OFFICIAL TURKISH REACTION TO HELIOS AIRLINE CRASH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004858 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: PREL TU CY GR SUBJECT: OFFICIAL TURKISH REACTION TO HELIOS AIRLINE CRASH (U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter. E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) On August 15, in response to a question, Turkish MFA spokesman Tan said Turkey is "deeply saddened for many Southern Cypriots and Greeks" who lost their lives in the August 14 Helios crash. Tan noted that PM Erdogan and FM Gul sent written condolences to Greek PM Karamanlis and FM Molyviatis. ¶2. (C) Embassy Information Officer contacted Tan on August 15, noted that Turkish Cypriot "President" Talat had contacted President Papadopoulos and AKEL party leader Christofias to express his condolences, and noted the GOT had not reached out to Greek Cypriots. ¶3. (U) Later on August 15, Prime Ministry spokesman Akif Beki issued a written statement saying PM Erdogan "shared the sorrow and grief of the Greek Cypriot people" resulting from the crash. MCELDOWNEY