BMENAI: DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE DIALOGUE: ISTANBUL

UNCLAS ANKARA 001469 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL TU KDEM SUBJECT: BMENAI: DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE DIALOGUE: ISTANBUL MEETING PLANNING CONTINUES REF: A. ANKARA 782 ¶B. ROME 823 ¶1. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and its NGO partner, Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV),planning for a June Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) conference in Istanbul focusing on the role of women in society (ref A) appears to be on track. MFA BMENAI Coordinator Orhun and TESEV will meet with Turkish womens' NGOs in April to decide on the conference format and on a public affairs strategy. ¶2. According to MFA Policy Planning Head Tezel, the MFA currently sees no problems with funding for the Istanbul conference; he noted that the UK has offered help with funding. Tezel asked us whether the USG would respond to funding concerns about the overall DAD initiative expressed by NGO No Peace Without Justice (ref B). We would appreciate any information the Department has on this score. EDELMAN