AEGEAN: TURKEY MIFFED WITH GREEKS BUT WILL SHOW

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006209 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014 TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU CY SUBJECT: AEGEAN: TURKEY MIFFED WITH GREEKS BUT WILL SHOW RESTRAINT REF: A. STATE 232521 ¶B. ATHENS 4054 ¶C. ANKARA 6134 Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador discussed the possible increase in Greek-Turkish tensions over Aegean freedom of navigation issues Oct. 29 with TGS DCHOD General Ilker Basbug. Basbug stated that the claim of Aegean tension was "completely contrived by the Greeks." He said that the Greeks knew that Turkey had significantly reduced Aegean military flights in advance of the Cyprus referendum and for the summer months, including the Olympic Games. He added that overall Turkish flights were well down this year compared with 2003. Nonetheless, Basbug took the point that Turkish restraint in light of the Dec. 17 EU decision on Turkish accession talks was the prudent course. ¶2. (C) Ambassador followed up Nov. 2 with outgoing MFA Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, incoming Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, and Deputy Undersecretaries Baki Ilkin and Nabi Sensoy at a small farewell lunch for Ziyal. These senior officials stressed that they understood our view and would work closely with TGS to avoid any provocation. At the same time, they reiterated that--in the Turkish view--recent Turkish activity in the Aegean is nothing out of the ordinary, and professed not to understand why Greece was choosing to make an issue of it at this time. Ilkin speculated that this was Athens' attempt to lock in the unusually low Turkish activity during the Olympics as a new norm. ¶3. (C) We also made reftel points to Turkish MFA Cyprus Department Head Bilman November 2, stressing that Turkey do everything possible to avoid Aegean tensions in the run up to December 17. ¶4. (C) Comment: Based on our own soundings as well as Embassy Athens reporting (ref b),it appears that both sides do not want the Aegean to interfere with Turkey's chances to get a date next month for EU accession talks. That being said, Basbug's reaction matches what TGS told us last week, that the TGS was angry with the Greeks and MFA had to talk the brass down (ref c). This episode will make the Turks skeptical about Greek good will and even less interested in making further concessions--for example, on Cyprus--before Dec. 17. EDELMAN