Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA6546
2006-11-30 16:28:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT STABILITY OF SINIORA
how-toVZCZCXRO2895 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHAK #6546 3341628 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 301628Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0133 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0863 RUEHLB/AMEMBASS BEIRUT PRIORITY 0492 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PIORITY 0346 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 035 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1606 REHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0235 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0258 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0624 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0081
S E C R E T ANKARA 006546
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM MOPS LE SY TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT STABILITY OF SINIORA
GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT CONVINCED DAMASCUS NECESSARILY CALLING
THE SHOTS
REF: STATE 193090
Classified By: POL/C Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
S E C R E T ANKARA 006546
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM MOPS LE SY TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT STABILITY OF SINIORA
GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT CONVINCED DAMASCUS NECESSARILY CALLING
THE SHOTS
REF: STATE 193090
Classified By: POL/C Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (S) DCM discussed reftel demarche Nov. 30 with Deputy
Undersecretary Uzumcu, who undertook to raise the issue at
the higher levels of the ministry. We also double-tracked
with MFA Middle East Department Head Sedat Onal. Onal
thanked us for sharing our concerns and noted that Turkey has
also been looking carefully at events in Lebanon,
particularly in light of the presence of Turkish troops in
Lebanon as part of UNIFIL. However, Onal said Turkey has
some doubts about the degree to which Syrian President
al-Assad is orchestrating these destabilizing efforts. He
said as a personal aside that it would be illogical for Syria
to assassinate Minister Gemayel on the same day it was
establishing diplomatic ties with Iraq and posited the theory
that Iran perhaps had as much or more motive in moving
against PM Siniora's government. Onal acknowledged that the
SARG is not a monolithic entity, however, and that it is
possible some elements of Syria's intelligence apparatus are
involved.
2. (S) Onal underscored Turkish concern about Lebanon's
stability, however, and said that PM Erdogan would likely
stress the importance of supporting the Siniora government to
al-Assad during Erdogan's planned visit to Damascus, dates
for which have yet to be finalized. Onal indicated Erdogan
is unlikely to travel to Syria before the new year, but
perhaps in early January. He pointed to Erdogan's public
remarks during the PM's November 24-26 visit to Amman, in
which Erdogan stressed Turkey's view that Hizballah needs to
remain in Siniora's government for the sake of peace and
stability in Lebanon.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM MOPS LE SY TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT STABILITY OF SINIORA
GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT CONVINCED DAMASCUS NECESSARILY CALLING
THE SHOTS
REF: STATE 193090
Classified By: POL/C Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (S) DCM discussed reftel demarche Nov. 30 with Deputy
Undersecretary Uzumcu, who undertook to raise the issue at
the higher levels of the ministry. We also double-tracked
with MFA Middle East Department Head Sedat Onal. Onal
thanked us for sharing our concerns and noted that Turkey has
also been looking carefully at events in Lebanon,
particularly in light of the presence of Turkish troops in
Lebanon as part of UNIFIL. However, Onal said Turkey has
some doubts about the degree to which Syrian President
al-Assad is orchestrating these destabilizing efforts. He
said as a personal aside that it would be illogical for Syria
to assassinate Minister Gemayel on the same day it was
establishing diplomatic ties with Iraq and posited the theory
that Iran perhaps had as much or more motive in moving
against PM Siniora's government. Onal acknowledged that the
SARG is not a monolithic entity, however, and that it is
possible some elements of Syria's intelligence apparatus are
involved.
2. (S) Onal underscored Turkish concern about Lebanon's
stability, however, and said that PM Erdogan would likely
stress the importance of supporting the Siniora government to
al-Assad during Erdogan's planned visit to Damascus, dates
for which have yet to be finalized. Onal indicated Erdogan
is unlikely to travel to Syria before the new year, but
perhaps in early January. He pointed to Erdogan's public
remarks during the PM's November 24-26 visit to Amman, in
which Erdogan stressed Turkey's view that Hizballah needs to
remain in Siniora's government for the sake of peace and
stability in Lebanon.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON