APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE MAY 23 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002893

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015
TAGS: CH PREL SU MARR MOPS TU EUN
SUBJECT: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE MAY 23 GAERC
FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING

REF: STATE 90085

Classified By: Political Counselor John Kunstadter; reasons 1.4 (B) and
(D)


1. (C) As part of Embassy Ankara's ongoing effort to advise
the Turkish MFA of USG positions vis-a-vis the European
Union, we delivered reftel demarche to MFA European Union
Directorate Political Affairs Department Head Hakan Akbulut,
who initially asserted that Turkey had parallel attitudes as
the EU on various issues. Akbulut promised to forward reftel
demarche to relevant MFA departments and noted that Turkey
already participates in various EU initiatives and
statements.

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China
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2. (C) Akbulut averred Turkey is aware of the dynamic of
U.S.-EU-China relations. He conceded that Turkey will have
to make a difficult political decision regarding China while
claiming that Turkey is making an effort to adopt EU policy
positions. He commented that Turkey had not participated in
the three EU statements on China in the past year.

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ESDP
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3. (C) Akbulut stated that Turkey had already supported the
EU statement concerning European Security and Defense Policy
(ESDP) framework. He confirmed that Turkey supports a close
relationship between NATO and the EU but alluded to
difficulties by pointing out that the EU wants "Southern
Cyprus" to participate in regional security arrangements as
well.

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Sudan
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4. (C) Akbulut claimed that Turkey supports the U.S.
position.
EDELMAN