TURKEY/GEORGIA: SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001557

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2026
TAGS: PREL MARR GG TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/GEORGIA: SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JANICE G. WEINER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,
D).

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Summary
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1. (C) President Sezer's March 14-15 visit to Georgia
highlighted the relationship's growing economic dimension, as
the two sides agreed on the joint use of the new,
Turkish-built, Batumi airport. Turkey asked for Georgian
help on repatriation of Meskhetian Turks, preserving Ajara's
autonomy, and ceasing harassment of Turkish cargo ships bound
for Abkhazia. The Georgians reportedly asked for more Shah
Deniz gas and complained about Turkish damming of the Coruh
river. Both sides discussed the proposed
Kars-Alkhlakalaki-Baku railroad. Sezer offered Turkish help
to facilitate Abkhazia talks, while counseling President
Saakashvili to moderate his anti-Russian rhetoric. The Turks
are bullish on Georgia overall and appear determined to
overcome the irritations and mutual suspicions that continue
to plague the relationship; however, they are reluctant to
support Georgia's overriding priority of a NATO Membership
Action Plan. End Summary.

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Frozen Conflicts and Georgian Rhetoric
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2. (C) Senior MFA officials shared their views on
Turkey-Georgia relations in the wake of President Sezer's
March 14-15 visit to Tbilisi with EUR/SNEC Ambassador Steven
Mann and Elizabeth Rood. MFA Caucasus Director General Uman
told us that Turkey has been especially concerned with
aggressive Georgian rhetoric on South Ossetia and Abkhazia
aimed at Russia. Turkey viewed President Saakashvili's
reaction to the destruction of gas pipelines from Russia in
January as impulsive and provocative. He said that President
Sezer encouraged Saakashvili, as well as PM Noghaideli and
Parliamentary Speaker Burjanadze, to moderate their language
and be more "realistic" concerning the Russian role in the
region.


3. (C) Sezer also told Saakashvili that Turkey remains
prepared to facilitate talks on Abkhazia, with the help of
Abkhazia Turks, according to MFA Deputy Undersecretary
Uzumcu. According to Uzumcu, Turkish officials have found
the Georgians preoccupied with Russian withholding of visas
and rejection of Georgian goods -- which the Georgians are
characterizing as an undeclared embargo.

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Political Irritants
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4. (C) Sezer also raised the issue of Meskhetian Turks,
forcibly exiled from Georgia to Uzbekistan by Stalin during
World War II. Turkey understands Georgia wants to resolve
this humanitarian issue and appointed a state minister to
deal with it, but has seen no action so far. Sezer also
asked President Saakashvili and the Speaker of the Parliament
not to erode the administrative autonomy enjoyed by the
people of the Ajarian Autonomous Republic. Finally, Sezer
complained about the Georgian practice of detaining Turkish
cargo vessels bound for Abkhazia, or forcing them to undergo
inspection first at Pot'i. (Note. Turkish officials claim
that such "harassment" affects the delivery of Turkish
humanitarian aid to Abkhazia. End note).


5. (C) The Georgians reportedly requested Turkey's support
for their Euroatlantic aspirations, particularly in obtaining
a Membership Action Plan (MAP) from NATO. Turkish officials
told us that Sezer assured the Georgians of Turkey's overall
support but added that Turkey is hesitant with regard to a
MAP -- which the Turks believe may constitute a premature
commitment to Georgian NATO membership. Turkey believes a
Georgian MAP, with its implications for other South Caucasus
countries, needs further thought.

ANKARA 00001557 002.2 OF 003


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Economic Pluses...
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6. (C) Turkish officials reported that the economic and
commercial dimension of Sezer's visit was positive.
Saakashvili reported told Sezer that Georgia views itself as
an "extension of Turkey, politically and economically." The
two sides signed an agreement whereby Georgia's Batumi
airport, under construction by the Turkish firm TAV, will be
treated as an internal destination for Turkish travelers.
(Note. Georgians and Turks now enjoy reciprocal visa-free
travel. End Note.) Joint use of the Batumi seaport was also
discussed, as well as the proposed Kars-Alkhalkalaki-Baku
railroad project. On the latter, the Turks told us a USD 1
million feasibility study would be published soon and claimed
the railroad would bring economic advantages to ethnic
Armenian communities in that part of Georgia. The two sides
reportedly committed themselves to increasing bilateral trade
volume from USD 600 million to USD 2 billion (out of a total
Turkish trade volume of USD 150 billion) in coming years.
(Comment: Turkish MFA officials were clearly excited about
developments in Georgia and the prospects for increased
trade. citing numerous "complementarities". End Comment.)

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... and Problems
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7. (C) According to Turkish officials, the Georgians are now
asking for three billion cubic meters of gas from the Shah
Deniz pipeline, up from the 1.2 billion cubic meters they
earlier requested. MFA Energy DDG Mithat Rende told us that,
by Turkish estimations, the new request far exceeds Georgia's
domestic requirements and asserted the Georgians would be
expected to pay market rates. Rende added that Georgia is
not adequately securing its segment of the BTC pipeline
against illegal taps. The Georgian side also complained
about Turkey's water policy with regard to the Coruh river.
Rende said that the Coruh was a fast-flowing river and Turkey
suffered significant sedimentation loss; hence the GOT was
moving forward on a dam project to mitigate the problem. The
Georgians complained that the dam project would flood
Georgian churches -- a claim Rende dismissed.

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Mil-Mil Relations Difficult
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8. (C) MFA officials have told us that military-to-military
contacts with Georgia have been touchy. The Turkish DATT in
Tbilisi has had difficulty getting meetings with MOD
officials, although the Turks admit the situation has
approved since the Georgian MOD's visit to Washington.
Turkey also proffered financial support and instructors to
sustain a four-year course of instruction for officers at
Georgia's military academy. The Georgians later curtailed
the course to one year and turned back some of the Turkish
aid, to the astonishment of the Turks. The Georgian DCM here
confirmed this and confessed to us that the Georgian MOD
behavior baffled him as well.

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Comment
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9. (C) The Turkey-Georgia relationship appears ready to take
off, at least in Turkish eyes, but remains plagued by
irritations, mutual suspicions, and misunderstandings.
Ankara is clearly frustrated that Georgia displays what it
believes is inadequate understanding on certain issues --
such as water and energy, military contacts, and Turkey's
desire to be helpful on Abkhazia -- but appears willing
nonetheless to press ahead. Georgia will need to do more
bilateral work with Turkey to win Turkish support for its top
foreign policy priority -- a NATO Membership Action Plan.
End Comment.

ANKARA 00001557 003 OF 003




10. (U) Ambassador Mann cleared this cable.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON