DAS BRYZA URGES TURKISH MFA TO THINK FORWARD ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002037 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2021 TAGS: PREL TU CY EU SUBJECT: DAS BRYZA URGES TURKISH MFA TO THINK FORWARD ON CYPRUS ANKARA 00002037 001.2 OF 002 (U) Classified by DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Meeting with Turkish MFA officials on April 4, DAS Bryza urged them to support intercommunal technical talks, work with SRSG Moeller, and consider possible options for joint administration of Famagusta port that could provide a way for the GOT to open ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus (ROC). Deputy U/S Apakan noted that Famagusta had historically been under sole Turkish Cypriot control but promised to think about the idea. The MFA is still concerned that the Annan Plan and the ROC's responsibility to state with clarity and finality its objections to it not be forgotten. End Summary. MFA Focuses On Annan Plan -------------- ¶2. (C) Deputy U/S Apakan welcomed DAS Bryza, noted the MFA's statement supporting the technical talks on Cyprus, and said the GOT is encouraging Turkish Cypriots to engage constructively in the talks. However, the technical talks must not become a substitute for pursuit of a comprehensive settlement based the Annan Plan. FM Gul's action plan on removing all restrictions on Turkish and Cypriot ports could be provide a transition to comprehensive settlement. Turkey does not want to see the Annan Plan slowly scrapped, as happened in the past with the UN set of ideas, given all the years of effort that had gone into the Annan Plan, which still provided the most hopeful framework to date for a solution. ¶3. (C) Northeastern Mediterranean DG Haydar Berk seconded Apakan's concerns about the Annan Plan, adding that the ROC is attempting to increase Turkish Cypriot economic isolation, including by pushing for a construction moratorium in the north. Berk told Bryza Turkey hopes for something more from the U.S. on trade and direct flights with the north, which would give ROC President Papadopoulos incentive to compromise. ¶4. (C) Apakan and Northeastern Mediterranean DDG Bilman, who participated in 2004 Annan Plan negotiations, pointed out that the Plan contains internal balances within specific topics, but also balances between topics; Bilman cited the balances between territory and Greek Cypriot return percentages as an example. Pulling out one substantive topic for separate negotiation collapses the entire Plan, Apakan 
concluded. Bryza: Think About How to Move Forward -------------- ¶5. (C) DAS Bryza agreed the Annan Plan structure needs to be maintained and that Papadopoulos should submit to the UNSYG his objections to the Plan with clarity and finality, in priority order, an in written form. But the Turkish side would be wise to avoid using the name "Annan Plan," given the Greek Cypriot political sensitivities. Apakan agreed. Bryza continued, noting that the U.S. fully supports the SYG and the Good Offices Mission, but believed that rejuvenating a negotiating process with a prospect of settlement would take time and probably require significant political changes in the Republic of Cyprus. Meanwhile, the technical talks could be a source of positive momentum and proof that Turkey is working positively. Turkey should work with SRSG Moeller in this context. ¶6. (C) Bryza said that Turkey needs to think about how to bridge the gaps between the Gul action plan on port openings, Turkey's obligation to the to EU open its ports and airports to the ROC, and the ROC Famagusta proposal. Bryza acknowledged this would be politically difficult for Turkey, but the opening of Famagusta under some form of UN or EU administration could provide political cover for Turkey to open ports and airports to Greek Cypriot ships. Bryza urged the MFA to think along these lines about how to move forward in a practical way. ¶7. (C) Apakan replied that Famagusta is the only Turkish Cypriot port, had historically been under sole Turkish Cypriot administration, and would be part of the Turkish Cypriot community zone under the Annan Plan. If it were ANKARA 00002037 002.2 OF 002 opened under joint administration, this would change the Annan Plan. Talat would have to decide about this in the end. Turkish Cypriots would probably need access to Limassol and Larnaka. Still, Apakan said Turkey would think about it. ¶8. (C) DAS Bryza urged Apakan to keep in mind the goal of keeping Turkey's EU accession on track. A Famagusta option could provide Turkey the cover necessary to open at least one port. ¶9. (C) Comment: This meeting provided a good preview of the types of issues and arguments we can expect to hear from the Turkish side as we try to get them to focus on the possible tradeoffs that will yield the political cover they need to open their ports and airports. That Apakan did not reject the Famagusta idea out of hand is encouraging, but there is much more work ahead to convince the Turkish side to make the necessary tough choices. End Comment. ¶10. (U() DAS Bryza has cleared this message. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON