Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA4246
2003-07-07 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

EDUCATION MINISTER BLAMES NSC FOR CIRCULAR ON

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM TU 
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071400Z Jul 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004246 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2008
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU
SUBJECT: EDUCATION MINISTER BLAMES NSC FOR CIRCULAR ON
ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE"


REF: ANKARA 4196


Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons 1.5(b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004246

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2008
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU
SUBJECT: EDUCATION MINISTER BLAMES NSC FOR CIRCULAR ON
ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE"


REF: ANKARA 4196


Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons 1.5(b) and (d).



1. (C) Education Minister Celik asserted to us July 3 that
the National Security Council (NSC) is responsible for a
circular urging all fifth- and seventh-graders to write an
essay arguing that allegations that the Ottomans committed
genocide against ARMENIAns are "baseless." The circular was
issued in April under Celik's signature (reftel). "This is
what the NSC (under military pressure) wanted," Celik said.
Celik further lamented the fact that the circular was issued
to Turkey's ARMENIAn schools, and that it directed students
toward a pre-determined conclusion.



2. (C) Comment: We did not have the opportunity to press
Celik further on this issue. Clearly, there is an element of
blame-shifting at work. Celik has in the past reflected a
narrow view on some hot-button ethnic issues: for example, he
once explained to Embassy officers that Kurdish "really isn't
a language" (a claim vigorously disputed by Kurds in
attendance). Nevertheless, he has been a consistent critic
of the Educational Establishment, and the NSC's dominant role
in appointing members of the Supreme Education Board (YOK),
which is charged with maintaining the Establishment view in
educational and related issues. Indeed, education has long
been considered to be within the purview of a Turkish State
that traditionally has abided by an expansive view of
"national security" -- one that goes far beyond traditional
security/foreign policy issues. In this context, his
comments tend to bolster widespread suspicions (reported
reftel) that the NSC is working behind the scenes to raise
the profile of controversial issues like the genocide
allegations, foment a nationalist backlash and thereby slow
the reform process.
PEARSON