TURKS "NOT GETTING ANYWHERE" WITH RUSSIA ON CYPRUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002898 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2014 TAGS: CY PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKS "NOT GETTING ANYWHERE" WITH RUSSIA ON CYPRUS REF: A. ANKARA 2839 ¶B. ANKARA 2362 (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Turkish MFA Cyprus Department Head Bilman told us May 24 that the GOT expects no change in Russia's Cyprus policy, despite FM Gul's May 20 visit to Moscow. Gul went to Moscow with an OIC delegation but met one-on-one with FM Lavrov to discuss Cyprus. MFA U/S Ziyal told Ambassador Edelman May 18 Gul hoped to convince the Russians not to block a favorable UNSCR after the SYG's Cyprus report (ref A). Despite Gul's appeal, Bilman predicted "we're not going to get anywhere" with the Russians on Cyprus in the UNSC. ¶2. (C) Gul's visit is the latest in a series of high-level Turkish-Russian contacts on Cyprus. Gul called Lavrov twice just prior to the April 24 referendum and once thereafter; PM Erdogan called Putin after the referendum. Despite Turkey's efforts, Bilman concludes that there will be no substantive change in Russian's Cyprus policy. On the question of a comprehensive settlement, Lavrov told Gul repeatedly the GOR considers the Annan Plan "only a draft" that does not take GC needs into account. Bilman, who worked on Cyprus in the UN, predicted the GOR will continue its pro-GC policy in the upcoming UNSC session and on subsequent measures designed to help TCs. ¶3. (C) In the immediate aftermath of the referendum, the Turkish MFA told UNSC members it will not separate support on Cyprus from other aspects of bilateral relationships (ref B). Despite that, Bilman said the MFA will try to prevent the GOR's Cyprus policy from impacting the relationship. FM Gul is taking a "softer approach" to the Russian stance than PM Erdogan. EDELMAN