SUDANESE FM ISMAIL VISITS TURKEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004227

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2014
TAGS: EAID PREL SU TU
SUBJECT: SUDANESE FM ISMAIL VISITS TURKEY

Classified By: A/DCM James Moore, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Sudanese FM Mustafa Osman Ismail visited
Ankara July 26-27, meeting with Turkish FM Gul and Parliament
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Dulger. One MFA official
speculates the trip was designed to influence Turkey, the
current OIC SYG, but Ismail reportedly did not directly ask
Turkey in its OIC capacity to weigh in with the UNSC and
oppose sanctions. FM Gul announced that Turkey will send
humanitarian aid to the Darfur region. According to Turkish
officials, Gul and Dulger pressed FM Ismail to improve the
situation in the Darfur region, particularly on the security
side. Ismail also used the trip to press for improved
bilateral economic ties. While EU-aspirant Turkey will pay
close attention the EU stance on Darfur, it will also be
influenced by the positions of other majority-Muslim
countries. End Summary.

Turks Raise Darfur


2. (C) Prior to Ismail's visit, we sent the MFA Africa and
East Asia Department DDG Isik suggested talking points drawn
from Secretary Powell's July 22 joint press conference with
SYG Annan; Department DDG Isik and MFA Foreign Affairs
Committee Adviser Ulukan both said the MFA incorporated the
points into its papers for the visit. Isik claimed that Gul
immediately raised concerns about the need for improved
security in the Darfur region and pushed Ismail on the need
for the GOS to disarm the janjaweed. Ismail told Gul this
would take time. Gul informed Ismail that the GOT will send
humanitarian aid in the form of food, medicine and tents to
the region. Press accounts asserted the supplies will reach
the region within days. MFA officials have no information on
the estimated value of the proposed GOT assistance.


3. (C) With Parliament Foreign Affairs Chair Dulger, Ismail
defended the GOS's efforts to date in the Darfur by
presenting Dulger with the OIC's June report on the Darfur
situation and the July 3 UN/GOS Joint Communiqu. MFA
Adviser Ulukan, who was present in the meeting, said he
replied that it was in Sudan's interest to control the
militias and resolve the Darfur situation quickly. Turkey's
Ambassador to Sudan, also present, reminded Ismail the EU is
considering sanctions. Ulukan expressed confidence that
Ismail "got the message."

Ismail Presses for Stronger Economic Ties


4. (U) Ismail used the trip to press for improved bilateral
economic ties. (According to Ulukan, bilateral trade volume
was $67 million last year, of which $60 million were Turkish
exports to Sudan.) In remarks to the press after the
meeting, Gul said the two countries will aim to "refresh"
bilateral economic relations. Ismail also met with State
Minister Tuzmen at the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, with
Turkish Ex-Im Bank officials, and with the President of the
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges.

Turkey's Role as OIC SYG

5, (C) According to DDG Isik and Adviser Ulukan, the visit
came on very short notice at Ismail's initiative. Ulukan
speculated that Ismail sought to influence Turkey in its role
as OIC SYG. However, both Isik and Ulukan claimed that FM
Ismail did not ask Turkey, as OIC SYG, to weigh in with the
UNSC and oppose sanctions against the GOS, although Ismail
did tell Dulger that Turkey should use its role as OIC SYG to
press for a "solution" in the UNSC.


6. (C) After his meetings, Ismail told the press that OIC
Troika Turkey, Iran and Yemen had asked the UNSC not to
impose sanctions. MFA officials denied this; Ismail's
statement appears to be a misleading interpretation of a July
15 non-paper the OIC gave to the UNSC. DDG Isik declined to
predict what Turkey will do if the situation in Darfur did
not improve; Ulukan expressed confidence that EU-aspirant
Turkey will pay close attention to the EU's position on
Darfur. (Comment: However, Turkey will also be influenced
by the positions of majority-Muslim countries.)
DEUTSCH