TURKEY/EU/CYPRUS: HELSINKI MEETINGS NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006512

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2021
TAGS: PREL EUN TU CY
SUBJECT: TURKEY/EU/CYPRUS: HELSINKI MEETINGS NOT
ENCOURAGING

REF: A. STATE 189542


B. WILSON/FRIED E-MAIL OF 11/27/06

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


1. (C) Summary: Turkish MFA Deputy U/S Apakan used his
November 21-22 consultations in Helsinki on Turkey/EU/Cyprus
to tease out details related to the Finnish package on Cyprus
ports and trade issues. In a readout given to Ambassador
November 25, Apakan said he took a hard line on Varosha,
citing concerns about being asked every six months for some
Cyprus-related concession that would prejudge the UN
settlement process; Turkey is determined not to let that
happen. Following FM Gul's meeting in Helsinki November 27
with Finnish FM Tuomioja and EC Enlargement Commissioner
Rehn, other opportunities for Turkey to work its EU issues
include visits to Ankara by Carl Bildt December 4-5 and an
Italian deputy foreign minister December 6, and Gul's visit
to Greece December 7-8. Ambassador stressed US support for
the Finnish efforts, urged maximum Turkish flexibility, and
suggested that Turkey moderate its response to the EU's
decisions in December so as to prevent any further
undermining of public support for EU accession and Turkey's
longstanding orientation to the West. He also urged action
by the government on Article 301, Greek minority concerns,
and other issues identified in the EC progress report on
Turkey. As reported ref B, Finland called off its efforts to
negotiate a solution to Turkey's Cyprus/ports/trade issues.
End Summary.


2. (C) Apakan said he had stressed in Helsinki the strategic
stakes for Turkey, the EU and the West as a whole of avoiding
a rupture in Turkey-EU relations. Ankara wants to see that
the EU door remains open for Turkey; it hopes that short-term
issues do not undermine long-term prospects ) recognizing
that Turkey is not getting into the EU now and that this step
is at least 10 years off, if not more. Not everything has to
be resolved right now.


3. (C) On specifics, Apakan apparently had an exhaustive
(and exhausting for the Finns) review of legal and political
details related to the Finnish package. One line of
conversation dealt with the details of the trade regulation
for Turkish Cyprus. Would TC goods be exempt from the EU
tariff? Would decisions on the trade regulation be taken by
majority vote or under EU procedures that would give Cyprus a
large say, and would the decision be a technical (EC) one or
a political one (European Council)? Another issue was
Turkish ports. Earlier EU decisions referred to Turkish
seaports and airspace, but some more recent EU documents have
referred to airports, which Turkey does not believe are
covered by Customs Union-related decisions to which it
agreed. What would be the status of Turkish goods moving
through Famagusta ) e.g., to Cyprus?


4. (C) In Helsinki, Apakan also talked about Ercan airport
and Varosha, reiterating that Turkish public opinion and
institutions (e.g., the military) believe trading the latter
is inappropriate outside the context of an overall
settlement. Turkey is concerned that every six months in the
EU process it will be asked to make a Cyprus-related
concession. It wants to head this off and especially not
begin with Varosha. However, Apakan also made clear that
excluding Varosha is a not a completely fixed Turkish
requirement and suggested that it might be doable if the
price is right (and high).


5. (C) Ambassador reiterated strong US support for Turkey's
accession efforts with the EU. He noted high-level efforts
and approaches by our embassies in Europe over the last
couple of weeks. We believe a strategic choice is going to
be made by Turkey and the EU, and we very much want to see
both sides making the right decision ) one that allows the
process to move forward. Ambassador urged maximum Turkish
flexibility in working with the Finns. He also observed that
if, at the end of the day, something emerges from the GAERC
or European Council that keeps at least some of the process
going forward, the government should declare victory and move
on, rather than allow itself to wallow in EU bashing that
would further undermine public opinion here and in Europe.
He also urged action by the government on Criminal Code
Article 301 (relating to freedom of expression),issues
related to the Greek Orthodox Church, and other matters
referred to in the November 8 EC progress report. Such
actions would be extremely useful ammunition for Turkey's
friends in the EU process and undercut at least some of those
working against it.

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