TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY ON HARIRI MURDER AND SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000916

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV SY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY ON HARIRI MURDER AND SYRIA

REF: A. STATE 272178


B. ANKARA 296

(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Responding to our approach (ref A) by
averring that evidence of Syrian involvement in the Hariri
murder is currently unclear, Turkish MFA interlocutors show
no inclination to deviate from the line of warming
Turkish-Syrian relationship and seem to ignore the larger
point that Syrian troop and security presence destabilizes
Lebanon and threatens fair elections. We see no evidence the
MFA is currently inclined to press the Syrians to withdraw
troops and security forces. We reiterated our opposition to
the Turkey/Syria free trade agreement (ref B). End summary.


2. (C) DCM used ref A with Turkish MFA Middle East DG
Celikkol and poloff delivered points to Middle East
Department Head Bozay. Celikkol (Turkey's immediate former
Ambassador to Syria) responded to DCM by asking whether the
U.S. has evidence of Syrian involvement. DCM replied that is
not the issue; the issue is pressing the Syrians to support a
rapid investigation and to live up to UNSCR 1559.


3. (C) Bozay agreed the Hariri murder is terrorism and
unacceptable, and that the perpetrators should be brought to
justice. He also agreed that Syria should obey UNSCR 1559.
He claimed the GOT "always" emphasizes this in discussions
with the Syrians. Bozay said Turkey will condemn the Syrian
involvement in Hariri's murder if a connection is
established, adding that such a connection has not yet been
established.


4. (C) Both appeared to either resist or perhaps not grasp
the larger point that Syrian troop and security presence is
destabilizing and threatens Lebanon's upcoming elections.
Asked whether the MFA plans to press the Syrians to withdraw
troops, Bozay responded that it is unclear who is responsible
for Hariri's murder. He predicted Turkey will not take any
such initiative vis-a-vis Syria now, but will wait to see
what the UNSC does.


5. (C) The MFA issued two bland statements on February 14
condemning Hariri's murder, expressing condolences and
praising Hariri's contributions to Turkish-Lebanese
relations. Neither statement contains even a veiled
reference to Syria. Bozay told us that FM Gul personally
received Lebanon's Ambassador on February 15 and extended his
personal condolences. Bozay asserted that the statements and
the visit should be "signals to partners like you and to our
neighbors." We responded that a direct message to Syria,
like the one in ref A, is better.


6. (C) With Bozay, we took the opportunity to reiterate our
opposition to the Turkey/Syria free trade agreement and urge
Turkey not to ratify it. Bozay reiterated the reasons for
the agreement, adding that it is an EU requirement to
harmonize trade with countries like Syria that have an EU
association agreements.


7. (C) Comment: Based the responses we received, we doubt
the MFA is currently inclined to press the Syrians to
withdraw troops and security forces. End Comment.
EDELMAN