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