Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA4190
2005-07-20 06:08:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY/LEBANON

Tags:  PREL TU LE SY 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004190 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015
TAGS: PREL TU LE SY
SUBJECT: TURKEY/LEBANON

(U) Classified by CDA Nancy McEldowney, E.O. 12958, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004190

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015
TAGS: PREL TU LE SY
SUBJECT: TURKEY/LEBANON

(U) Classified by CDA Nancy McEldowney, E.O. 12958, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: In the wake of PM Erdogan's June visit to
Lebanon, the first by a Turkish PM in 50 years, Turkish MFA
and Lebanese embassy spin relations as excellent. MFA and
embassy contacts claim Erdogan pressed democratization and
implementation of UNSCR 1559 during the visit, and urged
leaders to form a government. They also assert Erdogan
pressed for disarmament of Hizbullah, but he failed to
deliver a crisp public message on that point during the trip.
The MFA believes Syrian intelligence elements remain in
Lebanon and says it considers this unacceptable. End summary.

June Erdogan Visit
--------------


2. (U) PM Erdogan's June 15-16 visit to Lebanon was the
first by a Turkish PM in 50 years. Erdogan's interlocutors
included President Lahoud, Parliament Speaker Berri, and
caretaker PM Mikati.


3. (C) Both Turkish MFA Middle East Department Head Bozay
and Lebanese DCM Samad described Erdogan's June visit to
Lebanon as focused mostly on economic matters, Bozay saying
Turkey believes economic prosperity in Lebanon will
strengthen democratic values. Erdogan's Beirut visit
included attending the Arab Economic Forum and giving the
keynote address at the Lebanese/Turkish Business Council
meeting.


4. (C) Bozay and Samad tried to stress that Erdogan also
pressed democratization and implementation of UNSCR 1559
during his visit, urged Lebanese leaders not delay in forming
a government, and denounced the Rafik Hariri murder.
According to Bozay, Turkey hopes to see Hariri's son Sa'ad
gain strength; Bozay told us Erdogan "personally" instructed
the MFA to draft only one congratulatory letter after the
election -- to Sa'ad.


5. (C) Samad claimed that Erdogan also "relayed the U.S.
vision for the Middle East" to Lebanese leaders, including
President Lahoud. Samad noted pointedly that Erdogan's
Lebanon visit came just days after his meeting with President
Bush.


6. (C) Samad termed current Turkish-Lebanese relations
"excellent." Economic relations are improving. According to
Samad, Erdogan is "well-respected and listened to" in
Lebanon. Samad said "we cannot forget what he said last year
(referring to Erdogan's statements calling Israeli treatment
of Palestinians 'state terror') and how he boycotted visits
and pressed Israel."

MFA Believes Syrian Intelligence Still Present In Lebanon
-------------- --------------


7. (S) The Turkish MFA is convinced Syrian intelligence
elements remain in Lebanon. Bozay's assessment to us is that
some Syrian intelligence personnel left but were replaced by
new personnel; he called this unacceptable. He also told us
he has seen reports Syrian intelligence personnel are "coming
and going" in Lebanon. However, he conceded that Turkey
"does not have strong intelligence" in Lebanon.

Hizbullah
--------------


8. (C) Both Samad and Bozay claimed Erdogan pressed for
disarmament of Hizbullah during his visit. However, when
the subject came up during his press conference with Lebanese
PM Mikati, Erdogan went off on a tangent, complaining about
terrorism in Turkey, and concluding that "the best thing is
for each country to decide what is most suitable to safeguard
its security and stability." According to Bozay, Erdogan's
statement was intended to emphasize the difficulty of
disarming Hizbullah.


9. (C) According to Bozay, Turkey hopes Hizbullah moves
toward political participation, which will move them away
from violence. However, he said Turkey does "not know
Hizbullah's intentions." Bozay said Turkey "has no official
contacts" with Hizbullah, saying this is "taboo." Samad also
doubts Turkey has contact with Hizbullah.

Lebanese Diplomat Views Turkish/Syrian Relations
-------------- ---


10. (C) Samad scoffed at the notion that Bashar Asad is a
would-be reformer, a view widespread in the GOT and Turkish
bureaucracy. However, he professes to believe Damascus
listens to Turkey and that good Turkish/Syrian relations will
benefit Lebanon -- if Turkey presses Syria not to interfere
in Lebanon.
MCELDOWNEY