TURKISH U/S ALI TUYGAN ON GREEK ISSUES AND OTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002597

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER GR IR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH U/S ALI TUYGAN ON GREEK ISSUES AND OTHER
TOPICS

REF: ATHENS 1155

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: Turkish MFA U/S Ali Tuygan debriefed
Ambassador May 5 on PM Erdogan's May 4 meeting in
Thessaloniki with Greek PM Karamanlis and distanced Turkey
from FM Gul's reported hard line on the Halki Seminary.
Tuygan reviewed follow up on Secretary Rice's recent visit.
Discussion also touched on Armenia, the UNSC race, Central
Asia and Iran. End Summary

Greek Patriarch Issues
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador complained that FM Gul's reported remarks
on the Halki Seminary, which cited the Turkish constitution
seemingly to suggest Halki would never open, was unhelpful
and inconsistent with what Secretary Rice heard from PM
Erdogan. The latter's emphasis on the treatment of ethnic
Turks and Muslims in Greece had suggested that a deal might
be possible that would ease the way to progress on religious
minority issues in both countries, but Gul had seemed to step
back from this.


3. (C) Tuygan read from the MFA's notes of Erdogan's meeting
with Karamanlis to put a better face on matters. Erdogan
reportedly complained about the lack of any Greek PM visit to
Turkey in 40 years. He noted Turkey's interest in expanding
trade and investment ties, as well as joint tourism. He
sought Karamanlis' support on EU accession and suggested that
Greece, Turkey and the two Cypriot communities should meet to
discuss a way forward on Cyprus, as suggested in FM Gul's
proposal of last January. On religious issues, Erdogan
reportedly referred to the Lausanne Treaty's obligations on
minority rights. He reportedly told Karamanlis that the
current Patriarch was elected by a synod that included six
non-Turkish nationals, which wasn't exactly legal -- but
Turkey had looked the other way and had not made this a
barrier to dealing with him. By contrast, when Turkish
Greeks elect their community leaders, the GOG refuses to
recognize them, institutes legal proceedings against them and
appoints its own people in their stead. Whereas Greek
Orthodox churches operate freely in Istanbul and many have
been renovated, there is no mosque for Athens' Muslim
population, and permits to renovate mosques elsewhere in
Western Thrace are denied.


4. (C) According to Tuygan's notes, Karamanlis said he will
visit Turkey and noted several unofficial visits that have
occurred. He reiterated Greece's strong support for Turkey's
EU accession when it meets EU criteria. Karamanlis said any
Cyprus 2 plus 2 meeting would need careful preparation and
suggested it is important to see what the UN SYG wants to do.
Karamanlis said that discussion on the situation of Turkish
Greeks are on-going in Athens, and there will be progress
soon. FM Bakoyannis noted the Buyukada orphanage issue and
observed that the presence of the Greek Patriarch is a plus
for Turkey given his leadership role in the Orthodox world.
On the last point, Erdogan reportedly replied that some in
Moscow and elsewhere don't regard the Patriarch that way.
One of his party said the legal process regarding the
orphanage is on-going, and the Turkish government has not yet
taken the matter on. The meeting reportedly closed with both
leaders emphasizing the need to send better signals about
Turkish-Greek cooperation, including on their respective
minority issues.


5. (C) Tuygan observed that the MFA has twice tried to
follow up a suggestion by then FM Molyviatis that the two
governments should meet to discuss minority issues. Both
times, according to Tuygan, the Greek ambassador here had
deferred the request by saying he had no instructions.

Other Issues
--------------


6. (C) Secretary's Visit: Tuygan said Turkey viewed the
Secretary's visit here as a big success that will help manage

SIPDIS
our relations over the coming 18 months. He urged prompt
conclusion of the vision/dialogue paper that A/S Fried
received on April 26. Ambassador noted that EUR/SE Director
Silliman may be in Ankara in two weeks time to discuss this
and other subjects.


7. (C) Armenia: Ambassador said that Armenia's reply to
Turkey's latest proposal on joint commissions was positive;
Turkey should take "yes" for an answer, get an initial
meeting scheduled as soon as possible, and make sure it is
successful. This would give ammunition to Turkey's friends
when the genocide issue comes up in Congress later this year.
Tuygan took the comments on board.


8. (C) UNSC: Ambassador reminded Tuygan of FM Gul's
assurance in February that Turkey will not support Venezuela
for the UNSC. MFA and Turkish UN mission staff have been
less clear when we have followed up at lower levels. While
we appreciate Turkey's need to handle the issue in light of
its own UNSC bid for the following year, Secretary Rice
valued Gul's commitment regarding Venezuela. Tuygan replied
that Ankara is aware of the issue's sensitivity for the US
and will deal with it appropriately.

9. Central Asia/Iran: Ambassador said the embassy is
seeking to arrange experts talks on Central Asia and
Afghanistan when SCA A/S Boucher comes to Turkey for a TDA
conference in June. Tuygan welcomed this. He also said
Deputy U/S Uzumcu or another senior official will travel to
Washington to discuss Iran -- probably in mid-May, if this
time is suitable.

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

WILSON