Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA2100
2005-04-12 15:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH MFA DEFENDS GOT APPROACH TO SYRIA,
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002100
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER SY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA DEFENDS GOT APPROACH TO SYRIA,
EXPRESSES INTEREST IN OBSERVING LEBANESE ELECTIONS
Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002100
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER SY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA DEFENDS GOT APPROACH TO SYRIA,
EXPRESSES INTEREST IN OBSERVING LEBANESE ELECTIONS
Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) DCM discussed Turkey's Syria policy April 12 with MFA
Director General for the Middle East Oguz Celikkol. Celikkol
defended President Sezer's April 13-14 visit to Damascus, and
asserted that Sezer will deliver the same message to the
Syrians that the international community has agreed upon:
Syrian troops must withdraw from Lebanon and the SARG must
not interfere in Lebanese elections. Celikkol's deputy,
Safak Gokturk, said that Sezer's visit will "not only be
niceties."
2. (C) Celikkol and Gokturk explained that Turkey has tried
hard to improve relations with Syria since coming to the
brink of war in 1998, and declared that as a neighbor Turkey
cannot just cut off ties completely until Syria complies with
UNSCR 1559. Turkey supports 1559 and will tell Syria just
that. Turkey's overarching priority is to continue building
economic and political ties with Syria; the GOT believes this
will draw Syria into the world community. Turkey also
engages with Syria so that the SARG will no longer shelter
and support PKK terrorists as it did until 1999. DCM noted
that the international community prefers to limit
communication with Damascus on Lebanon to the UN Envoy
Roed-Larsen channel, and that there is a risk Syria will
exploit any possible deviation from the precise message
Roed-Larsen is pursuing with the Syrians. Celikkol said
Sezer would also raise other issues, e.g. Iraq and
Palestinian terrorists, as well.
3. (C) Celikkol said that Turkey is interested in
participating in some way in observing the elections in
Lebanon, but that the GOL has yet to approach the GOT on this
issue. He thought the UN might be an appropriate body to
monitor the elections. MFA Department Head for the Middle
East Mehmet Kemal Bozay subsequently told Deputy PolCouns
that Turkey is also monitoring the election observer issue in
the EU and OSCE in case one of those bodies takes the lead.
EDELMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER SY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA DEFENDS GOT APPROACH TO SYRIA,
EXPRESSES INTEREST IN OBSERVING LEBANESE ELECTIONS
Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) DCM discussed Turkey's Syria policy April 12 with MFA
Director General for the Middle East Oguz Celikkol. Celikkol
defended President Sezer's April 13-14 visit to Damascus, and
asserted that Sezer will deliver the same message to the
Syrians that the international community has agreed upon:
Syrian troops must withdraw from Lebanon and the SARG must
not interfere in Lebanese elections. Celikkol's deputy,
Safak Gokturk, said that Sezer's visit will "not only be
niceties."
2. (C) Celikkol and Gokturk explained that Turkey has tried
hard to improve relations with Syria since coming to the
brink of war in 1998, and declared that as a neighbor Turkey
cannot just cut off ties completely until Syria complies with
UNSCR 1559. Turkey supports 1559 and will tell Syria just
that. Turkey's overarching priority is to continue building
economic and political ties with Syria; the GOT believes this
will draw Syria into the world community. Turkey also
engages with Syria so that the SARG will no longer shelter
and support PKK terrorists as it did until 1999. DCM noted
that the international community prefers to limit
communication with Damascus on Lebanon to the UN Envoy
Roed-Larsen channel, and that there is a risk Syria will
exploit any possible deviation from the precise message
Roed-Larsen is pursuing with the Syrians. Celikkol said
Sezer would also raise other issues, e.g. Iraq and
Palestinian terrorists, as well.
3. (C) Celikkol said that Turkey is interested in
participating in some way in observing the elections in
Lebanon, but that the GOL has yet to approach the GOT on this
issue. He thought the UN might be an appropriate body to
monitor the elections. MFA Department Head for the Middle
East Mehmet Kemal Bozay subsequently told Deputy PolCouns
that Turkey is also monitoring the election observer issue in
the EU and OSCE in case one of those bodies takes the lead.
EDELMAN