,
regarding terrorism emanating from Syria and Lebanon.
Assuring us Turkey is justified in embarking on new
dialogue with Syria, he said that as a result of
Shalom's visit Israel understood the Turks would
visit Syria to "understand the Syrian mind and to
tell them they are making a mistake in their current
policy."



5. (C) Comment: Prevailing wisdom in Ankara is that,
while the AK government does not want to be seen by
its conservative grass roots to be embracing Israel,
Erdogan and Gul now recognize relations with Israel
are an untouchable equity of the Turkish military.
End comment.
PEARSON