Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA6229
2005-10-13 14:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

REHN OFFERS TURKEY FRESH START, URGES CONTINUED

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM TU OSCE EU 
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This 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006229 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU OSCE EU
SUBJECT: REHN OFFERS TURKEY FRESH START, URGES CONTINUED
REFORM

Classified by Deputy Polcouns Charles O. Blaha; reasons 1.4 b
and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006229

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU OSCE EU
SUBJECT: REHN OFFERS TURKEY FRESH START, URGES CONTINUED
REFORM

Classified by Deputy Polcouns Charles O. Blaha; reasons 1.4 b
and d.


1. (U) Summary: During his October 5-8 visit to Turkey, EU
Enlargement Commissioner Rehn offered a fresh start in
Turkey's EU bid and called on the GOT to continue the reform
process that enabled Turkey to open accession negotiations.
Rehn pressed PM Erdogan, FM Gul and other GOT leaders to make
further progress on freedom of speech and religion. He also
stressed that the Turkish Parliament should adopt the Ankara
Agreement extension protocol as soon as possible. GOT
leaders assured Rehn they would continue reforms. They also
said Parliament will approve the protocol, though they did
not offer a timeline. End Summary.

--------------
Rehn Raises Freedom of Speech, Religion
--------------


2. (U) Martin Dawson, head of the Political Section at the
European Commission Representation to Turkey, told us Rehn
came to Turkey to celebrate the successful opening of
Turkey's EU accession talks and to encourage a fresh start
between the two parties after the tense diplomatic wrangling
that preceded the EU's historic decision. During meetings in
Ankara and Istanbul with PM Erdogan, FM Gul, lead EU
negotiator Babacan, opposition Republican People's Party
(CHP) leader Baykal, and MPs, Rehn averred that the EU
fulfilled its commitment to Turkey by agreeing to open
negotiations, and Turkey must do its part by continuing
reforms. Rehn stressed that the EU has determined that
Turkey has made sufficient progress toward meeting the
Copenhagen Criteria on human rights in order to begin
negotiations, but will have to fully meet the criteria before
becoming a member.


3. (C) Dawson, who traveled with Rehn throughout the visit,
said Rehn did not discuss the details of specific reforms the
GOT will need to enact. Both publicly and privately,
however, he emphasized that Turkey needs to make further
progress on freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
Dawson said these will be highlighted as weak areas in the
Commission's upcoming progress report on Turkey, due for

release November 9.


4. (C) Erdogan and Gul assured Rehn they would continue
reforms, but did not offer details on specific initiatives.
Erdogan said he understands Rehn's interest in free speech,
noting that he served time in prison for reading a poem
deemed illegal by a Turkish court. But he said it will take
more than legal reform to address the problem. The PM said
many elements of the judiciary oppose reform, and even the
best free speech laws can be undermined by an authoritarian
judiciary.

--------------
Extension Protocol a Priority
--------------


5. (C) Rehn told Erdogan and Gul that the Turkish Parliament
should ratify the Ankara Agreement extension protocol as soon
as possible. If the Turkish Parliament approves the protocol
before the European Parliament (EP),he argued, it would
undercut any attempts by Turkey-skeptics in the EP to lobby
against the protocol. Erdogan and Gul said Turkey will
ratify the protocol, but did not provide a timetable.

--------------
CHP Offers "No Positive Contribution"
--------------


6. (C) Rehn asked CHP Chairman Baykal to support the
protocol. Baykal smiled and took notes, but said nothing.
Onur Oymen, a leading CHP MP who also attended the meeting,
went through the EU's Negotiations Framework for Turkey and
raised a long series of "niggling questions" based on
perceived hidden traps in the text, Dawson said. "It was
typical CHP -- there was no positive contribution." On the
other hand, Oymen did offer that CHP is "the only real
European party in Turkey," Dawson said.

--------------
Erdogan Ambiguous on Pamuk Case
--------------


7. (C) To emphasize his commitment to free speech, Rehn held
a long, well publicized meeting in Istanbul with the novelist
Orhan Pamuk, a personal friend. He also discussed the court
case against Pamuk with Erdogan and Gul. Gul was supportive,
asking Rehn to send Pamuk his best regards. Erdogan, though,
was more ambiguous, telling Rehn that Pamuk "should
concentrate on writing novels." Dawson said Rehn remains
disappointed with the PM's lack of response on the issue --
he wanted Erdogan to make a strong, public statement against
the prosecution.
--------------
GOT Raises Headscarf Ban
--------------

8. (C) During Rehn's joint meeting with Erdogan and Babacan,
both GOT officials raised the issue of Turkey's ban on the
wearing of Islamic headscarves at universities and by civil
servants in public buildings. Most Turks, Erdogan and
Babacan averred, find the ban unacceptable and out of line
with EU standards. Though the European Court of Human Rights
ruled in 2004 that the ban is not illegal (Note: The ruling
is under appeal. End Note),no EU country has such a
broad-based ban on religious clothing, they said.

-------------- --
An "Eye-Opening" Confrontation with Nationalism
-------------- --


9. (C) In addition to Ankara and Istanbul, Rehn also visited
the conservative, Anatolian town of Kayseri, where he had an
"eye opening" confrontation with Turkish nationalism. While
addressing an audience at Kayseri's Erciyes University, Rehn
took a question from a student who launched a diatribe on the
fictitious "paragraph 23" of the Negotiations Framework.
Under this paragraph, a creation of anti-EU Turkish
nationalists, southeastern Turkey would be separated and
attached to "Kurdistan," which would apply for EU accession
as a sovereign state. Many audience members applauded the
"question." After the event, Dawson said Rehn told him he
was "shocked" that a university audience would believe in
such an outrageous conspiracy theory, which Rehn had never
heard before.

--------------
Comment: Real Test Yet to Come
--------------


10. (C) Rehn's visit, focused on atmospherics rather than
details, went smoothly. He came at an opportune time -- the
EU's decision to open talks with Turkey was a shot in the arm
for pro-EU sentiment. Erdogan and other leaders have lately
been bolder in facing down anti-EU critics. But the upcoming
launch of the EU screening process in Brussels will provide
the first indication of whether the GOT is prepared for the
accession negotiations. Our contacts believe the GOT
bureaucracy will get off to a slow start. Moreover,
Erdogan's weak response on the Pamuk case and the
nationalistic reaction to Rehn's Kayseri appearance indicate
that political controversy will continue to haunt Turkey's
accession process.
MCELDOWNEY