UPDATED VERSION: U.S. MISSION TO TURKEY

UNCLAS ANKARA 005223 SIPDIS EUR FOR PPD, SE, DAS GRAFFY, INFO R; LONDON FOR PA HUB DIRECTOR ADAM ERELI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP PTER TU SUBJECT: UPDATED VERSION: U.S. MISSION TO TURKEY COMMEMORATION OF 9/11 ANNIVERSARY ¶1. Summary: The U.S. Mission to Turkey commemorated the 5th anniversary with events in Ankara, Istanbul, and Adana. The post activities connected the 9/11 terrorist attacks to terrorist attacks on Turkey and other nations, in order to reinforce a theme of common determination to confront and defeat terrorism around the world. End summary. ¶2. The mission's slate of activities began with an op-ed from Ambassador Ross Wilson, which was carried in the September 11 edition of the mass-circulation Turkish newspaper "Sabah." In his editorial (also featured on the front page above the fold),the Ambassador concluded, "On this September 11, Americans will mourn their loss of five years ago and mourn all victims of terrorism. We will seek ways to further our and the world's common struggle against those who threaten our way of life. And we will succeed." In the editorial, the Ambassador also linked the 9/11 anniversary to Turkey's own experience with terrorism, writing, "Prime Minister Ecevit expressed (Turkey's) sentiments well (after 9/11): 'We share the pain of the United States, our close friend and ally...All of humanity should be in solidarity against terrorism.' The prime minister's deliberately chosen words, of course, reflected both pain over our loss and an appeal for help in defeating PKK and other terrorists responsible for the loss of some 30,000 lives over the previous decade or more....We are horrified by the violence perpetrated by the PKK and its front groups, and we grieve for the victims. We are committed to working with Turkey and its friends to defeat the terrorists." ¶3. These themes were amplified in a morning ceremony at the Embassy in Ankara, where Ambassador Wilson presented a grant for ten thousand dollars to the general director of the Turkish Association for Aid and Solidarity with the Families of Martyrs from the Security Services (EMSAD). "Terrorism affects all of us. Nowhere is this clearer than in Turkey, where PKK terrorism has claimed tens of thousands of lives and where al-Qaeda launched devastating attacks in Istanbul in 2003," the Ambassador said. "For me, our donation today is a way of looking forward as we look back in sorrow at the sad wreckage left behind by PKK, al-Qaeda and other terrorist violence." EMSAD Director General Ms. Nursen Donmez Kiricikaya replied, "On behalf of the children of victims to terrorism, I want to thank the Ambassador and the US Mission for this generous gift. On this anniversary we remember that terrorism is not just a problem for Turkey; it is the world's problem." The ceremony was widely covered by Turkish broadcast and print media. ¶4. Ambassador Wilson will reinforce the themes at a dinner for important business, political, academic, media, and other contacts this evening in Istanbul, in honor of a forthcoming "Scientific American" edition that will feature Turkey. In his remarks, the Ambassador states: "This fifth anniversary reminds us of the challenge we as civilized people face to defend ourselves and our way of life against those who would destroy it and us. They remind us that the United States can, must and will stand with Turkey in the struggle to defeat PKK and other terrorist groups and prevent the violence they foment." ¶5. Adana U.S. Consul Eric Green visited the Adana chapters of two Turkish organizations representing families of policemen and soldiers killed in the line of duty by terrorists. In his meetings, Green reinforced the themes noted above, and also provided his counterparts with a copy of Ambassador Wilson's Sabah editorial. Local media covered one of the meetings. ¶6. The Embassy in Ankara, Consulate General in Istanbul, and Consulate in Ankara also held ceremonies for mission personnel and families to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. In addition the Embassy co-sponsored a photo exhibit entitled, "Manhattan: The Magic of Glass and Steel," at the Turkish American Association headquarters in Ankara. A/DCM Dan Sreebny will open the exhibit this evening, to connect the theme of the exhibit to the 9/11 anniversary. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON