TURKEY/ARMENIA: JOINT COMMISSIONS, ARMENIAN

S E C R E T ANKARA 002446 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2026 TAGS: PREL PHUM AM CA FR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA: JOINT COMMISSIONS, ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, AND ARMENIAN AIRLINER CRASH REF: ANKARA 02410 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) The Foreign Ministry continues to analyze the Armenian response to Turkey's March 10 proposal on joint commissions. We are encouraging a positive Turkish response and early re-engagement with Yerevan. The MFA is also considering how to respond to the Canadian Prime Minister's statement on the Armenian genocide and possible French legislation penalizing denial of the genocide. The GOT is considering condolences to Yerevan over the May 3 crash of an Armenian airliner in the Black Sea. End Summary -------------- Joint Commissions -------------- ¶2. (S) MFA Caucasus Department Head Suleyman Gokce told us May 3 that the MFA is still considering its response to Yerevan's April 19 note (reftel). Gokce again complained about the tone of the Armenian note and its lack of specificity, speculating that the language resulted from a compromise among a divided Armenian leadership. He said that, in response to MFA tasking, he has prepared a detailed, four-page analysis of the one-page Armenian note, trying to explain both the overt meaning and the subtext. He stated that the MFA's response would take the form of a note, but could not say when it would be ready. He added that no date has been set for the next bilateral meeting of Deputy Undersecretaries. ¶3. (S) In a separate conversation, MFA Intelligence Director General Hayati Guven acknowledged that the Armenian response to Turkey,s March 10 note appears to accept a Joint Historical Commission to study the events of 1915 proposed by Turkey. However, the Armenian response is vague about the Joint Commission's participants, procedures and the weight of its conclusions. The MFA is still considering how to respond and has asked a number of its ambassadors with Armenian experience to comment. ¶4. (S) Guven explained that the Turkish proposal of March 10 is unique, having been formulated jointly by PM Erdogan and opposition CHP leader Baykal. He feared this may make acceptance of anything less than what was proposed politically difficult in Ankara. ¶5. (S) We encouraged both Guven and Gokce to consider the Armenian response positively and engage the Armenians to work out the details. -------------- Armenian Genocide in France and Canada -------------- ¶6. (C) Guven also told us on May 3 that the MFA would have an internal meeting late that day to consider how to respond to Canadian PM Harper,s recent statement accepting the Armenian genocide claims. In the past, the Armenians pushed for parliamentary recognition of the claims, but recently their focus had changed to winning foreign governments recognition of the events of 1915 as genocide. Therefore, Turkey must respond to the Canadian case; the question yet to be answered is how. ¶7. (C) Regarding the French parliament's consideration of legislation outlawing denial of the Armenian genocide, Guven told us that the MFA has asked Turkey,s ambassador to France, Osman Koruturk, to return to Ankara on May 18 to consult on how Turkey might prevent this measure from passing. -------------- Armenian Airliner Crash -------------- ¶8. (C) Responding to our question about Turkey's reaction to the May 3 crash of an Armenian airliner in the Black Sea near Sochi, Gokce said the MFA is considering sending a condolence note to Yerevan. We encouraged such a move on humanitarian grounds and as a way to signal Turkey's interest in improving bilateral relations. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON