FM GUL AND FM BAKOYANNIS JUNE 10 MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003542 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2021 TAGS: MOPS PREL NATO KIRF TU GR SUBJECT: FM GUL AND FM BAKOYANNIS JUNE 10 MEETING (U) Classified by Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The June 10 meeting between Turkish FM Gul and Greek FM Bakoyannis produced no surprises and few concrete results. Coming on the heels of a May 23 collision between Turkish and Greek fighter jets and other recent Aegean incidents, the most remarkable fact about the meeting was that it went ahead as planned. End Summary. No Surprises, Few Results -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to Turkish MFA Northeastern Mediterranean DDG Bilman, the meeting lasted about an hour, starting with a brief one-on-one, followed by an expanded meeting including delegations. The centerpiece of the meeting was widely-expected formal agreement on a series of Aegean confidence building measures: extension of a moratorium on Aegean military training flights; entry into service of a "hotline" between air operations centers in Eskisehir and Larissa; and establishment of direct communication lines between Turkish and Greek Chiefs of Staff. A Greek Emboff told us June 10 that there are already numerous Turkish/Greek "hotlines," and that the announcement of this one was chiefly for the media. ¶3. (C) According to Bilman, neither side raised Cyprus in the expanded meeting (Comment: If it was raised, it was likely in the one-on-one. End Comment). Bakoyannis asked Gul to take steps to open Halki Seminary. Gul countered that although the GOT supports religious freedom, it had to abide by constitutional "limitations"; positive GoG measures for the Turkish minority in Western Thrace would facilitate GOT movement. Gul suggested the two governments designate high-level diplomats to discuss Halki, Western Thrace and other similar issues; Bakoyannis initially demurred, then reluctantly agreed. ¶4. (C) Comment: Coming on the heels of a May 23 collision between Turkish and Greek fighters jets, May 30 tensions around Imia/Kardak island, and a June 1 collision between Turkish and Greek ships, the most remarkable fact about the meeting was that it went ahead. DDG Bilman complained he saw no effect of the meeting on subsequent Greek behavior toward Turkey at June 12 EU-related meetings in Luxembourg. The same might be said of Turkey, however: on June 14, responding to a question, MFA spokesman Tan stated that, if a Turkish Air Force report shows that the Greek pilot was at fault, the Turks may seek compensation for the fighter jet it lost in the May 23 collision. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON