SWEDISH FM BILDT IN TURKEY: EU ACCESSION TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006600 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 TAGS: PREL TU EUN SW SUBJECT: SWEDISH FM BILDT IN TURKEY: EU ACCESSION TALKS Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) 1.(C) Swedish Ambassador told us that during Swedish FM Bildt's December 5 visit to Ankara, Foreign Minister Gul conveyed GOT disappointment that the Finnish Presidency abruptly ended its Cyprus initiative. The Turks had been surprised and seemed to want to return to the Finnish proposal, or "Plan A." Bildt said the Swedes shared their surprise but urged the GOT to move on, as the Finnish proposal was dead. 2.(C) Gul emphasized the Turks' overriding interest in keeping the accession negotiations moving forward. He implied the Turks would continue lobbying to reduce the number of suspended chapters, but the Swede's conclusion was that Turkey can accept the EC's recommendation. Bildt said Sweden will keep working for a milder package, but counseled Gul not to expect a better result from the Council. He said that a Turkish initiative could moderate the result and help the Swedes persuade colleagues to shift the current EU discussion away from technical Cyprus-related issues and toward a larger reflection on the EU's medium and long-term strategy. 3.(C) Both Gul and FM/PM adviser Davutoglu were emphatic with Bildt that they would accept no proposal that would suspend the whole process now or in 12-18 months. If the EU adopted such a measure, "Turkey will suspend its relations with the EU", they stated. Bildt agreed that a suspension or de facto suspension would be dangerous and advised Turkey should not accept it. He encouraged the GOT to make clear its readiness to press ahead, its commitment to do so, and then continue the reform process, given that much remains to be done. 4.(C) PM Erdogan, who mostly listened, acknowledged Bildt's point that the EU must strike a fine balance between showing there are repercussions for the GOT's failure to implement the Ankara Protocol and the problem of its own non-fulfillment of undertakings to end Turkish Cypriot isolation. 5.(C) The Swedish Ambassador subsequently suggested to MFA A/US Apakan that the GOT consider as elements of a possible Turkish initiative the following: -- Reiterate the GOT's commitment to implement fully the Ankara Protocol without delay, provided that isolation of the Turkish Cypriots ends; -- Call for a re-launch of the UN process in 2007; -- In the interim, open a port and/or an airport on a temporary basis; and -- Make a clear public statement of an intent to revise Turkish Penal Code Article 301. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON