ASKING THE TURKS TO PRESS OIC MEMBERS ON DARFUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004824 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2014 TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM PREF TU SU SUBJECT: ASKING THE TURKS TO PRESS OIC MEMBERS ON DARFUR REF: A. STATE 174224 ¶B. ANKARA 4628 (U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E. O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following up further on ref A, we approached Acting MFA Middle East Department Head Hasan Sekizkok on August 25, asking that the GOT use its leadership role in the OIC to urge appropriate OIC members to take a more active role in pressing the GOS on the situation in Darfur, particularly on disarming militia. (We spoke to the MFA Africa Department on August 17 (ref B)). ¶2. (C) Sekizkok agreed that the OIC has been ineffective on Darfur thus far and is privately pessimistic that the OIC will take effective action. We suggested that Turkey could approach individual OIC members. Sekizkok asked if we had any specific countries in mind; we suggested that non-Arab OIC members could be most receptive. Sekizkok said the MFA will consider our request. EDELMAN