TURKEY'S SUPPORT TO FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

UNCLAS ANKARA 006401 SIPDIS DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO ALL NEAR EAST COLLECTIVE SENSITIVE FOR EUR/ERA - BONO, NEA/PI - WINCUP AND EUR/SE - YOUNTCHI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV PHUM EU TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S SUPPORT TO FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE REF: A. STATE 190853 ¶B. SIEBENTRITT/WINCUP/BONO E-MAILS OCT 21 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff discussed Turkey's support for the Foundation for the Future October 21 with MFA Policy Planning officer Levent Gumrukcu. Asked about Turkey's likely contribution to the Foundation, Gumrukcu said his office had proposed USD 500,000 and was awaiting Foreign Minister Gul's approval. He said he expected the figure to stand, however, with an official announcement in a few days. Gumrukcu said he was aware of the USD 1 million minimum pledge and explained that USD 500,000 was all that the MFA could spare from its current BMENA budget without jeopardizing Turkey's Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) projects. He said that additional funds may be found in a future budget cycle. ¶2. (SBU) Gumrukcu appreciated our providing Foundation and Fund for the Future concept papers for comment. He said the GOT is concerned the USD 1 million floor on contributions to the Foundation may discourage some smaller donors in the region and wondered if this ante could be made less strict. According to Gumrukcu, Turkey may also suggest that the ban on government officials on the Foundation Board be modified to allow a limited number of widely-respected technocrats to serve, in order to give interested governments the sense they are participating. He admitted this end could also be served via a separate government steering committee. MCELDOWNEY