A/S FRIED'S MEETINGS WITH TURKISH MFA U/S TUYGAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001651

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM AJ GG IR KPAL IS CY TU
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED'S MEETINGS WITH TURKISH MFA U/S TUYGAN
AND DU/S UZUMCU


Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

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Summary
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1. (C) A/S Daniel Fried, accompanied by Special Negotiator
Steven Mann and EUR/NCE Director Elizabeth Rood, discussed
Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian genocide resolution, Cyprus,
Iran and the Balkans with MFA Undersecretary Ali Tuygan and
Deputy Undersecretary Ahmet Uzumcu on March 16. Fried said
the Administration's position on the genocide resolution has
not changed and urged Turkey to consider ways it can
contribute to a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. There was some
discussion of FM Gul's visit to Washington, which was
subsequently canceled. Tuygan assured Fried of Turkey's
willingness to move forward constructively on Cyprus.
Turkish officials stressed Turkey could not be as publicly
critical of neighboring Iran as we would like, but promised
to keep sending tough private messages to Tehran and avoid
high-level exchanges. Fried stressed the need for Kosovo
final status this year, and Turkish officials expressed
confidence the region could handle Kosovo independence.
Detailed discussions on Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey-Armenia
relations and energy covered septels. End Summary.

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Nagorno-Karabakh
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2. (S) A/S Fried and Ambassador Mann requested Turkey
consider seriously how it might support an eventual
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. Both Tuygan and Uzumcu stated
that Turkey considers opening the Turkish-Armenian border and
normalizing diplomatic relations a bilateral issue and does
not want those steps integrally linked to an N-K deal.
However, Uzumcu asserted, a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement will
have a positive impact on normalizing relations with Armenia
and vice versa. Tuygan said he hoped the two tracks - N-K
and Turkey's bilateral relations with Armenia - could run
simultaneously. Uzumcu said a senior Armenian official had
told him recently in Vienna that he thought Turkey, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan should all be in the same alliance. Uzumcu
said he took this as an encouraging statement indicating
Armenia will "turn to the West" as regional problems are
solved.

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Armenian Genocide Resolution
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3. (C) Tuygan stressed the importance of no Congressional
action on the Armenian genocide resolution. Fried responded
that, while he could not speak for the President, he would
recommend that we follow the same line as we have in the
past. In discussions with Congress, he could urge that
whatever Members' concerns on other issues, they not make an
historical decision based on current concerns. An
historians' commission could be very useful. The truth and
reconciliation commission, though controversial, had done a
good, serious study, which the USG supported.

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Responding to Turkey's Critics
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4. (C) Discussion of FM Gul's visit to the U.S. was overtaken
by his subsequent cancellation following surgery on March 20.
Fried stressed that the Secretary still wants to come to
Turkey. There are many issues that need to be discussed.
These included concerns arising from Turkey's reception of
Hamas, as well as issues associated with the movie "Valley of
the Wolves - Iraq". Movies are movies, but when senior Turks
attend a gala opening and appear to endorse the film, it is
inflammatory. There is, he added, considerable concern,

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including among traditional friends of Turkey. Fence-mending
would be helpful. It would also be useful for Gul to tell
people that the Turks received Hamas, delivered a strong
message and are disappointed that Hamas hasn't yet responded
well.


5. (C) Tuygan responded that the GoT understood we were not
comfortable with the visit. However, viewed in the broader
context of the region in which Turkey lives and the enormous
potential for continued conflict, be it in the Middle East,
Iraq, the looming crisis with Iran, Afghanistan, or Sudan,
Turkey sees a looming clash of civilizations. It feels the
urgency of preventing that clash by doing what it can to
counsel moderation. If the negative trends continue, Tuygan
said, the GoT is worried about Turkey's position in this
"clash"; in particular, whether Turkey will be where it wants
to be or where others put it. It may, too, be a bit early to
pass final judgment on Hamas. They will have to sit down,
perhaps with Fatah, and decide which course they will follow.
Now is the time to reserve judgment; Turkey will speak out
when the time is right.

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Cyprus
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6. (C) Tuygan summarized the GoT's recent efforts on Cyprus.
Turkey has tried hard. All it hears in response is that the
Greek Cypriots are a member of the EU and Turkey must live up
to its obligations to open its ports and airports. We need,
he stressed, to work together to avoid deadlock, which could
come by late summer/early fall. The GoT is willing to work
on ideas. It is hard to understand what is wrong with the
essence of FM Gul's January 24 proposal in which, tacitly,
the reciprocal opening of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot ports
and airports - either of which, on its own, could be
construed as moving toward recognition - would not imply
recognition.


7. (C) Fried noted his appreciation for the GoT's desire to
work on different approaches. Of course, Turkey must meet
its obligations to the EU, but we need to work together to
help find ways to make it possible, taking advantage
especially of pro-settlement forces in the north. The USG
internal redlines continue to be that any settlement for
reunification must be a bizonal, bicommunal federation. We
are familiar with GOC President Papadapolous' style. Tuygan
(please protect),stated firmly, but off the record, that,
even with respect to Cyprus, Turkey could not play the rabbit
while the lion of Iran was out there.

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Iran
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8. (C) On Iran, Fried emphasized that the USG truly believes
the diplomatic approach can work. We are not just going
through the motions, he stressed. We hear that support for
Ahmedi-nejad is not broad. Their loud protests about the
UNSC referral indicate their strong desire not to be
isolated. We must pursue the diplomatic path and, at the
same time, continue our efforts to reach out to Iranian
society, not the regime. We completely reject the notion of
clash of civilizations. The very fact of Turkey's existence
as a democratic, secular Muslim countries belies the premise
of a clash of civilizations - it is a false choice. This is
why, Tuygan responded, Turkey is doing its best to be helpful
in Iraq and to counsel moderation to Iran, telling Tehran
that the only way out is full transparency and cooperation
with the IAEA and the EU-3.


9. (C) Fried urged that the international community remain
strong and united, speaking in a single voice. If we are
united, our chances of success rise fast. Turkey can play a
critical role if Iran hears a clear message from its

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neighbor. Tuygan responded that the chairman of Iran's
foreign relations committee in the Majlis had just been in
Ankara and had heard that message loud and clear, both in
person and through the press.


10. (C) In a subsequent meeting, Fried told D/US Uzumcu that
the Secretary was looking forward to further discussions on
Iran with Turkey. In his view, the Iranians are isolated and
referral to the Security Council did matter to Tehran,
despite Iranian protestations to the contrary. Fried said
Turkey had an important role to play in being clear with
Tehran about its nuclear ambitions, while reaching out to the
Iranian people and showing them Turkey's example. Meanwhile,
the U.S. and Turkey should stay in close touch about the way
forward. Ambassador Wilson added that the U.S. and Turkey
need to stay in synch on high-level exchanges with Tehran,
continue to cooperate on stopping technology transfer to
Iran, and noted that NEA DAS Gordon Gray will visit Ankara
March 21-23 to discuss Iran policy in more detail.


11. (C) Uzumcu expressed concerns about possible sanctions
against Iran, voicing skepticism concerning their
effectiveness and fears about a negative effect on Turkey's
economy. He stated that, as a neighbor, Turkey will not be
as publicly critical of Iran as the U.S. might prefer, but
assured A/S Fried that Turkey will be "tough and blunt" in
its private messages to Tehran. He also said that Turkey
would avoid high-level official exchanges with Iran. Turkey
will look forward to hearing our specific ideas on possible
sanctions as the process moves forward, he added.

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Balkans
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12. (C) In his meeting with Uzumcu, Fried noted U.S.
determination to come to closure on Kosovo final status this
year and stressed that, despite Russian President Putin's
claims, Kosovo does not represent a precedent for other
conflicts. Fried stressed that further delay on status is
not an option, nor is return to the 1999 situation. The U.S.
is working with Belgrade as well as its neighbors Albania and
Macedonia, while stressing to the Kosovar Albanians the need
to protect the Serb minority, resolve the Mitrovica problem,
and move forward on decentralization. The Kosovars need to
earn their possible independence, Fried concluded.


13. (C) Pointing to the events of March 2004, Uzumcu stressed
the need for NATO to maintain a strong presence in Kosovo and
expressed concern about a possible transition from a NATO to
an EU-led force. He stated that Turkey shared the U.S. view
of the situation. "We can cope with the impact on the
region," he asserted, adding that he saw no catastrophic
situation resulting from Kosovo's independence. Fried
assured Uzumcu that NATO would remain in Kosovo after final
status.


14. (U) A/S Fried has cleared this cable.

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