Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2595
2006-05-09 14:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY/IRAN: FM GUL'S MEETING WITH ALI LARIJANI

Tags:  PREL KNUC PTER IR TU 
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DE RUEHAK #2595 1291424
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091424Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5447
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002595 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2026
TAGS: PREL KNUC PTER IR TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN: FM GUL'S MEETING WITH ALI LARIJANI

REF: WILSON-FRIED E-MAIL OF 5/8/06

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002595

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2026
TAGS: PREL KNUC PTER IR TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN: FM GUL'S MEETING WITH ALI LARIJANI

REF: WILSON-FRIED E-MAIL OF 5/8/06

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) MFA Deputy Undersecretary for Security Affairs Akgunay
Larijani provided Ambassador an initial readout of Iranian
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani's
May 8 meeting with FM Gul. (Larijani's meeting with Turkish
NSC SecGen Alpogan is described septel.) Akgunay reported
that Turkish officials gave Larijani messages consistent with
the international community's position. FM Gul was,
according to Akgunay, "really open" in his remarks to
Larijani. He said the situation was getting dangerous and
that Iran was not the right path. Gul described the
situation as akin to pulling on a thread, not thinking or
realizing it may break; one can never be sure what the
breaking point will be. Iran should now be careful and
cooperate with the international community. Gul reportedly
drew Larijani's attention to IAEA Chairman El-Baradei,s
reports, which document the international community's
differences with Iran and which ask for flexibility and
transparency from Iran. Iran should take these more
seriously. Gul told Larijani. The IAEA reports are, Gul
reportedly said, more serious than those issued by the IAEA
right before the Iraq war about the situation there. Gul
urged Iran should give them due attention and cooperate. Gul
also noted that Iran has a credibility problem in the world
that it needs to fix.


2. (C) Akgunay said that Larijani,s responses and complaints
tracked with Iran's public line. Commenting on Larijani's
statement to the Turkish press (we have forwarded the text of
Larijani's interview with NTV to EUR/SE),Akgunay said
Larijani,s public remarks were nearly identical to what he
told the government here privately.


3. (C) Akgunay said he was struck that when Larijani talked,
he complained mostly about the U.S. and the EU -- especially
the latter, and seemed to suggest that Russia and China are
not with the EU-3/U.S. Interestingly, Akgunay reported,
Larijani said nothing about the Ahmadinejad letter to
President Bush and was "astonished" when Akgunay asked about
it based on press reports that appeared early May 8.


4. (C) Akgunay said that Turkey kept the discussion focused
on the Iran nuclear issue, although Larijani expressed a
willingness to cooperate with Turkey on Iraq and claimed to
the Turks that the U.S. is talking to the PKK in Mosul and
Kirkuk. Akgunay made clear that Turkey gives no credit to
this assertion. (We have put out a press release denying
contacts with the PKK).


5. (U) We will meet May 10 with MFA staff and a key advisor
to PM Erdogan on the Larijani talks and will report further,
as appropriate.

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

WILSON