GREEK CYPRIOT PARTY LEADER ANASTASSIADES MEETS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000799

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU CY
SUBJECT: GREEK CYPRIOT PARTY LEADER ANASTASSIADES MEETS
TURKISH FM GUL

REF: ANKARA 427

(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O.
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In the first visit by a Greek Cypriot
politician to Turkey since 1963, Democratic Rally (DISY)
Party leader Nicos Anastassiades met with Turkish FM and
Deputy Prime Minister Gul in Ankara on February 10. We
understand that (1) Anastassiades raised changes to the Annan
Plan that could help DISY gain more support for it among
Greek Cypriots, but he and Gul discussed few details; (2)
Anastassiades brought no message from President Papadopoulos.
Anastassiades meets PM Erdogan in Istanbul February 12. End
Summary.


2. (C) According to ruling AK Party International Relations
head Saban Disli, who was present at the meeting, Gul and
Anastassiades talked about Cyprus for about 30 minutes of a
two-hour meeting. DISY's trip to Turkey is being billed as
party-to-party contact, and the rest of the meeting was taken
up in discussion of political party matters.


3. (C) Some Turkish press accounts claimed the meeting had a
detailed Cyprus agenda. Disli said Anastassiades told Gul
that if there were "certain changes" to the Annan Plan, DISY
would again push the Plan with the Greek Cypriot public.
Anastassiades raised the Turkish military presence, changes
in the Karpass and, according to Anastassiades, missing
persons issues. However, Disli said the two discussed few
details; Anastassiades did not present any written document
and "tried to stay away from delicate issues." He brought no
messages on behalf of President Papadopoulos.


4. (C) Anastassiades quietly requested a meeting with Gul
through the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in
September 2004, and the MFA's answer was a resounding no.
This time, Anastassiades bypassed the MFA and quietly
requested Gul and Erdogan meetings through AK party channels.
The meeting took place at AK party headquarters, no MFA
officials were present, and the MFA Cyprus Department had no
role in or details about the AK/DISY contact (reftel).


5. (C) Disli said Gul expressed appreciation for
Anastassiades' courage in accepting AK's invitation to visit
Turkey. Disli's assessment to us is that Anastassiades is
someone with whom AK could maintain dialogue. Anastassiades
meets PM Erdogan in Istanbul on February 12.
EDELMAN