Mission Turkey Public Diplomacy Strategy for FY-07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 006118 SIPDIS SIPDIS FROM AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON TO UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS KAREN HUGHES; INFO EUR - A/S FRIED, DAS BRYZA, DAS GRAFFY, EUR/PPD, EUR/SE, ECA, IIP E.O 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP OEXC SCUL TU SUBJECT: Mission Turkey Public Diplomacy Strategy for FY-07 Sensitive But Unclassified ¶1. (U) Summary: Public Diplomacy is a critically important component of our diplomatic efforts in Turkey. In this cable, I describe our current public diplomacy environment, offer our strategy for FY-2007, and provide a list of top program priorities under this strategy for enhanced support and funding. End summary. -------------- Introduction -------------- ¶2. (U) Introduction: The German Marshall Fund's 2006 Transatlantic Trends poll starkly outlined the challenges U.S. public diplomacy currently faces in Turkey. When asked, "How desirable is it that the United States exert strong leadership in world affairs," 69 percent of Turks polled said it was undesirable, with 56 percent saying "very undesirable" and only 14 percent desiring such a U.S. role. Eighty-one percent of Turks said they disapproved of President Bush's handling of international policies. When asked to rate their feelings of various countries on a scale of 0 to 100, the Turkish respondents only gave the United States a 20 (down eight points from the previous year). ¶3. (SBU) And yet, Turks consider the United States to be a critical country for their own nation's priorities. We are expected to "solve" Turkey's PKK, Cyprus and EU problems, and there is broad recognition that our role on Iraq, Iran, the Middle East, every security and other issues is essential for advancing Turkish interests. Over 116,000 Turks visited the United States in 2005, and each year Turkey sends more students to American universities and colleges than any other European country. Comments about Turkey by almost any American - officials, journalists, academics, etc. - receive immediate coverage in the Turkish media. Turks care about the United States - but they also are suspicious of our objectives and fear how American policies might affect their own nation. -------------- General Environment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Today's Turkey interacts with the world in ways which would have been politically taboo even five years ago. Economic, political, and social reforms have strengthened Turkey's links with other nations. The Turkish government and military have participated in international efforts in Afghanistan and the Balkans, and the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan won legislative approval in September 2006 to contribute Turkish forces to the strengthened UNIFIL operation in Lebanon. ¶5. (SBU) But the vociferous domestic debate over the UNIFIL decision, and over the accession process for possible admission to the EU, demonstrate that many Turks remain concerned over their enhanced interaction with the outside world. The Turkish public tends to be conservative, and their deep patriotism is sometimes mixed with hints of xenophobic nationalism and deep skepticism over other nations' "real intentions" towards Turkey. Opponents of Turkish engagement often cite Ataturk's "Peace at home, peace abroad" motto to justify isolationist policies, while launching legal attacks on authors or journalists who "impugn" Turkey, Turkish institutions, or "Turkishness." They also play on the popular Turkish mistrust of other countries, expressed in the saying, "The only friend of a Turk is another Turk." Opposition political groups increasingly use the "American hammer" to attack government initiatives, arguing that "doing what American wants" is antithetically opposed to Turkey's own goals. This negative environment is exacerbated by the start of the Turkish "election year" for selection of the new president and parliament in 2007. ¶6. (SBU) Nevertheless, the Turkish-American relationship remains important for both nations. When we look at our own foreign policy priorities - in the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia - Turkey often appears as a nearly indispensable partner because of where it is and what it is. We need Turkey on our side when we address our immediate and long-term objectives concerning Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Broader Middle East, and energy independence capacity in Eurasia. Turkey's status as a secular democracy with a Muslim-majority population also makes it an important nation for the United States. The July 5, 2006 "Shared Vision and Structured Dialogue to Advance the Turkish-American Strategic Partnership" provided a new basis for further cooperation, which was enhanced by the October 2, 2006 meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Erdogan. The appointment of General Joseph Ralston as the Special Envoy for Countering the PKK terrorist organization received a cautiously positive response from the Turkish government and public, but also added to expectations for prompt and effective measures against the PKK. American public diplomacy in Turkey thus faces significant challenges - but these are accompanied by real opportunities for ANKARA 00006118 002 OF 004 advancing our objectives and interests. -------------- Strategic Goals -------------- ¶7. (U) a. FOREIGN POLICY GOAL: Turkey supports US policies on major issues of mutual concern (e.g., the Global War on Terrorism, Iraq, Iran, BMENA, develop of alternative energy supply routes in region). RELATED PUBLIC DIPLOMACY GOAL: Key audiences receive accurate, effective and frequent advocacy of USG policies and priorities. b. FOREIGN POLICY GOAL: Maintain or strengthen commitment of Turkey to partnership with US and key Western institutions (NATO, EU). RELATED PUBLIC DIPLOMACY GOAL: Strengthen Turkish understanding of US values and society, in ways which enable discussion of key issues relevant to Turkey, and strengthen US-Turkish partnership through cultural programs, exchanges, and English-language programs. c. FOREIGN POLICY GOAL: Increase understanding of US policies and values, and support for US-Turkey relationship, among specific segments of Turkish society. RELATED PUBLIC DIPLOMACY GOAL: Increase contact with youth audience (over 65 percent of Turkey's population is less than 35 years old),religious leaders and opinion-leaders, and population in southeast Turkey, while strengthening relationship with alumni of USG exchange programs and American universities. -------------- Public Diplomacy Environment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) a. There is currently deep skepticism/suspicion of US policies and goals in Turkey, related to current issues of top priority in the country. b. This negative environment is exacerbated by the start of the Turkish "election year" for selection of the new president and parliament, accompanied by a rise in xenophobic nationalist views and actions (especially from the opposition) which affect perceptions of the US, NATO, and EU. c. Turkey-specific issues concerning secularism and Islamization affect mission efforts to reach out to traditional leaders and communities. -------------- Key Audiences -------------- ¶9. (U) a. Leaders in government, Parliament, media, academia, NGOs, culture, and business. b. Rising/future leaders in those sectors: the new generation. c. Specific target audiences for particular emphasis: Youth, religious, southeast Turkey, alumni. -------------- Program Priorities -------------- ¶10. (U) Given this environment, we propose a three-part public diplomacy strategy for FY-07: (a) programs to effectively communicate policy issues and priorities through a "context and consult" approach; (b) activities to address social and domestic issues of concern through the perspective of the American experience; and (c) initiatives that strengthen mission relations with specific audiences of importance. ¶11. (SBU) POLICY PROGRAMS: Policy advocacy remains a top priority for this post. In the current Turkish environment, the automatic tendency of our contacts is to immediately focus on American policies in negative and critical ways. Our most effective policy programs respond to this environment by accurately presenting our positions and honestly addressing policy disagreements, while maintaining that we can sometimes have differing ideas and still be close and effective partners. In these programs, we also work with our target audiences to look at issues of importance more broadly ("context") and seek the views of our target audiences as to how these issues can best be addressed ("consult"). This approach forces our contacts to seriously think about the issue, and give us their views (rather than simply jumping on the United States for anything we might be doing). It also enables us to draw from their own points when they support our policies, while noting reasons why we might differ. ANKARA 00006118 003 OF 004 ¶12. (U) "THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE" INITIATIVE: There are a number of social, cultural, and political issues of importance to Turkey's internal situation, which also can affect Turkish-American relations. Domestic sensitivities (and suspicion of foreign meddling) make it hard to discuss these topics by directly addressing Turkey's own issues. However, we are able to implement programs that look at how the United States has dealt with the same issues. Our representatives focus solely on the American experience - when asked what they would tell Turkey to do, we recommend that they respond, "That's for you Turks to decide. I can tell you what we did in America, and talk about my nation's challenges and achievements." Their talks invariably lead into discussions in which our Turkish participants discuss their own perceptions of the topic, as it relates to Turkey, while increasing their understanding of our own society and political system. ¶13. (U) SPECIFIC PRIORITY AUDIENCES: In addition to the general public diplomacy objectives outlined above, post's FY-07 priorities in Turkey will include programs specifically aimed at the following important audience groups: Turkish youth (over 70 percent of the population is under the age of 35); religious leaders and opinion-makers; alumni of USG exchange programs and American universities; and leaders (current and future) in southeast Turkey. The southeast region of Turkey is distinct and important in terms of its population, its relative lack of development, and its intimate involvement in issues related to Turkey's running conflict with the PKK terrorist organization. This makes it a key audience for our public diplomacy strategy in Turkey. -------------- Communication Tools -------------- ¶14. (U) a. Direct outreach by Embassy and USG officials (via media and direct contact),speaker programs, and transmission of texts via Internet and web site on policy issues, using "consult and context" approach. b. Use of non-USG speakers, exchanges, and materials to increase understanding of US society and values on issues of concern - e.g., freedom of speech/expression, relationship between secularism and religion in US, US approaches for dealing with domestic violence, the role of the judiciary in America, minority relations in America, and cultural and linguistic diversity in the United States. c. Continued critical importance of exchanges (especially Fulbright, International Visitors, and high school exchanges),cultural programs, and English-language programs to achieve our goals of increasing Turkish understanding of US values and society, strengthening the US-Turkish partnership, and improving our outreach to Turkish youth. -------------- Programs and Initiatives -------------- ¶15. (U) The following are Mission Turkey's top priorities for enhanced or new funding in FY-07. All of them were included in post's submission under the pilot country initiative, with the exception of the final item -- that is based on the subsequently-announced Global Cultural Initiative: a. English-language programs: Increase funding for English Language Fellows, to fund 14 fellows annually in Turkey; continue and expand funding for ACCESS micro scholarships; provide funding to expand summer camp program. b. Rapid Translation Capability: Provide funding to increase post's capability for quick and accurate translation of texts, transcripts, and publications. c. Youth exchanges: Maintain current funding for Fulbright program; increase funding for high school exchanges and International Visitor Leadership programs aimed at young (under 30) leaders/future leaders. d. Religious audience: Funding for focused exchanges (including academic exchanges) involving religious leaders and opinion leaders, (including possible relationship to Hartford Theological Seminary program with Turkey). e. Sports: Funding to bring US basketball players to Turkey (with particular focus on programs for girls in southeast Turkey),and to create American Corners-type educational collections for placement in youth centers and basketball programs throughout Turkey. f. Alumni: Funding to establish new LES (local employee) position to coordinate USG exchange alumni outreach efforts, and to identify effective ways for Mission to reach out to the thousands of Turkish graduates of American universities. g. Southeast Turkey: New Public Diplomacy Foreign Service Officer position for consulate in Adana (which currently has no PD officer). ANKARA 00006118 004 OF 004 h. Global Cultural Initiative: Funding for following GCI programs: (1) a Kennedy Center program focusing on public-private partnerships that support culture in America, featuring a two-person team from the Kennedy Center: one manager who can talk about methods for developing private sector support for culture and one private sector representative who can discuss the benefits private companies and individuals gain from supporting cultural programs and organizations in the United States. (2) An AFI exchanges project focusing on women in film in America and Turkey, with American and Turkish film professionals showing their films. Discussing their experiences, and developing direct links. (3)A National Endowment for the Arts literary exchange focusing on works by and/or for youth, including translations, author DVCs and exchanges, and "Big Read" type events in both nations to increase awareness of these works. WILSON