Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA4737
2004-08-20 13:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

CYPRUS: A FRUSTRATED "TRNC PM" TALAT MEETS FONMIN

Tags:  PREL TU CY 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004737 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2014
TAGS: PREL TU CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: A FRUSTRATED "TRNC PM" TALAT MEETS FONMIN
GUL


(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O.
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004737

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2014
TAGS: PREL TU CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: A FRUSTRATED "TRNC PM" TALAT MEETS FONMIN
GUL


(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O.
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In four-hour meeting with Turkish FM Gul
August 18, "TRNC PM" Talat, accompanied by "FM" Serdar
Denktas, expressed great frustration with EU's lack of
concrete measures to help the Turkish Cypriots (TCs). Talat
appeared convinced that the EU's trade and aid proposals will
be blocked or significantly delayed. Talat asked the Turks
not to extend the Customs Union to the Republic of Cyprus
(ROC) absent reciprocal Greek Cypriot concessions. End
Summary.


2. (C) Jointly with UK embassy we obtained readout of Talat
visit from Turkish MFA Cyprus Department Head Bilman. It was
Ankara which had asked for the meeting, Bilman confirmed.
Talat and Gul exchanged ideas on a long list of issues
including the status of EU measures for the TCs, Turkish
extension of Customs Union to the ROC, GC claims in the ECHR,
and other issues. Bilman emphasized that throughout the
meeting Talat expressed great frustration at the EU's lack of
concrete action to support TCs.

EU Trade and Aid Proposals
--------------


3. (C) Bilman described Talat as pessimistic and frustrated
about what Talat feels is the lack of any concrete EU help to
the TCs. Talat is worried about the Council's September
decision on the EU's trade and aid proposals. Bilman said
Talat's consultations with EU on-island representatives
convince him both will be either blocked or significantly
delayed. According to Bilman, Talat considers direct trade
more important than the aid proposal.

Customs Union Extension
--------------


4. (C) Noting the Talat asked Gul not to extend the Customs
Union to the ROC absent some reciprocal GC move on trade
between the EU and the north or further openings for Turkish
and TC products in the ROC. He and Serdar argued that Turkey
should consider concessions on trade and free movement of
goods a two-way street.

ECHR Case on the Horizon
--------------


5. (C) Bilman noted that in early September the ECHR will
decide on the admissibility of a Cyprus property case against
Turkey. The GOT hoped that payment of the Loizidou case plus
an approved Annan Plan would end such claims. Without the
Annan Plan mechanisms, now the legal issue is whether "TRNC"
mechanisms constitute an "adequate domestic remedy" for
plaintiffs. Turkey will argue they do and therefore the case
should be dismissed. However, Bilman worries that a contrary
ECHR decision will set precedent for a flood of claims
against Turkey, creating a significant political problem for
the GOT.


6. (C) Comment: There may be a growing gap between Ankara
and Talat, operationally and politically. Bilman told us
Talat's recent letter to SYG Annan was "news to us" and noted
pointedly that Talat does not tell Ankara about his on-island
meetings with GCs. The Customs Union problem, which Turkey
must solve in order to get a date to begin accession talks in
December, suggests a deeper fault line: unlike Talat, Ankara
must balance frustration at the slow pace of EU measures for
the TCs against its EU aspirations. End comment.

EDELMAN