TALKING TO THE TURKS ABOUT IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006067 SIPDIS SIPDIS TREASURY FOR OTI; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA AND EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016 TAGS: PREL KNNP ETTC PARM TU IR SUBJECT: TALKING TO THE TURKS ABOUT IRAN REF: A) ANKARA 5064 B) ANKARA 1858 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) This is an action request. See para 4. ¶2. (C) Summary: We need to act now to solidify Turkish support for our policy toward Iran's nuclear program and to ensure that Turkey remains squarely with us - despite some misgivings - as we proceed toward a Security Council resolution. A near term visit to Ankara by a senior USG official would help position us for success. End Summary. ¶3. (C) Turkey's relations with its Iranian neighbor are complex and a source of habitual anxiety here. Though continuing to stress engagement over isolation, the GOT has come a long way on the nuclear issue and has provided consistent support for the P5 1 effort. As UN deliberations become more difficult in the period ahead, we should take steps now to consult with the Turks -- to outline our objectives, vet their concerns, and extract a more nuanced judgment about their willingness to cooperate with us. ¶4. (C) Previous visits by NEA DAS Gray in March 2006 and UNVIE Ambassador Schulte in February 2006 paid important dividends in allowing us to shape Turkish thinking and drive their policy closer to ours. At this juncture, we believe that a visit by Treasury Deputy Secretary Kimmitt and/or NEA PDAS Jeffrey would help ensure that the GOT remains on the right track in the face of coming challenges. ¶5. (C) This type of consultation is precisely what was envisioned in the Strategic Dialogue document released by Secretary Rice and FM Gul in July 2006. We need to make good SIPDIS on the commitments contained in that document while also advancing our priority objectives on this key issue. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON