Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4133
2006-07-14 16:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ERDOGAN IN CYPRUS: DO NO HARM

Tags:  PREL PGOV TU CY 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004133 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU CY
SUBJECT: ERDOGAN IN CYPRUS: DO NO HARM

REF: NICOSIA 1099

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 004133

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU CY
SUBJECT: ERDOGAN IN CYPRUS: DO NO HARM

REF: NICOSIA 1099

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Ambassador raised the issue of Turkish PM Erdogan's
visit to Turkish Cyprus July 20 in separate conversations
July 14 with PM Foreign Affairs Advisor Davutoglu, MFA U/S
Tuygen, Deputy U/S and lead Cyprus negotiator Apakan, and FM
Gul. Ambassador said that we regard Gambari's progress
earlier this month as very significant and positive. It
opens new possibilities for moving forward on various Cyprus
fronts. We believe it is important that the effort succeed.
Erdogan's visit therefore comes at an important and sensitive
time. Ambassador urged that Erdogan find ways strongly to
express support for Gambari's initiative and for Talat. A
forthcoming gesture toward the Greek Cypriots, even a
relatively small one, would be very timely and could help
Turkey in European public opinion. While we understand the
domestic political backdrop for Erdogan, the less harsh
rhetoric there is, especially on trade and ports, the smaller
will the prospects for undermining what Gambari has achieved
or alienating Europeans who may see Gambari's efforts as a
possible way out of the trade/ports conundrum.


2. (C) Ambassador also noted that EUR DAS Matt Bryza would
be in Cyprus in coming days and promised to try to give a
readout and any suggestions on key messages prior to
Erdogan's departure.


3. (C) The Turks stressed Turkey's strong support for
Gambari and Talat. They said that Erdogan would give strong
backing to both. Gul said he had encouraged Gambari when he
visited Ankara earlier this month. Davutoglu observed that
Erdogan will have to reiterate his policy on trade and ports;
failure to do so would be read as weakness. Ambassador urged
again that the reiterations be as few as possible and that
Erdogan find ways to also be and appear to be conciliatory.
Apakan told Ambassador that he had gotten the message about a
forthcoming gesture from others and that Turkey is
considering this. He claimed that Erdogan will be measured
in his public remarks.

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

WILSON