Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5471
2006-09-19 13:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/ARMENIA UPDATE: TURKS RESPOND ON JOINT
how-toVZCZCXRO7416 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #5471 2621301 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191301Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8821 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDAI/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005471
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2021
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU AM
SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA UPDATE: TURKS RESPOND ON JOINT
COMMISSIONS
REF: A. ANKARA 2446
B. ANKARA 2410
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner - Reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005471
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2021
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU AM
SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA UPDATE: TURKS RESPOND ON JOINT
COMMISSIONS
REF: A. ANKARA 2446
B. ANKARA 2410
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner - Reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)
1. (C) Turkish MFA Deputy Director General for Central Asia
and the Caucasus Huseyin Avni Karslioglu told us September 14
that Turkey recently sent a counter-proposal to Armenia's
April 19 non-paper on joint commissions (ref B). According
to Karslioglu, the Turkish response attempts to lay out in
more detail how it believes the commissions should be
constituted. He described the exchange between the two sides
as "beating around the bush," with each iteration containing
a slight modification to keep the dialogue going. He said
the Turkish response attempted to "give some teeth" to how
the joint commissions might be created, characterizing the
Armenian proposal as "too vague." The counter-proposal was
conveyed in a "very friendly tone" and he emphasized that
Turkey wants to continue talks on the historical commission.
2. (C) The next step might be another non-paper response from
Armenia, but Karslioglu indicated he would prefer a
face-to-face meeting in the coming month or two. He noted
that because he and Turkish MFA Deputy Under Secretary for
Bilateral Political Affairs for the Middle East, Africa,
Asia, and the Pacific Ahmet Uzumcu will be transferring posts
by the end of the year, they would like to use a meeting to
introduce their successors and familiarize them with the
ongoing dialogue.
3. (C) Karslioglu stated that, in his personal opinion, no
"bold steps" would be taken vis--vis Armenia until after
Turkish parliamentary elections that must be held by November
2007. He characterized the current effort as laying the
groundwork -- getting to a "manageable and politically
swallowable" point for a possible move by the next
government. He noted Armenian elections are also not too far
away and may affect Yerevan's ability to take any politically
risky moves.
4. (C) COMMENT: We have pressed MFA regularly over the past
five months to accept the Armenians' positive, albeit
hesitant, reply to Turkey's previous proposal...in short,
asking them to take "yes" for an answer. Karslioglu,
however, is probably right. As Turkey moves into this
election cycle, the GOT will seek to prolong these
negotiations as long as possible. They don't want to shut
the process down. However, they also do not wish to find
themselves obliged to take any steps they percive as
politically risky on the domestic front. They have kept this
quiet and intend to continue to do so until they believe the
time is ripe.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2021
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU AM
SUBJECT: TURKEY/ARMENIA UPDATE: TURKS RESPOND ON JOINT
COMMISSIONS
REF: A. ANKARA 2446
B. ANKARA 2410
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner - Reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)
1. (C) Turkish MFA Deputy Director General for Central Asia
and the Caucasus Huseyin Avni Karslioglu told us September 14
that Turkey recently sent a counter-proposal to Armenia's
April 19 non-paper on joint commissions (ref B). According
to Karslioglu, the Turkish response attempts to lay out in
more detail how it believes the commissions should be
constituted. He described the exchange between the two sides
as "beating around the bush," with each iteration containing
a slight modification to keep the dialogue going. He said
the Turkish response attempted to "give some teeth" to how
the joint commissions might be created, characterizing the
Armenian proposal as "too vague." The counter-proposal was
conveyed in a "very friendly tone" and he emphasized that
Turkey wants to continue talks on the historical commission.
2. (C) The next step might be another non-paper response from
Armenia, but Karslioglu indicated he would prefer a
face-to-face meeting in the coming month or two. He noted
that because he and Turkish MFA Deputy Under Secretary for
Bilateral Political Affairs for the Middle East, Africa,
Asia, and the Pacific Ahmet Uzumcu will be transferring posts
by the end of the year, they would like to use a meeting to
introduce their successors and familiarize them with the
ongoing dialogue.
3. (C) Karslioglu stated that, in his personal opinion, no
"bold steps" would be taken vis--vis Armenia until after
Turkish parliamentary elections that must be held by November
2007. He characterized the current effort as laying the
groundwork -- getting to a "manageable and politically
swallowable" point for a possible move by the next
government. He noted Armenian elections are also not too far
away and may affect Yerevan's ability to take any politically
risky moves.
4. (C) COMMENT: We have pressed MFA regularly over the past
five months to accept the Armenians' positive, albeit
hesitant, reply to Turkey's previous proposal...in short,
asking them to take "yes" for an answer. Karslioglu,
however, is probably right. As Turkey moves into this
election cycle, the GOT will seek to prolong these
negotiations as long as possible. They don't want to shut
the process down. However, they also do not wish to find
themselves obliged to take any steps they percive as
politically risky on the domestic front. They have kept this
quiet and intend to continue to do so until they believe the
time is ripe.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON