Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2791
2006-05-16 12:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKISH PM ERDOGAN AND FM GUL ON VISITS TO THE U.S.

Tags:  OVIP OTRA AMGT ASEC PREL PGOV TU 
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VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #2791 1361232
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 161232Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5642
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002791 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016
TAGS: OVIP OTRA AMGT ASEC PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PM ERDOGAN AND FM GUL ON VISITS TO THE U.S.

REF: A. A) ANKARA 2047


B. B) USDEL SECRETARY PARTO 17 5/10/06

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002791

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016
TAGS: OVIP OTRA AMGT ASEC PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PM ERDOGAN AND FM GUL ON VISITS TO THE U.S.

REF: A. A) ANKARA 2047


B. B) USDEL SECRETARY PARTO 17 5/10/06

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


1. (c) Summary: Turkish PM Erdogan informed Ambassador May
15 that he now wants to proceed with plans to visit the US
and meet President Bush in early June. FM Gul,s travel
plans are unclear. Erdogan and Gul said the Turkish
government will approach us on specifics shortly. End
Summary.


2. (c) Erdogan reminded Ambassador that he had mentioned his
interest in visiting Washington and meeting with President
Bush to Rep. Robert Wexler during a meeting in early April
and again to Secretary Rice during her Ankara stopover on
April 25 (reftels). Erdogan said that he now would like to
move to arrange this travel, preferably for early June. He
noted plans in the interim to visit Egypt and Germany, among
other places. He said that we could shortly expect specific
information on time frames that would work for him and would
appreciate an early response. When asked about possibilities
later in the summer, Erdogan replied that July or August
would be too late. Erdogan said he would like specifically
to discuss Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the
Israeli-Palestinian issue, though we doubt his agenda would
be limited to these items.


3. (c) Ambassador said he had mentioned to USG officials
Erdogan,s interest in visiting the US following CODEL
Wexler, and he noted Secretary Rice,s expression of interest
in a US visit, as well. He said we look forward to specifics
and to seeing how we could use any Washington meetings to
advance our common interests.


4. (c) Ambassador also discussed this twice on May 15 with FM
Gul. During a meeting early in the day on another subject,
Gul indicated that he has now been cleared by his doctors for
travel by air. He said he thought Erdogan still wanted him
to go first to the US, but he needed to discuss this with the
PM. Gul said that he knows that visits at UNGA time are
problematic and thought he should come before this. In a
brief evening exchange, Gul told Ambassador that perhaps
Erdogan will go earlier or the two might go together and that
we could expect official word from the Turkish side soon.


5. (SBU) Erdogan has spoken publicly in recent days on his
interest in visiting the US to meet with the President and
discuss relevant issues. Papers have also noted that he may
attend the graduation of a daughter from college in the US.
In responding to the media, we have confined ourselves to
noting that there has been no specific discussion about
travel plans to the US by Erdogan or Gul and that any
announcement of same will be made at the appropriate time.


6. (c) Comment: We note that there is now widespread
speculation that Erdogan may call for early parliamentary
elections. Any push for early elections would apparently
have to be made before June 30, when parliament recesses for
three months. Getting his US relationship more right ahead
of a snap election, if indeed one is planned, could be one
reason for pressing for an early June visit to Washington.
Post will advise further on Ankara,s plans, but notes the
Turkish embassy may be in touch directly with the Department
and NSC.

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

WILSON