CODEL HASTINGS MEETS IN TURKEY IN FIRST OFFICIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006030

SIPDIS

"H" PLEASE PASS TO CONGRESSMAN HASTINGS' OFFICE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2014
TAGS: PREL OREP PHUM PINR PINS PROP PTER AMGT TU IZ
SUBJECT: CODEL HASTINGS MEETS IN TURKEY IN FIRST OFFICIAL
VISIT AS OSCEPA PRESIDENT

REF: A. STATE 204727

B. STATE 205571

C. ANKARA 5467

Classified By: .

Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch under E.O. 12958, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

(C) 1. Summary. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla),in his
first official visit as president of the OSCEPA, conducted a
visit October 2-4, 2004, to Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey.
Hastings met with Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister
Gul, Minister of National Defense Gonul, Parliament Speaker
Arinc, Deputy Parliament Speaker Alptekin, TGNA Foreign
Affairs Committee Chairman Dulger and the TGNA delegation to
the OSCEPA. Hastings proposed reforming and strengthening the
OSCE while Turkish interlocutors used the meetings as an
opportunity to 1) highlight Turkey's positive efforts to
achieve EU membership; 2) solicit U.S. support for Turkey's
position regarding regional terrorism issues; and 3) expand
opportunities for the OIC in global fora. End summary.
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Hastings' Message
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(U) 2. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla),as the current
president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
Parliamentary Assembly OSCEPA) used his meetings to propose
internal reforms to strengthen the OSCE. Hastings said that
among reform proposals, the most important is &strengthening
the secretary general.8
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Prime Minister Erdogan
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(U) 3. Turkish PM Erdogan expressed support for Hastings'
proposals and enhanced international dialogue among regional
parliamentary groups. Erdogan claimed:
-- particularly in respect to Iraq, international
cooperation is the tool for promoting and protecting peace
and security;
-- propaganda was the ultimate goal of terrorism, and that
terrorists in Iraq have achieved that goal;
-- on EU accession, Turkey has reached a final point with
the EU;
-- his ruling AK party held human rights as a priority.
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FM Gul
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(U) 4. FonMin Gul 1) asserted that the OSCE can serve as a
platform to advance inter-parliamentary relations with
&partners8 NATO, the EU, and the UN; (2) suggested that the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Black Sea
Economic Cooperative (BSEC) should also be included in
international dialogues; and 3) agreed with the need for
fundamental reforms to the OSCE parliamentary process.

(U) 5. Gul noted that U.S.-Turkey relations are
&far-reaching and tested,8 based on more than just military
cooperation. Gul pleaded with Hastings to &Please defend us
in Congress; we understand it,s a pluralistic country, but
we need your help.8 Regarding Turkey,s position on Darfur,
he said, &It,s not only your problem, it,s our problem,
too."
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MEETING WITH MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE GONUL
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(C) 6. Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul discussed the
importance of our bilateral relations, Turkey,s military
procurement practices, the role of Turkey,s military in
protecting the country,s borders and the structure of
Turkish intelligence services. Gonul emphasized that EU
membership would not result in Turkey,s neglect of its NATO
membership. Gonul viewed casualty figures in terrorist
attacks as evidence that, in part as a result of Turkish
intelligence-gathering techniques, the terrorist
organizations were unable to get the greater populace on
their side. An aide to Gonul noted that the current
situation in Iraq concerned Turkey and he expressed Turkey,s
gratitude at U.S. placement of the PKK on its list of
terrorist organizations.
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Parliament Speaker Arinc
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(U) 7. Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker Bulent
Arinc said Turkey wanted to improve its relationship with the
U.S. while also joining the EU, and reviewed Parliament's
accomplishments in passing EU-related reform measures.
Hastings encouraged Arinc to have Parliament address
terrorism financing issues and offered to provide a summary
of U.S. terrorism finance legislation.
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Acting Parliament Speaker Alptekin
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(U) 8. Hastings also met with Deputy TGNA Speaker Ismail
Alptekin, and, as with Arinc, again urged Turkey to send
monitors to the U.S. presidential elections.
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TGNA Foreign Affairs Committee
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(U) 9. TGNA Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mehmet Dulger
reiterated Gul's comments, noting that 1) enhanced dialogue
between OSCE and other regional parliamentary groups is
essential and 2) structural reform within the OSCE is
absolutely necessary. Dulger said that Turkey's
long-suffering battle against terrorism (PKK) qualifies the
GOT as &a good resource for advice against terror.8 He
advised that once the U.S. takes action against the PKK,
&you will find a Turkey that will be willing to help the
U.S. on all fronts.8
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OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Turkish Delegation
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(U) 10. Congressman Hastings met with members of the TGNA
delegation to the OSCEPA, including both ruling AK Party and
opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) MPs. Host(and AK
MP and OSCEPA Vice-President) Nevzat Yalcintas asserted the
compatibility of Islam and democracy. CHP MP Gaye Erbatur
emphasized the secular nature of the Turkish state, the need
to develop better relations with the EU, and the need to
expand the OSCE's role in the region. AK MP Alaattin
Buyukkaya urged Hastings to find ways to widen other nations'
OSCE participation and contributions.

(C) 11. Comment: Each meeting appeared to be stage-managed
by the GOT to deliver a consistent AK Party message regarding
Turkey's campaign to join the EU, strong U.S.-Turkish
bilateral relations and the fight against terrorism. Higher
level GOT representatives seemed to interpret OSCE "reform'
as an invitation to include the OIC and the BSEC,
organizations where Turkey believes it has influence, in EU
organization meetings as well.

(U) 12. Congressman Hastings did not have an opportunity to
clear this message.
EDELMAN