Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA1250
2006-03-10 12:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/ARMENIA: NEW TURKISH PROPOSAL?
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1250/01 0691227 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101227Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3858 INFO RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 1341 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5364 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 5205 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 2993 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0016 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0767
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001250
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR A/S FRIED AND EUR/SNEC -- AMB MANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE AR AJ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA: NEW TURKISH PROPOSAL?
REF: WILSON-MANN/BRYZA E-MAIL OF FEB 15
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001250
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR A/S FRIED AND EUR/SNEC -- AMB MANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE AR AJ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA: NEW TURKISH PROPOSAL?
REF: WILSON-MANN/BRYZA E-MAIL OF FEB 15
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) MFA Caucasus DDG Karslioglu told us March 8 that
Turkey would present a new "paper" to Armenia on March 10,
but would not elaborate on its content or method of delivery.
He stated "significant progress" must be made on both
Nagorno-Karabakh as well as on bilateral issues (genocide and
alleged territorial claims) before Turkey would consider
opening its border with Armenia. AKP Foreign Relations
Deputy Chair Disli confirmed some political party contacts
with Armenians. End Summary.
--------------
New Turkish Initiative?
--------------
2. (C) Karslioglu said that we would soon be hearing
"surprising" news on Armenia. Turkey will present Armenia
March 10 with a "point paper." Although Karslioglu declined
to provide details, he suggested the paper would be passed to
Armenian officials in Ankara and would contain ideas on how
Turkey and Armenia could restart a dialogue, effectively
frozen for over six months. He explained his unwillingness
to describe the points to us with the excuse that the GOT had
not yet finalized the paper.
3. (C) Karslioglu said no recent high-level diplomatic
contacts had taken place. However, the two sides now carry
out routine exchanges through their ambassadors in Tbilisi,
whereas they had formerly done so in Moscow. There are also
bilateral contacts at the Black Sea Economic Council (BSEC).
Karslioglu said he has informal contacts through whom he has
helped facilitate short-fuse, humanitarian shipments, for
example.
4. (C) He added that low-level exchanges with Armenia
continue, including indirect trade through Georgia and direct
flights between Yerevan and Istanbul. Buses are now able to
travel between Athens and Yerevan, passing through Georgia.
Numerous Armenian businessmen travel to and from Turkey,
obtaining 30-day visas easily at points of entry. The
"suitcase trade" is reportedly thriving. He described
continuing cultural exchanges: a meeting of Turkish and
Armenian Rotarians will be held in Ankara in April. The
Rotarians are also sponsoring the travel of a Turkish dance
troupe to Armenia this spring.
--------------
Caution on Opening Border
--------------
5. (C) Karslioglu opined that significant progress on a
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement would be a necessary, but not
sufficient condition for Turkey to consider opening its
border with Armenia. Domestic political pressures dictate
that Turkey and Armenia must also make progress on bilateral
issues, such as genocide claims and border recognition,
before the border can be opened.
--------------
Some Parliaentary Contacts
--------------
6. (C) Meanwhile, AKP Foreign Relations chief Saban Disli
confirmed reports we had heard of some unofficial contacts
between Turkey and Armenia (ref). According to Disli, former
AKP Deputy Chairman Mercan had recently talked to Armenian
diaspora representatives in Istanbul. AKP Vice Chair Reha
Denemec and AKP U.S. - Turkey Friendship Caucus leader (and
Erdogan advisor) Egemen Bagis will travel to the U.S. late
March and hope to meet with Armenian diaspora representatives
in New York.
7. (C) Disli said FM Gul is encouraging more party contacts
with Armenia but PM Erdogan is taking a more cautious
approach. He suggested there was some disagreement between
the Erdogan government and the bureaucracy over how far to
take these contacts without risking embarrassment should they
prove fruitless. He noted that AKP MPs from areas along the
Turkey-Armenia border are pressing for an opening of the
border. Disli cautioned that progress on these issues would
take time but suggested contacts -- at the party level and
hence "deniable" by the government -- would continue.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR A/S FRIED AND EUR/SNEC -- AMB MANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE AR AJ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA: NEW TURKISH PROPOSAL?
REF: WILSON-MANN/BRYZA E-MAIL OF FEB 15
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) MFA Caucasus DDG Karslioglu told us March 8 that
Turkey would present a new "paper" to Armenia on March 10,
but would not elaborate on its content or method of delivery.
He stated "significant progress" must be made on both
Nagorno-Karabakh as well as on bilateral issues (genocide and
alleged territorial claims) before Turkey would consider
opening its border with Armenia. AKP Foreign Relations
Deputy Chair Disli confirmed some political party contacts
with Armenians. End Summary.
--------------
New Turkish Initiative?
--------------
2. (C) Karslioglu said that we would soon be hearing
"surprising" news on Armenia. Turkey will present Armenia
March 10 with a "point paper." Although Karslioglu declined
to provide details, he suggested the paper would be passed to
Armenian officials in Ankara and would contain ideas on how
Turkey and Armenia could restart a dialogue, effectively
frozen for over six months. He explained his unwillingness
to describe the points to us with the excuse that the GOT had
not yet finalized the paper.
3. (C) Karslioglu said no recent high-level diplomatic
contacts had taken place. However, the two sides now carry
out routine exchanges through their ambassadors in Tbilisi,
whereas they had formerly done so in Moscow. There are also
bilateral contacts at the Black Sea Economic Council (BSEC).
Karslioglu said he has informal contacts through whom he has
helped facilitate short-fuse, humanitarian shipments, for
example.
4. (C) He added that low-level exchanges with Armenia
continue, including indirect trade through Georgia and direct
flights between Yerevan and Istanbul. Buses are now able to
travel between Athens and Yerevan, passing through Georgia.
Numerous Armenian businessmen travel to and from Turkey,
obtaining 30-day visas easily at points of entry. The
"suitcase trade" is reportedly thriving. He described
continuing cultural exchanges: a meeting of Turkish and
Armenian Rotarians will be held in Ankara in April. The
Rotarians are also sponsoring the travel of a Turkish dance
troupe to Armenia this spring.
--------------
Caution on Opening Border
--------------
5. (C) Karslioglu opined that significant progress on a
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement would be a necessary, but not
sufficient condition for Turkey to consider opening its
border with Armenia. Domestic political pressures dictate
that Turkey and Armenia must also make progress on bilateral
issues, such as genocide claims and border recognition,
before the border can be opened.
--------------
Some Parliaentary Contacts
--------------
6. (C) Meanwhile, AKP Foreign Relations chief Saban Disli
confirmed reports we had heard of some unofficial contacts
between Turkey and Armenia (ref). According to Disli, former
AKP Deputy Chairman Mercan had recently talked to Armenian
diaspora representatives in Istanbul. AKP Vice Chair Reha
Denemec and AKP U.S. - Turkey Friendship Caucus leader (and
Erdogan advisor) Egemen Bagis will travel to the U.S. late
March and hope to meet with Armenian diaspora representatives
in New York.
7. (C) Disli said FM Gul is encouraging more party contacts
with Armenia but PM Erdogan is taking a more cautious
approach. He suggested there was some disagreement between
the Erdogan government and the bureaucracy over how far to
take these contacts without risking embarrassment should they
prove fruitless. He noted that AKP MPs from areas along the
Turkey-Armenia border are pressing for an opening of the
border. Disli cautioned that progress on these issues would
take time but suggested contacts -- at the party level and
hence "deniable" by the government -- would continue.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON