Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA7219
2005-12-09 05:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
how-toVZCZCXRO9564 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #7219 3430547 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 090547Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1796 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007219
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ANKARA PASS TO ADANA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: URGING TURKS ON PAMUK TRIAL
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007219
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ANKARA PASS TO ADANA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: URGING TURKS ON PAMUK TRIAL
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In advance of the December 16 start of the trial of
novelist Orhan Pamuk for "insulting Turkishness," DCM met
with MFA Deputy Under Secretary (and incoming ambassador to
the United States) Nabi Sensoy to push hard for high-level
GOT action to demonstrate their commitment to democracy and
free speech. She noted that there were at least 5 other
similar cases pending under Section 301 of the penal code
that were also sure to attract widespread international
attention and condemnation. A statement by a senior
government leader of Turkey's commitment to democracy and
freedom of speech could help defuse some of the controvery
the trial is sure to provoke. But, she said, the GOT needed
to go beyond words; it needed to state its intention to
reform Section 301.
2. (C) While Sensoy agreed that the trial was a negative
for Turkey ("we seem to go out of our way to hurt ourselves")
and that Section 301 needed to be fixed, he said there was no
way that a senior politician could make such a statement
before the trial. To do so would be portrayed in Turkey as
interfering with the independence of the judiciary, an
extremely sensitive topic for the AKP government. The DCM
rejected the argument and pointed out that a statement would
not have to address the specifics of the trial. Sensoy said
he would discuss the subject with Minister Gul, but didn't
hold out much hope.
3. (C) Following the presentation of his credentials on
December 8, Ambassador will raise this issue with senior
levels of the GOT.
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ANKARA PASS TO ADANA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: URGING TURKS ON PAMUK TRIAL
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In advance of the December 16 start of the trial of
novelist Orhan Pamuk for "insulting Turkishness," DCM met
with MFA Deputy Under Secretary (and incoming ambassador to
the United States) Nabi Sensoy to push hard for high-level
GOT action to demonstrate their commitment to democracy and
free speech. She noted that there were at least 5 other
similar cases pending under Section 301 of the penal code
that were also sure to attract widespread international
attention and condemnation. A statement by a senior
government leader of Turkey's commitment to democracy and
freedom of speech could help defuse some of the controvery
the trial is sure to provoke. But, she said, the GOT needed
to go beyond words; it needed to state its intention to
reform Section 301.
2. (C) While Sensoy agreed that the trial was a negative
for Turkey ("we seem to go out of our way to hurt ourselves")
and that Section 301 needed to be fixed, he said there was no
way that a senior politician could make such a statement
before the trial. To do so would be portrayed in Turkey as
interfering with the independence of the judiciary, an
extremely sensitive topic for the AKP government. The DCM
rejected the argument and pointed out that a statement would
not have to address the specifics of the trial. Sensoy said
he would discuss the subject with Minister Gul, but didn't
hold out much hope.
3. (C) Following the presentation of his credentials on
December 8, Ambassador will raise this issue with senior
levels of the GOT.
WILSON