TURKEY: QUELLING VIOLENT REACTIONS TO OFFENSIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000619

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: QUELLING VIOLENT REACTIONS TO OFFENSIVE
CARTOONS

REF: A. STATE 20587


B. ANKARA 468

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) We delivered ref A demarche to Turkish MFA Americas
Deputy Director Murat Esenli February 9. We discussed GoT
reactions which have, to date, urged calm and made clear that
violence, even if in response to the offensive cartoons, is
unacceptable (ref b). Esenli stated that the GoT would
continue its efforts. FM Gul had made an attempt to bring EU
officials together with OIC leaders, but the EU had, he said,
apparently been reluctant to engage as a party to the
conflict; Brussels seemed more inclined to bring the UN into
the picture. PM Erdogan was in the process of sending
letters to colleagues, but Esenli did not know to which
colleagues in Europe and the region. Separately, an Egyptian
embassy source reported that the Austians had blocked any
EU-OIC conference, preferring to see EU Council Secretary
General Solana travel to the region first. The Austrian
ambassador claimed to have no knowledge of the Turkish
proposal to host such a conference beyond what appeared in
the press here on February 6 and 9. The GoT believes it has
a role to play in reconciling differences and trying to help
others understand where indifference - including lack of
knowledge of other cultures - may cause them to offend
cultures living in their midst.


2. (C) With respect to the Embassy burnings in Damascus and
Beirut, we underscored that, while the overall GoT reaction
to the cartoon controversy had been measured and
conciliatory, clear condemnation of these specific actions
has been missing and would be the right thing to do. Had the
Embassies attacked been Turkish, surely the GoT would have
expected statements of outrage from allies and friends.
Esenli agreed, noting the PM's and FM's general condemnation
of the violence. FM Gul would use this as a wake-up call as
he meets with and talks to colleagues; in any contacts with
neighboring countries, he will stress their obligations under
the Vienna convention and point out that if they fail to
protect diplomatic missions in their own countries, they will
have nowhere to turn if the same thing were to happen to
their Embassies. He praised the USG approach to date,
including the President's statements, as setting the right
tone and helping calm the situation.


3. (C) Ambassador separately took up the issue with MFA Under
Secretary Tuygan. The latter noted with frustration European

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complaints about the use or non-use of the verb "condemn."
The clear message Turkey had sent focused on tolerance,
freedom of speech and the unacceptability of violence. This,
together with relative calm in Turkey itself, should be
appreciated by the Europeans. Ambassador acknowledged the
point, but urged that Turkey be clearer in supporting its
fellow allies.
WILSON