TURKEY/EU/CYPRUS: TURKS HEADED TO HELSINKI; "NO"

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006467

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU EU CY
SUBJECT: TURKEY/EU/CYPRUS: TURKS HEADED TO HELSINKI; "NO"
TO VAROSHA BUT STILL WORKING ON PACKAGE

REF: A. ANKARA 6391


B. SECSTATE 189542

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


1. (C) Turkish MFA A/US Ertugrul Apakan travels to Helsinki
today, accompanied by Cyprus Deputy Director General Levent
Bilman, for a day of technical talks November 22 on the
Finnish Turkey/EU/Cyprus proposal. The talks will also serve
as preparation for meetings FM Gul will have with the Finnish
FM and EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn on the margins of the
EuroMed conference November 27.


2. (C) Apakan phoned Ambassador late November 21 and relayed
that Turkey does not want Varosha in the package, period.
Apakan and others have come increasingly close to drawing a
red line at inclusion of Varosha; they have finally done so
and carry that message to Helsinki. On all other issues,
there is flexibility, Apakan stated, and Turkey is trying to
see what it can do. Turkey hopes there can be enough work
done that the Finnish proposals can be put on paper. Turkey
appreciates US support with the EU and hopes it can continue,
especially with the EU,s East European and other new members.


3. (C) In a separate conversation, the Finnish Ambassador in
Ankara confirmed the Helsinki meetings will take place. She
said Apakan had been insistent that this remain close hold.
Her discussions have mirrored ours -- no on Varosha, yes on
opening Ercan airport to direct flights from Europe. She
remains less than sanguine about Turkish flexibility. She
was coy on what talks -- if any -- may be taking place in
parallel or separately with the Greek and/or Turkish
Cypriots, but it sounded as if no specific talks were
planned. "The subject now is Turkey," she said.


4. (C) The next big play will be an EC meeting planned for
December 6, its last ahead of the GAERC on December 11-12 and
the European Council meeting on December 14-15. The Finns,
goal is to present a clear and final picture on
ports/airports by the 6th and for the EC then ideally to
agree on appropriate recommendations. The Finn said that the
Europeans, goal is not to have the Council meeting be
dominated by Turkey issues and that the GAERC should handle
this.


5. (C) According to the Finnish Ambassador, the current plan
B, which the Finns don't much like, is a freezing of some
chunks of the negotiations -- presumably a to-be-determined
number of Acquis chapters -- for a couple of years;
sufficient time to get through the respective election cycles
in Turkey, Greece and the ROC. The language concerning this
would affirmatively call for a review at the end of that time.


6. (C) Comment: The Turks are headed to Helsinki, prepared
to discuss non-Varosha options; it is a red line for the
Turkish military. They may be receptive to a minimal package
that, per ref B, includes temporary opening of one or more
ports in exchange for at least partial lifting of Turkish
Cypriot isolation. Otherwise, they seem to be preparing for
some form of suspended animation. End comment.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON