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