TURKISH MFA ON UZBEKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003500

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM UZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA ON UZBEKISTAN

REF: A. TASHKENT 1713


B. STATE 110631

(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O.
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Turkish MFA issued one bland statement
about Andijon and called in the Uzbek Ambassador shortly
after the killings. Although DDG Karslioglu asserts that the
Turkish statement was a strong message on human rights, MFA
Uzbekistan Department Head doubts that Uzbek diplomats here
accurately relay Turkey's views. We urged the MFA to issue
its own statement calling for an independent investigation
into the Andijon killings. End Summary.

MFA Statement
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2. (C) According to Uzbekistan Department Head Cevik, whom
we spoke to June 17, the Turkish MFA only issued one
statement about Uzbekistan, on May 15. The statement
expressed "great sorrow" about "Uzbek citizens' and security
officials' losing their lives" in Andijon; disapproved of
"use of weapons by armed groups against security officials";
called on the GOU to treat protesters and civilians "with
moderation"; and urged the GOU to take steps toward
democratization, compliance with international norms and
human rights.


3. (C) In May, Caucasus and Central Asia DDG Karslioglu,
Cevik's boss, tried to portray this statement to us as a
strong, first-ever official Turkish expression of the
importance of human rights in Uzbekistan. In addition to the
statement, Karslioglu told us the MFA had called in the Uzbek
Ambassador once, shortly after the Andijon incident. Cevik
said the MFA informally pressed Uzbek diplomats in Ankara on
the need for democratization and the Uzbeks agreed privately,
but she speculated they were too intimidated to accurately
transmit Turkey's views to Karimov.

Uzbekistan Department Head on International Investigation
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4. (C) Cevik told us that the GOT is having difficulty
getting the full picture of the Andijon events. She said
Turkey "in principle" supports the idea of international
organizations looking into the matter in a fair and
transparent way; she doubts the GOU investigation will be
fair.


5. (C) Cevik acknowledged Turkey itself has not yet called
for an independent international investigation. We reminded
her that FM Gul had discussed Central Asia and specifically
Uzbekistan with Secretary Rice (ref B),and said we would
like to see a Turkish statement supporting an independent
international investigation, in addition to Turkish support
expressed in international organizations. Cevik herself
expressed support for the idea and said she would convey it
to her superiors.

Comment
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6. (C) The Turkish MFA was caught unprepared by the Andijon
killings and, although our GOT interlocutors, including
FonMin Gul, have expressed unease at the actions of the Uzbek
authorities, Turkey has shown no inclination to help take the
lead in calling for an independent international
investigation.
MCELDOWNEY