MEETING AT MFA RE DUBLIN GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000856 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2014 TAGS: EAID SNAR TU SUBJECT: MEETING AT MFA RE DUBLIN GROUP REF: BRUSSELS 139 Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reason: 1.5 (B),(D), (E). ¶1. (U) On February 11 Econoff met with Murat Ates, Head of Department, International Political Organizations, MFA, to discuss Turkey,s application to join the Dublin Group (DG). ¶2. (C) Ates reiterated Turkey's interest in joining the DG and explained the GOT's opposition to forming a Mini-Dublin Group (MDG) (Reftel). First, he argued that formation of a MDG is generally viewed as a sign that a country is in difficulty, while Turkey's anti-narcotics regime has been quite successful. Second, the GOT thinks it is discriminatory that the new EU members from Eastern Europe will be admitted to the DG, when Turkey's anti-narcotics contributions are much greater and its condition much better. Third, the GOT fears that if it agrees to a MDG, it will never get a firm date for joining the DG. ¶3. (C) Ates also mentioned his belief that the Ankara embassies of certain countries that are members of DG have formed an informal MDG, and are meeting regularly. Econoff said he was unaware of such meetings. ¶4. (C) Ates said that not all of the DG members from the EU are opposed to Turkey's membership in the DG, and that support from the U.S. could be determinative. He acknowledged, however, that it is unlikely that anything will happen before next June, when the DG is expected to adopt formal rules of membership. EDELMAN