ARTICLE 98 DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TURKISH MFA SAYS EU

UNCLAS ANKARA 003866 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM - AMB. BARBARA BODINE STATE FOR LT COL J. PATRICK MURRAY STATE FOR JOAN CORBETT STATE FOR L - MIKE COFFEE STATE FOR T - PATRICIA MCNERNEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TU SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98 DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TURKISH MFA SAYS EU NOW, ARTICLE 98 LATER REF: STATE 145167 (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche July 13 to Turkish MFA Deputy General Directorate for International Organizations (IO). The IO Office privately expressed support for a U.S.-Turkey Article 98 agreement, but caveated near-term GOT movement in this direction by asserting the GOT would not risk damage to its already-fragile EU aspirations. According to the IO office, the GOT will endeavor to maintain Turkey's status quo on ICC issues, namely exclusion from the Rome Statute and Article 98 agreements. Until the U.S. and the EU move beyond ICC gridlock, our interlocutor indicated the GOT would be open to alternative bilateral non-surrender agreements through NATO or other military channels. DEUTSCH