1. (C) Senior MFA officials expressed concern to EUR A/S
Daniel Fried and NSC Senior Director for Europe Judith Ansley
that France may criminalize denial of the Armenian "genocide"
and said France's position on Cyprus is unhelpful. The GOT
has received an interim response from Yerevan on its March 10
non-paper urging establishment of bilateral commissions
(septel). The MFA worries that a recent Iraqi demarche
critical of the presence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq,
if aired publicly, may damage relations with Baghdad. Turkey
hopes to send high-level MFA officials to Washington soon for
consultations on Iran, while Larijani may soon visit Ankara.
Turkish officials requested U.S. support to ensure the Annan
Plan remains the basis for a Cyprus settlement and is
awaiting a response from the UNSYG on its January 24 proposal
for opening ports. End Summary



2. (C) Fried and Ansley, accompanied by Ambassador, met with
MFA officials April 26 to work on the text of the "Shared
Vision and Structured Dialogue to Advance the
Turkish-American Strategic Partnership" document (latest
draft faxed to EUR/SE). They discussed a range of issues
with Undersecretary Tuygan, Middle East Deputy Undersecretary
Uzumcu, Europe/Americas D/US Apakan, and Americas Director
General Alpar.



--------------------------


France, Turkey and Armenia


--------------------------





3. (C) Tuygan complained about the French approach to the
Armenian genocide issue, noting the 2001 French Parliament
resolution. He understood the French Socialist Party plans
to introduce a measure in mid-May that would establish
criminal penalties for denying the Armenian genocide. Tuygan
said he warned French Ambassador Poudade of a strong negative
public reaction in Turkey. Fried noted that such legislation
usually generated problems without visible benefit and said
he would seek an opportunity to bring this up with the French
as a free speech issue. Fried reminded Tuygan of the case of
Orhan Pamuk, who had been indicted in Turkey for urging
Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide.



4. (C) Uzumcu told Fried that the GOT had received a letter
from Yerevan the previous week in response to the Turkish
March 10 non-paper; the MFA is still analyzing the Armenian
response but is not satisfied at first glance. (Note. MFA
contacts later gave us a copy of the Armenian note in
confidence, faxed to EUR/SE on April 28. End note). Uzumcu
stressed that Turkey's proposal of a Joint Historical
Commission is not intended to force Armenia to question its
position on genocide, but rather is meant as a confidence
building measure to help improve bilateral relations. Fried
expressed appreciation for this view and said the U.S. would
continue to encourage the Armenians to be responsive as long
as Armenia was not asked to put in question its position on
the Armenian genocide. Fried noted that the Turkish-Armenian
Reconciliation Commission (TARC) process, which had been
supported by some Armenian diaspora groups, had been a useful
precedent.



5. (C) Fried stressed the "broad expectation" that Turkey
will open its border with Armenia when a Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement is reached. Uzumcu restated the Turkish position
that progress on bilateral issues would be a consideration in
any Turkish decision on the border. Uzumcu said Turkey is
aware of the shrinking window of opportunity for an NK
settlement and worried at increasing militancy in Azerbaijani
rhetoric, which Ankara has tried to dampen.



--------------------------



--------------------------


Cyprus -- Turkey Worried Annan Plan De-emphasized

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--------------------------



--------------------------





6. (C) Claiming to speak on FM Gul's specific instructions,
D/US Apakan expressed Turkish government fears that the Annan
Plan is losing its primacy. He stressed that Turkey strongly
insists the UN plan remain the basis for a settlement,
pointing out several times that EU documents on Turkish
accession point specifically to progress on the Annan Plan.
This must not change, or the Greek Cypriots will be able to
control the process. Turkey is also eager to hear an answer
from the UNSYG on FM Gul's January 24 proposal. Fried noted
that we must: 1) get back on a negotiating track towards a
comprehensive settlement, and 2) generate enough short-term
progress to avoid an EU accession train wreck later this
year. Fried said that DAS Bryza may come out with UN U/SYG
Gambari in May to float some ideas. There are many things on
the table (the Turkish proposal, Famagusta/Varosha, technical
talks) but we need to put them together in a way that moves
the ball forward.



--------------------------


Georgia's NATO Aspirations


--------------------------





7. (C) Uzumcu and Fried discussed Georgia's NATO aspirations.
Uzumcu stressed that Turkey supports Intensified Dialogue
and even an "eventual" MAP for Georgia. Fried outlined
Russia,s creeping annexation of South Ossetia. Left alone
and isolated, Georgia would be vulnerable to Russian advances
and apt to take provocative steps out of desperation. Fried
emphasized the U.S. belief that a clear NATO perspective
(performance-based and thus condition, not guaranteed) would
encourage Georgian confidence and good behavior, and improve
odds for a settlement of the frozen conflicts. Fried sressed
that NATO is performance-based and Georgia will have to
qualify, but the membership incentive will encourage
performance. Georgia has already earned an Intensified
Dialogue. Uzumcu replied that Turkey will continue to
support Georgia both via bilateral defense assistance and in
NATO. He added that Turkey has recently seen a more moderate
attitude from President Saakashvili.



--------------------------


Iran -- Turkey Seeks Further Consultations


--------------------------





8. (C) Fried noted that one of Secretary Rice,s goals during
her visit was to defuse concerns that the U.S. is focused on
the military option for Iran. The U.S. is committed to doing
everything it can to make the diplomatic effort work. Fried
noted the Iranians appear convinced they are not facing a
united front against their nuclear ambitions -- a dangerous
assumption on their part. Turkey can help put non-military
pressure on Iran, and the U.S. intends to consult closely
with Turkey. Fried explained that the U.S. is looking at
ways to apply financial pressure on Iran short of oil/gas
sanctions and welcomes Turkey,s ideas. We are also
interested in GOT views on Iranian society as we seek to
reach out to the Iranian people. Support for the current
regime is not universal and does not include much of the
middle class and many professionals. Turkey can show
Iranians a better future, Fried concluded.



9. (C) Uzumcu responded that D/US Akgunay had talked to the
Russians the week before and had urged a united front
vis-a-vis Iran. Akgunay found the Russians down-playing
Iranian ambitions and thought they may be seeking to distance
themselves from sanctions in order to be favorably placed to
resume relations with Iran when the crisis passes. Uzumcu
noted that one million Iranian tourists come to Turkey
visa-free every year and are able to experience an
alternative to their political situation. He warned that
political change won't come overnight in Iran; a campaign
against the regime there could backfire by increasing the
regime's domestic support and taking the focus off the
nuclear issue. Fried emphasized that we will continue to
reach out to Iranian people and show them the regime can't

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simply dictate one political outcome. Turkey can help by
articulating how democracy and Islam can coexist.



10. (C) Uzumcu confirmed that Iranian nuclear negotiator
Larijani has asked to visit Ankara and Turkey believes it
must receive him, although no date has been set. Uzumcu
assured Fried Turkey will give Larijani a clear message about
Iran's nuclear ambitions.



11. (C) Uzumcu stated that the MFA planned to send D/US Rafet
Akgunay and DG Bozkurt Aran to Washington soon to discuss
Iran in general and sanctions in specific. He welcomed
suggestions on a schedule.



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

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

WILSON