EMBASSY ASKS TURKS TO WORK THE OIC ON DARFUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004628 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2014 TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM PREF TU SU SUBJECT: EMBASSY ASKS TURKS TO WORK THE OIC ON DARFUR REF: STATE 174224 (U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following up on reftel, we approached MFA Africa Department Head Melih Tezel on August 17 and MFA Adviser to the Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Osman Ulukan August ¶18. We made reftel points, asking the GOT to use its leadership role as OIC Ministerial co-chair and OIC SYG-elect to approach appropriate OIC members and urge them to take a more active role in pressing the GOS to restore peace and security in Darfur, and specifically, to disarm militia; support AU efforts; honor UNSCR 1556. ¶2. (C) Tezel and Ulukan both said they would relay our message to senior levels of the MFA. Tezel queried whether we want Turkey to do this once it assumes its role as SYG in January; we emphasized the necessity of immediate action. Ulukan claimed the MFA recently (NFI) instructed the Turkish Embassy in Khartoum to press the GOS on the Darfur situation. ¶3. (U) Khartoum minimize considered. EDELMAN