TURKEY URGES CONSTRUCTIVE IRANIAN APPROACH TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003465 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2026 TAGS: PREL PGOV ENER KNNP PARM TU FR UK GM CH RS IR SUBJECT: TURKEY URGES CONSTRUCTIVE IRANIAN APPROACH TO NUCLEAR PACKAGE Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)> ¶1. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Arms Control and Disarmament Bulent Meric on June 9 briefed representatives of Germany and P-5 missions about FM Gul's June 8 phone call to Iranian NSC Secretary-General Larijani to counsel Iranian receptivity to the EU-3 package of incentives for halting its nuclear development program. Meric called Turkey an interested neighbor that, while not a participant in the process, fully supports the diplomatic approach to Iran. As an outsider, he said, Turkey is trying to facilitate the diplomatic process and remains ready to provide support if and when requested. ¶2. (C) According to Meric, FM Gul initiated the call after discussing the issue in phone calls with Secretary Rice, EU High Representative Solana and Russian Deputy FM Kisilyak and during the recent visits of the German and Russian Foreign Ministers. Gul underscored to Larijani the need to identify a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue, Meric said. He urged the Iranian government to avoid negative statements about the offer and to respond with concrete proposals and messages. ¶3. (C) While conceding that the package contains positive elements, Larijani reportedly said it also contained unspecified "unclear" points and listed two specific issues with the package: - Imposition of pre-conditions; - Absence of clarity on the required time frame for suspension of uranium enrichment. ¶4. (C) Larijani continued, said Meric, by stating that three issues should be considered in formulating the talks: 1) How to initiate them; 2) Modalities; and 3) Context. Elaborating on the first issue, Larijani reportedly said the negotiations should be divided into two phases: preliminary and long-term. The issue of "pre-conditions" would need to be resolved during the preliminary phase, he said, in order for the long-term negotiations to begin. Regarding the second phase, Larijani stressed the need for a diplomatic solution and reportedly stated that "if their concern is the atomic weapon, we are fully prepared to address this issue." When asked, Meric was unsure if Larijani was suggesting the possibility of renewed inspections. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON