TURKS CONCERNED WITH LACK OF AGREED VENUE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006883

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015
TAGS: PREL TU SY UN
SUBJECT: TURKS CONCERNED WITH LACK OF AGREED VENUE FOR
MEHLIS INTERROGATIONS

REF: A. ANKARA 6771


B. ANKARA 6706

Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Turkish MFA DG for Middle East Oguz Celikkol
informed Charge November 22 that Detlev Mehlis had not
accepted UNDOF as a proposed site for interrogations.
Celikkol had learned this from Syrian D/FM Muallem at the
opening session of the OIC Cairo conference on Iraq. Mehlis,
Muallem told Celikkol, has offered Geneva or Vienna. FM Gul
may, Celikkol stated, phone UNSYG Annan to propose Ankara (UN
offices) as a possible compromise. This would follow up on
an idea UK Foreign Secretary Straw reportedly floated with
Gul during an earlier conversation. In response to the
Charge's expression of concern about the Turkish proposal of
Ankara, Celikkol reasoned that the Syrians might be more
comfortable having interrogations take place in their own
region; the Turks, if necessary, could keep it under wraps,
he stated.


2. (C) Charge pointed out that Syria needs to respond to
Mehlis now; the clock is ticking. Both Geneva and Vienna are
well-respected "UN" cities and neutral sites. Neither would
cross the red lines Syrian President Asad had outlined to Gul
during their Nov. 16 meeting in Damascus (i.e., not in
Lebanon, not humiliating). The U.S. will follow Mehlis'
lead; the Turks will only be able to claim Gul's trip to
Damascus was a success once Syria ponies up on a venue.
Presenting the Syrians with more options now would not be
useful.
MCELDOWNEY