FORUM FOR THE FUTURE JOINT DEMARCHE: TURKEY

UNCLAS ANKARA 006535 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM TU MO KPAO KMPI SUBJECT: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE JOINT DEMARCHE: TURKEY REF: A. STATE 237054 ¶B. ANKARA 6293 ¶1. Summary: Ambassador Edelman and Moroccan Ambassador Zagour jointly delivered ref A demarche regarding the December 11 Forum for the Future meeting to Turkish MFA Deputy U/S for Multilateral Affairs Sensoy on November 22. Sensoy welcomed the demarche and said Turkey, which is co-sponsoring the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) with Italy and Yemen, will be prepared for the meeting. End Summary. ¶2. Moroccan Ambassador Zagour emphasized the importance of Turkey's attendance in Rabat December 10 and 11. Zagour is aware that DAD dialogue co-sponsors Italy, Turkey and Yemen will meet in Rome November 25 and issue a statement of DAD's objective and a work plan (ref B). He requested that the DAD co-sponsors forward the statement to the GOM as soon as possible so that it can be sent out for comment. ¶3. Ambassador Edelman noted that the U.S. is co-chairing the Rabat meeting in its capacity as current G-8 chair. He emphasized our hope that FM Gul would attend (Note: The MFA told us on November 19 that Gul may have a scheduling conflict. End Note.). The Ambassador said the U.S. was pleased that both ministers Babacan and Unakitan attended the Washington meetings hosted by Secretary Snow in September. ¶4. Sensoy welcomed the demarche and noted the progress in the BMENAI over the past year. Turkey, he said, is pleased with the degree of consultation on the initiative and the degree to which countries in the region have taken ownership of BMENAI. Turkey has "done its homework" on DAD and will welcome ideas on the "blueprint" the three FMs will issue in Rome on November 25. Sensoy said the MFA has forwarded the invitation to the Economic Development session to Economy Minister Babacan. EDELMAN