Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA4133
2004-07-27 14:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

DAS KENNEDY: DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ, CYPRUS, AND EU

Tags:  PREL OTRA TU CY IZ EU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004133 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014
TAGS: PREL OTRA TU CY IZ EU
SUBJECT: DAS KENNEDY: DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ, CYPRUS, AND EU

REF: A. SECSTATE 152647


B. ANKARA 3946

(U) Classified by CDA Robert S. Deutsch for Reasons 1.4 b,d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004133

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014
TAGS: PREL OTRA TU CY IZ EU
SUBJECT: DAS KENNEDY: DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ, CYPRUS, AND EU

REF: A. SECSTATE 152647


B. ANKARA 3946

(U) Classified by CDA Robert S. Deutsch for Reasons 1.4 b,d.


1. (C) Summary: In July 20/21 Ankara meetings at the Turkish
MFA and General Secretariat for EU Affairs, EUR/DAS Laura
Kennedy solicited evaluations of 1) Turkey's prospects for a
definite date to begin EU accession negotiations; 2) steps
forward in the wake of the Greek Cypriot rejection of the
Annan Plan; and 3) Iraq and the Greater Middle East.


SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU AFFAIRS MURAT SUNGAR

SIPDIS


2. (SBU) Ambassador Murat Sungar, Head of Turkey's
Secretariat General for EU Affairs, the GOT's EU

SIPDIS
harmonization and reform coordination agency, outlined his
evaluation of Turkey's chances to obtain a definite EU
accession negotiation date. Kennedy reiterated strong U.S.
support for Turkish accession while cautioning the GOT not to
slacken its reform program.


3. (C) Sungar underscored the "critical importance" to the
GOT of winning a definite starting date for EU accession
negotiations. He asserted Turkey accepts that EU accession
will be a long process easily lasting a decade. While
official hopes center on a March 2005 date, a start date by
the third quarter 2005 would be acceptable. A degree of
conditionality would be acceptable if it referred to
completion of reforms already in train. What would not be
acceptable would be lack of a start date and/or setting out
new criteria as a condition. Recent legislative and
constitutional reforms undertaken by the GOT, Sungar
asserted, have already brought Turkey in-line with Copenhagen
criteria. The key remaining element, according to Sungar,
is a "very progressive penal code revamp" that will be taken
up during an extraordinary meeting of Parliament in
September. Sungar also referred to the foundation law, which
he said would be passed by October. He stressed that old
laws on religion had been intended to curb extremism of Islam
but of course covered all religious organizations. Kennedy
raised the issue of the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary noting
that it would have enormous resonance if Turkey reopened the
institution. Sungar confirmed that the decision was in

train; bureaucratic oversight of the institution should soon
be resolved. "We have done what we can, now we have to
depend on EU capitals to produce for us," he noted.


4. (C) Like his colleagues at the MFA, Sungar expressed
disappointment with what he characterized as insufficient
efforts to ease the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. Sungar
also took the opportunity to push for U.S. assistance in
opening direct flights to the North.


DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY BAKI ILKIN


5. (SBU) MFA Deputy U/S for Northeast Mediterranean Affairs
Baki Ilkin outlined the GOT's road ahead for Cyprus and
disputes in the Aegean.


Cyprus
--------------


6. (C) In a lengthy discussion with DAS Kennedy, Ilkin
repeatedly underscored that Turkey has done all it can to
achieve a lasting solution on Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots, he
argued, do not want to compromise and are only seeking to
integrate the Turkish Cypriots as a minority within the
existing institutional structure. This is unacceptable to
Turkey, he said. If there is no change in the Greek Cypriot
mindset, which he defined as recognition of a "new
partnership" on the island, there will be no progress.


7. (C) Ilkin expressed some exasperation with the slow pace
of measures designed to ease the Turkish Cypriots, economic
isolation. Although he said he appreciated the bureaucratic
difficulties involved in preparing the way for direct air
flights with trade, Ilkin added that if nothing concrete
emerges, Turkey will have no choice but to support the
Turkish Cypriots indefinitely. "No Turkish government," he
said, "will ever be able to abandon the Turkish Cypriots."
Ilkin said the GOT was encouraged by the EU Commission,s
Assistance and Trade proposals but was concerned with G/C
influence on council lawyers. Kennedy and CDA stressed that
the USG shares the view that there must be change in the
attitude of Greek Cypriot leadership for an Annan plan based
process to restart. The job of the international community,
he said, is to recognize the constructive role of Turkey and
the Turkish Cypriots and to reduce the isolation of northern
Cyprus, which the USG is in the process of taking steps to
achieve. Ilkin also pressed on the need for direct flights
and expressed the hope that the U.S. trade and air transport
measures would move ahead soon. DAS Kennedy assured him that
the U.S. is working on these complex issues, which in some
cases must accord with relevant international covenants. We
are also coordinating closely with the EU on these matters,
since the significant markets and connections for Northern
Cyprus are there.

8. (C) Ilkin explained that the MFA realizes that it must
work with the Greek Cypriots as EU members. On the customs
union, Ilkin said, the MFA has formed a team to look into the
modalities of how that might work, adding that what emerges
will be a "model of cohabitation." Turkey knows it will be
sitting at the EU table with Cyprus and must reach an
accommodation. Ilkin further asserted that the EU will have
no "Cyprus pretext" in considering whether to give Turkey a
date to begin formal negotiations at the next summit in
December.


Greek-Turkish Relations
--------------


9. (C) Ilkin briefly touched on the exploratory talks with
the Greek government on solving Aegean disputes, noting that
the most recent round of talks took place July 16. Ilkin
said the MFA will brief the U.S. "at some point" on progress,
for our information only but that it was not yet ready to do
so. While he provided no details, he clearly intimated the
importance of this issue. (Comment: Turkey is presumably
hoping that positive Greek-Turkish momentum might also
translate into Greek help on the Cyprus front.)


DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY ALI TUYGAN


10. (SBU) MFA Deputy Undersecretary for Middle East, Africa,
Caucasus, Asia and Pacific Affairs Ali Tuygan focused on GOT
concerns regarding Iraq.


Greater Middle East
--------------


11. (C) Deputy U/S Tuygan noted that support for the Broader
Middle East and North Africa initiative has increased across
the region over the last several months. Regional
governments are beginning to perceive that the initiative
will not be imposed from above and will take into account the
unique characteristics of each country and culture. The
process is at a "much more favorable stage now," he claimed.
Tuygan emphasized that long-term U.S. support is necessary
for success, as the project is likely to take years to bear
fruit. Repeating the MFA mantra, Tuygan maintained that
Turkey does not intend to serve as a model for the rest of
the region, but would be happy to relate its experience to
those interested. "Each country should create its own
model," he said.


Iraq
--------------


12. (C) DAS Kennedy and Charge Deutsch began the Iraq
discussion by stressing the USG,s commitment to ending the
PKK threat from Iraq. Tuygan noted that the USG had
officially reiterated its long-standing policy against any
official contact with the PKK or its derivatives.


13. (C) After quickly acknowledging that Turkey and the U.S.
share the same goal with regard to the PKK, Tuygan turned to
the broader Iraq issue. After reciting standard Turkish
concerns about stability and territorial integrity, Tuygan
argued, Turkey has a fundamental interest in Iraq,s success.
Turning to Kirkuk, Tuygan expressed concern that the Kurds
are trying to shift the demographic balance in such a way
that they will be able to dominate local politics. This
risks undermining the security situation in northern Iraq.
An upswing in violence there, he claimed, could spill over
into the rest of the country. CDA noted that the picture
Turkish officials paint for Embassy Ankara differs greatly
from what we hear from U.S. officials on the ground in
Kirkuk, where they say there is tension but no deliberate
Kurdish campaign to marginalize other ethnic groups.

Armenia
--------------


14. (C) Kennedy briefed Tuygan on SNEC Mann,s latest round
of talks with the Armenians and Azeris and our cautiously
optimistic assessment of where the parties are. She
suggested that the Turks could help quicken momentum by such
moves as opening the border with Armenia and helping generate
realistic expectations among the Azeris. Tuygan broke no new
ground in discussing the state of Turkish-Armenian relations.
He said that as long as Armenia continues to occupy Azeri
territory, it will be very difficult for any Turkish
government to open the border. "If Armenia does not leave
Azeri territory, it would be impossible to explain opening
the border to the Turkish public." Tuygan noted that there
is some discussion of an Armenian withdrawal from occupied
territories, a move that he says would be a definite CBM. In
such a case, Turkey would immediately begin to work on
improving the bilateral relations. Tuygan reiterated,
however, that Armenia must make the first step: "Encourage
Armenia to make a move, and Turkey will reciprocate."
(Subsequently, Caucasus chief Adali gave a far more positive
and dynamic account of GOT-Armenia talks. He said he and his
bosses would meet FM Oskanian in Vienna next week. He
considered new steps, such as opening the border were in
sight if progress continued.
DEUTSCH