TURKEY'S MESSAGE TO HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000765 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL IS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S MESSAGE TO HAMAS REF: ANKARA 0722 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. According to the MFA, the Hamas delegation in Turkey held two separate meetings on February 16: an official meeting with MFA reps and an unofficial meeting with FM Gul in his capacity as an AK party member. In both meetings, the Turks claimed to deliver a blunt message: recognize Israel, renounce violence, embrace democracy, and accept the prior agreements reached by the Palestinian Authority. Unable to explain the confused machinations in the lead-up to this visit, the MFA insisted that no further contacts would take place unless and until there was evidence that Hamas had accepted these principals. While the Turks, message to Hamas appeared to be right on target, we expressed our strong disappointment over the lack of clarity prior to this visit, noting that it was a setback to our on-going efforts to deepen bilateral dialogue and collaboration. We also noted that the MFA press statement following the meetings had fallen far short of expectations and thus the Turks had lost an important opportunity to reinforce publicly their own message and that of the international community at this sensitive moment. End Summary. ¶2. (C) DCM met on the morning of February 17 with Bozkurt Aran, NEA Assistant Secretary for the Middle East. Aran was flustered and unable to explain much of what had occurred in the lead-up to the Hamas arrival in Turkey. His explanation of the meetings was more straightforward. Aran and Deputy Under Secretary Uzumcu had met with the Hamas delegation in a Ministry guest house. He said they outlined their four primary messages -- recognize Israel, renounce violence, embrace democracy, and accept the PA agreements -- and stressed that acceptance of these points was the only way that Hamas would be able to achieve political legitimacy or recognition. ¶3. (C) Gul,s meeting with Hamas took place at the AK party headquarters, a location intended to reinforce the assertion that Gul was meeting in his private capacity as a political rather than a government representative. Aran claimed that no one from the MFA was present in this meeting. He read from a transcript and provided the following description of Gul,s presentation: -- Hamas should not let itself be used by Iran and Syria. Gul specifically requested Hamas not visit Iran after Turkey, emphasizing the risk that Turkey had taken by permitting Hamas to visit. -- Hamas should take care not to lose the support of the Europeans and must bear in mind that the U.S. and Europe are the key venues where Hamas must direct its efforts. Hamas must not let itself be provoked by Iran and Syria and brought to a "dead end." -- Turkey follows Hamas rhetoric closely. Hamas may have said some positive things "between the lines" but this has not been effective. Hamas must make a positive message and be clear about it. -- Gul urged Hamas to declare that Palestine will live side-by-side with Israel as two independent states and "shock the world" by recognizing Israel's right to exist. -- Hamas must give up violence, announce an extended cease-fire and declare itself against further "tears and bloodshed." By saying this clearly, Hamas can gain the support of the "fifty percent of Israelis" who say they would be willing to deal with them. -- Hamas must show the international community that it is a genuine interlocutor and this starts with positive statements. "Positive rhetoric is more effective than guns." -- Hamas should put its house in order, work closely with Fatah, and accept political realities. Hamas came up from the Palestinian people and should now act accordingly. "Otherwise you will be crushed." -- Hamas must make a good first impression. It will not get another chance. ¶4. (C) Comment. The MFA,s hapless confusion is a clear sign that this initiative was driven by Gul himself along with Erdogan,s Diplomatic Advisor Ahmet Davutoglu. Aran said that Hamas offered no substantive reply to any of the Turkish interventions though he stressed that the public statement by Khalid Mishal following the meetings had been temperate and thus encouraging. Our expressions of dismay about the lack of clarity and consultation -- delivered both to the MFA and to the Prime Ministry -- have been met with Turkish statements about the necessity of bringing Hamas to a responsible stance and keeping it out of the embrace of Tehran and Damascus. While the Turks aggressively backgrounded the media to outline the blunt message they delivered to Hamas, their reluctance to articulate this clearly in their formal statement is deeply unfortunate -- and opens the door for whatever spin Mishal and others decide to take in the coming days. WILSON