Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA5938
2003-09-19 10:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

URGENT DEMARCHE: UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST:

Tags:  PREL KPAL IS TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005938 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2013
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS TU
SUBJECT: URGENT DEMARCHE: UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST:
TURKEY


REF: STATE 268287


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, e.o. 12958, reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005938

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2013
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS TU
SUBJECT: URGENT DEMARCHE: UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST:
TURKEY


REF: STATE 268287


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, e.o. 12958, reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).



1. (C) DCM presented reftel demarche September 18 to MFA
Middle East AND Africa General Director Tahsin Burcuoglu.



2. (C) Burcuoglu accepted the U.S. views and reiterated
Turkey's support for the Road Map and its continuing good
relationship with both Israelis and Palestinians. He
indicated the Turkish view that the public Israeli decision
on Arafat and Olmert's comments were a serious error. He
said, therefore the Turkish view was that the text presented
to the Security Council previously was acceptable. It was
focused and balanced. If the same text were presented to the
UNGA, the GOT would accept it, he said. Turkey's EU
candidacy meant that Turkey also needed to consider common EU
views. While the vote in the UNSC showed the EU was not
united, Turkey might follow the lead of an EU majority.
Turkey would be sensitive to the resolution language and
would try to get appropriate text acceptable to all parties.
Burcuoglu added that Turkey would join efforts to condemn
Hamas and terrorism, but he believes this should be in a
separate text.



3. (C) Burcuoglu cautioned that Arafat is now being perceived
as a victim and a martyr by the Islamic world and that would
not be helpful to the Road Map process.
EDELMAN