POSSIBLE TURKISH FLEXIBILITY ON UNFICYP MOVEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005820 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2014 TAGS: CY PREL TU SUBJECT: POSSIBLE TURKISH FLEXIBILITY ON UNFICYP MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS REF: A. ANKARA 5234 ¶B. 5 OCTOBER 2004 PALMER/BLAHA E-MAIL (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d), ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 6. ¶2. (C) In ref A, on September 13 Turkish MFA Cyprus Department Head Bilman claimed no knowledge of any restrictions in UNFICYP movement imposed by Turks or Turkish Cypriots. On October 13, we supplied Bilman with points about the restrictions based on ref B. ¶3. (C) Bilman told us he visited the island last week and he conceded the restrictions as set forth in ref B. Bilman claimed he had "tested the waters" and thinks that "certain steps" could be taken to ease then restrictions. However, he said there is concern on the island over whether such concessions by the Turkish/TC side would be adequately reflected in the UNSCR on UNFICYP renewal. ¶4. (C) If restrictions were eased, the Turks would want that noted in the UNSCR. If the restrictions were eliminated, the Turks/TCs would want to see language urging recision of the restrictions removed from the UNSCR. Bilman, who worked at the Turkish Mission to the UN for four years, said that, based on his experience, the only way to guarantee such changes to the UNFICYP UNSCR would be for the SYG to write a letter to the UNSC noting the changes, or to write an addendum to the September 28 UNFICYP report. Otherwise, he claimed, some UNSC members (i.e., Russia) will claim an insufficient factual basis for inclusion of such language. ¶5. (C) Bilman stressed that these are only his ideas from having visited the island, and that he had not yet discussed them with the military or senior levels of the MFA. While not completely certain the Turkish/TC side is prepared to ease the restrictions, he believes there is a "good chance" if the above concerns are met. ¶6. (C) Action request: We request that the Department ask USUN to make appropriate inquiries and inform us of the possibility of changes to the draft text in the event the Turks/TCs ease or remove restrictions on UNFICYP movements. EDELMAN