TURKISH MFA'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN

UNCLAS ANKARA 006518 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM IR TU SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S EXTREMISM REF: A. STATE 199225 ¶B. STATE 199863 ¶1. (SBU) On 31 October 2005, POLCOUNS and POLOFF delivered to Turkish MFA Acting Director General for Middle Eastern Affairs Ambassador Aydin Evirgen reftel demarches. Evirgen responded by saying, "we share the same views on Ahmadi-Nejad's statement" and that it was "completely unacceptable." He also informed us that FM/DPM Gul will be delivering a public statement on this issue at a press conference on 1 November 2005 at 9:45 AM (Ankara time). Evirgen said that Gul's statement would provide a "tougher message" than Turkish authorities have delivered to date. ¶2. (U) Turkish reactions to date have consisted of: -- Prime Minister Erdogan responding to a question at an October 27 London press conference at which he called on Ahmadi-Nejad to display political moderation; and -- MFA spokesmen Namik Tan's response to a question on October 28th when he stated that the MFA did not have the full text of the remarks, but added that it was "not possible to approve" of Ahmadi-Nejad's statement. He stated that "Turkey continues to pursue relations with all countries in the region based on...mutual respect and cooperation and believes that the conflicts in the region can only be resolved through dialogue and peaceful methods based on international legitimacy." MCELDOWNEY