Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA2743
2004-05-14 16:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

SHARING THE GMEI SUPPORT PLAN: TURKEY

Tags:  ECON PREL TU KMPI 
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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 002743 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2014
TAGS: ECON PREL TU KMPI
SUBJECT: SHARING THE GMEI SUPPORT PLAN: TURKEY

REF: A. STATE 106755

B. 11 MAY 2004 MULENEX-DEUTSCH/POWELL/KHALILZAD
E-MAIL

C. 13 MAY 2004 BRYZA-PASCOE E-MAIL

D. ANKARA 2422


(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O.
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002743

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2014
TAGS: ECON PREL TU KMPI
SUBJECT: SHARING THE GMEI SUPPORT PLAN: TURKEY

REF: A. STATE 106755

B. 11 MAY 2004 MULENEX-DEUTSCH/POWELL/KHALILZAD
E-MAIL

C. 13 MAY 2004 BRYZA-PASCOE E-MAIL

D. ANKARA 2422


(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O.
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).



1. (C) We delivered ref A points and ref B Plan of Support
on May 14 to Turkish MFA Policy Planning Department Head
Akcapar and Middle East Department Section Chief Sekizkok.
Per ref A, we modified ref B cover letter to include a
paragraph reading "We are conveying this to you at this point
to ensure full coordination with the Government of Turkey in
its capacity as a partner and co-sponsor of certain Greater
Middle East efforts." We also stressed this point orally.



2. (C) Akcapar welcomed our initiative and USG
responsiveness on Turkey's ideas on the most recent Democracy
Assistance Group (DAG) paper. He urged the U.S. to continue
close consultations with Turkey on GMEI. He reiterated PM
Erdogan's and FM Gul's statements that Middle East reform is
necessary and achievable. He also welcomed the
"generational" nature of the GMEI commitment, saying that
will help ensure gradual reform without endangering regional
stability.



3. (C) Akcapar said the GOT is focusing on suggestions for
DAG co-sponsors. He reiterated ref C suggestions of Germany,
France, or Italy as the G-8 co-sponsor. For the regional
co-sponsor, Akcapar said Turkey's first preference is Syria.
Akcapar noted recent U.S./Syrian "tension," but said Syrian
co-sponsorship will raise the DAG profile and give it more
weight in the Arab world. He added Turkey's "developing"
relations with Syria will positively impact DAG functioning.
However, he said Turkey can work with Yemen if Syria is not
named as a co-sponsor. He asked that Turkey be kept "in the
loop" on the status of co-sponsorships.



4. (C) Contrary to what Sekizkok told us April 29 (ref D)
Akcapar said his personal opinion is that the GMEI need not
include concrete provisions on the Israel/Palestinian
conflict, but as a practical matter, he predicted lack of
progress on the ground will hamper GMEI. He agreed lack of
progress between Israel and the Palestinians should not be an
excuse to delay regional reform. He added that regional
governments needed to be involved in GMEI initiatives in
their countries. Akcapar predicted that after the upcoming
OIC Summit in Istanbul, Turkey will issue a "progressive
declaration" (separate from the OIC communiqu, which will
require consensus) referring to GMEI goals including
democracy, good governance, reform and gender equality.



5. (C) Akcapar said GMEI is coming at a crucial time.
Turkey's delegation to the OIC preparatory meetings in Jeddah
returned "alarmed," he said, at the level of anti-Americanism
among other delegations.
EDELMAN