Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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03ANKARA4487 | 2003-07-17 13:07:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Ankara |
1. (C) Ankara Israeli Embassy contacts are pleased with President Katzav's July 8-9 visit to Ankara and Istanbul. Israeli DCM Emmanuel Nahshon said "The visit was a great success," and further commented, "The mere fact the visit occurred was a success in itself. The Turks did everything they could for the visit." He thought bilateral relations between the two countries were "extremely satisfactory." Nahshon stated the Turkish President initiated the invitation for the visit and recalled the last time such a high level visit occurred was in mid-April 99 under President Demirel. 2. (C) The highlight of the visit was a state dinner in Katzav's honor hosted by President Sezer and attended by PM Erdogan and FonMin Gul. The dinner entertainment featured music by the Turkish State Orchestra, which was accompanied by an Istanbul choral group singing traditional Jewish songs in Ladino. 3. (C) President Katzav was accompanied by 100 Israeli business men who attended meetings in Ankara and Istanbul. Trade between Israel and Turkey in 2002 was $1.2 billion and Nahshon expects it to reach $2 billion in three or four years. -------------------------- Iran Not A Problem -------------------------- 4. (C) Erdogan advised our interlocutors that he did not think Iran posed a threat to the region. He further told our interlocutor that Iran was not the only nuclear power in the region, implying that Israel was the other. -------------------------- Avoiding Arafat -------------------------- 5. (C) Concrete dates were not discussed for either PM Erdogan or FonMin Gul's visits to Israel, but it was decided in principle that an exchange would take place "in the fall." Our sources confirmed the primary problem for any Erdogan visit would be to avoid a meeting with Palestinian Chairman Arafat. During Katzav's visit, Israeli sources reiterated to Erdogan that he could not see Prime Minister Sharon if he met with Arafat. Our interlocutors are optimistic there are ways to avoid an "accidental" meeting with Arafat. Sources suggested possible solutions to circumvent an Erdogan-Arafat visit would be to: (1) Invite Prime Minister Abbas (Abu Mazen) to Turkey for a direct meeting with Erdogan just before Erdogan visits Israel, eliminating the need for Erdogan to see Abu Mazen again so soon in the Palestinian Territories; (2) Holding trilateral regional talks in Aqaba hosted by Jordan or (3) Scheduling bilateral Turkish-Israel meetings in Eilat. PEARSON |