MFA DEPUTY U/S BOZKIR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY'S EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006619

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: MFA DEPUTY U/S BOZKIR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY'S EU
CHANCES BUT ADMITS CYPRUS STILL AN OBSTACLE

(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman. Reason: 1.5 (b,d).



1. (C) Summary: In a Oct. 20 courtesy call, MFA Deputy U/S
for EU affairs Bozkir told the Ambassador that he is
optimistic about Turkey's EU prospects. The GOT has passed
the necessary laws related to the Copenhagen Criteria.
Bozkir admitted that Cyprus is a looming problem but added
that a positive EU progress report next month could build on
pro-EU public sentiment to spur a solution on the island. End
Summary.



2. (C) In his initial Oct. 20 call on MFA Deputy Under
Secretary Volkan Bozkir, who is responsible for relations

SIPDIS
with the EU, Ambassador reiterated strong U.S. support for
Turkey's EU candidacy. While applauding GOT efforts to pass
EU-related legislation, Ambassador stressed that
implementation will be important. He noted that Turkey's
chances of becoming a full EU member could be hurt a solution
if not found for Cyprus by next spring.



3. (C) Bozkir said that there has been a change in psychology
in Turkey since the end of the PKK threat in 1999. Turks at
all levels understand that achieving EU membership will be
beneficial for all of Turkey. Firm GOT support has helped to
get the message out. Even the bureaucracy does not want to
be an obstacle to membership anymore, he claimed.



4. (C) Bozkir asserted that legally, Turkey has "achieved
critical mass" with regard to the Copenhagen Criteria.
Bozkir acknowledged that implementation is really only now
beginning but said that the legal framework for
implementation is in place. Bozkir said he is optimistic
concerning the EU progress report, which will be released at
the beginning of November. At the moment, EU countries are
giving Turkey a consistent message: Turkey has done well;
focus on implementation; and work to solve Cyprus.



5. (C) A positive progress report, he said, will boost public
support for the EU and could give the GOT room to work on
more difficult issues, such as Cyprus. Bozkir claimed,
however, that even with a positive report, the GOT may not
make progress on Cyprus because of Turkish local elections in
March 2004. Noting that his office only peripherally deals
with Cyprus, Bozkir argued that the EU Commission needs to be
more flexible on Cyprus and that lifting the economic embargo
against the "TRNC" would be a helpful gesture.



6. (C) Bozkir said that in addition to maintaining in close
contact with his counterparts in Italy, which currently holds
the EU Presidency, he has had consultations with the Irish,
who will hold the Presidency the first half of 2004, and the
Netherlands. The Netherlands will hold the Presidency during
the crucial Dec. 2004 EU summit where EU members will decide
whether Turkey is to begin negotiations. Bozkir acknowledged
that the Netherlands is concerned about the prospect of
Turkey's EU membership but said that the new Dutch government
appears to be more flexible.
EDELMAN