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