CODEL PENCE'S MAY 8 DISCUSSION WITH TURKISH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002665 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2026 TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP TU SUBJECT: CODEL PENCE'S MAY 8 DISCUSSION WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER GUL Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with FM Gul, a congressional delegation led by Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) pledged congressional support for Turkey's EU accession process and appreciation of Turkey's efforts to support the democratization process in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Congressman Pence conveyed a message from Ambassador Khalilzad relating his exchange with the Iraqi Kurdish leadership on the PKK. He underscored broad congressional support for Representative Lantos' condemnation of the Hamas visit to Turkey. The delegation urged Turkey to come to terms with Armenia on the genocide issue; provide restitution for property expropriated from minority religious communities; and re-open the Halki Seminary. Gul said Turkey is poised to do more in Iraq. He defended Turkey's position on the genocide issue but looked forward to establishment of a joint commission mechanism on this and other issues. Gul said the GOT is sending the right messages to Hamas and Iran, and he expects a new law on foundations to solve some religious property issues. END SUMMARY. STAY THE COURSE IN IRAQ -------------- ¶2. (C) Gul warned that -- despite the December elections and the designation of a Prime Minister -- sectarian divisions in Iraq are growing, with each side consolidating its position. He welcomed the prospect of a PM al Maliki visit to Turkey and urged a concerted effort to get all Iraqis to work together to develop the central government. Gul warned that Iran's influence is deepening in Iraq. Two of Iran's biggest enemies -- Saddam and the Taliban -- have been eliminated, freeing Iran to create problems in Iraq. He characterized the continued Kurdish consolidation of control in Kirkuk as problematic and recommended that the city be granted a special status. Iraq "will keep us both busy for a long time," Gul said. He called on the US not to give up until there is a stable, democratic Iraq. ¶3. (C) Congressman Pence noted the delegation's May 7 visit to Iraq. Ambassador Khalilzad had asked him to relay the message that he (Khalilzad) had recently urged the Iraqi Kurdish leadership to crack down on PKK activities, and that the Kurds, in response, had inquired into the possibility of amnesty for those PKK members who were not involved in violence. Deflecting the amnesty point, Gul outlined Turkey's support for 500,000 Iraqi Kurdish refugees following the chemical weapons attack in Halabja; its provision of Incirlik Air Base for Operation Provide Comfort: and past GOT support for Jalal Talabani and Masoud Barzani. He noted Turkey's provision of energy to northern Iraq and said a revised energy law should better facilitate energy sharing. A THREAT FROM IRAN IS A THREAT TO TURKEY -------------- ¶4. (C) Gul reiterated the familiar refrain that Turkey is geographically closer to Iran than the US and that a threat from Iran is a threat to Turkey. Turkey does not want WMDs on its Iranian border. Iran's insistence that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes is not convincing, he said. The country has enough energy sources. Its enemies, the Taliban and Saddam, have been defeated. Gul said he would tell Iranian National Security Advisor and chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani during a meeting later that day that Iran must prove itself. He added that "no one wants war" and stressed the need for diplomacy. In Gul's view, Turkey is already contributing to a democratic solution in Iran by exposing tourists from that country and others in the Middle East to the freedoms that men and women alike have in a secular, democratic, majority-Muslim country. HAMAS GOT OUR MESSAGE -------------- ¶5. (C) Pence said many in Congress share the views expressed in Representative Lantos' February letter to the GOT condemning the Hamas visit. Gul said there are two alternatives for dealing with Hamas: - Ignore them and allow negative forces to direct their policies and actions; ANKARA 00002665 002 OF 002 - Warn them against taking the wrong road. They were elected democratically and must act democratically. If they do not, the result will be bad for the Palestinians and bad for peace. ¶6. (C) Gul denied that Turkey invited Hamas. He had spoken twice with the Israeli Foreign Minister on the subject. The latter gave him the "official position against the visit," but still wanted to know about it and warned against negotiating with Hamas. Gul said he told Hamas that it must both recognize and cooperate with Israel. Hamas responded that Turkey should "read between the lines" of its statements to see that it is ready to cooperate. However, it would not say this directly for tactical reasons. Acknowledging international criticism of the visit, Gul said the US should not view the meeting as Turkey's support for a radical group. He insisted that Hamas did receive the right message. Gul said he disagreed with much of Congressman Lantos' letter but does not view it as a barrier to future cooperation, and he expressed privately his interest in meeting with Lantos. ARMENIA - WHEN IS IT GENOCIDE? -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) welcomed Turkey's efforts to establish a joint historical commission with Armenia to study the 1915 genocide issue and urged Turkey to come to terms with its past. He noted the emotion attached to the issue, including among his Armenian constituents. He opined that perhaps efforts by a third party could facilitate a resolution of the historical record, and he looked forward to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, trade, etc. Gul said that what occurred was a tragedy that Turkish citizens regret, but that it did not constitute a genocide. There was no decision to exterminate a nation and, during the turmoil of WWI, there were many peoples, including Turks in the Balkans, who faced terrible losses too. He noted that up to l00 Turkish officials had been severely punished for the excesses that took place during the relocation of Armenians. Gul said the final definition of what occurred should be left to the experts. He looked forward to a review of the archives and welcomed third country participation in that process. FURTHERING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Congressman Joseph Pitts (R-PA) raised concern over Turkey's expropriation of properties from minority religious communities and urged the re-opening of the Halki Seminary. Gul responded that Turkey supports religious freedom for Muslims and non-Muslims alike and said that all groups have complaints which the government is working to address. Gul expressed hope that the bill on Foundations currently before Parliament would address some restitution issues. (Note: The bill covers restitution of properties expropriated by the state from religious foundations, with the exception of those sold to a third party.) Stating that all universities are covered by the Higher Education Council (YOK),Gul said the government will work for a resolution of the Halki Seminary issue that falls within Turkey's constitutional parameters. ENERGIZING THE SECI TERRORISM TASK FORCE -------------- ¶9. (U) Pitts welcomed Turkey's role as coordinator for the Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) anti-terrorism task force. He urged Turkey to take steps to make the task force operational. ¶10. (U) The congressional delegation did not have an opportunity to clear this message. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON