PM ERDOGAN ADDRESS TO WESTERN THRACE TURKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001711

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL TU GR
SUBJECT: PM ERDOGAN ADDRESS TO WESTERN THRACE TURKS
INCLUDES MESSAGE FOR EU


Classified By: Consul General Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary: PM Erdogan, speaking to Western Thrace
Turk minority members at a conference in Istanbul, urged EU
member Greece to respect the rights of his "brothers and
sisters" in Western Thrace. He stated publicly that efforts
by the Government of Greece (GOG) to resolve problems facing
the community would be reciprocated by the Government of
Turkey (GOT). End summary.


2. (SBU) The Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association
held its 5th International Assembly on 16-17 September,
bringing together nearly 2000 community members and
sympathizers from around the world. A series of opening
speeches, including one by PM Erdogan, drew attention to
the challenges facing the Turkish minority community of
Western Thrace and that community's associated disputes
with the GOG. Speakers reiterated traditional claims that
the Turks of Western Thrace are denied minority rights
granted to them by the 1923 Lausanne Treaty and, more
recently, by the European Union Acquis. Their specific
grievances with the GOG include: denial of ethnic
identity as well as restrictions on freedom of travel,
expression, and ability to elect leaders of community
foundations, among others. (Note: the GOG does not
recognize the 150,000 ethnic Turks in Western Thrace as a
specific minority but rather includes them among a general
"Muslim minority" comprised of various ethnic groups
throughout the country. End note.)

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A Taste of Election Season Rhetoric
--------------


3. (SBU) Haluk Koc, Deputy chairman of the opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentary group, quoted
party leader Deniz Baykal as saying, "Someone who hasn't
visited Western Thrace can't become Prime Minister." He
added that the problems facing the Turks of Western Thrace
have become secondary to domestic problems in Turkey and
that it is important to tell Turks (in Turkey) what it means
to be a Turk in Western Thrace. Koc stated he wants to use
his freedom of speech to speak out against GOG treatment of
Western Thrace Turks and has already done so in Greek papers.

He also described the poor state of a Turkish school he
visited during a trip to Western Thrace to stress that no
GOT official has visited the region since Baykal's trip in
the 1990's.


4. (SBU) PM Erdogan gave a passionate defense of his
Government's support for the Western Thrace Turk minority
community. He described it as a long fight and recognized
that "where we are now is not an ideal position but it is
better
than in the past and tomorrow will be better than today." He
advocated approaching a solution through dialogue and spoke
out
against radicals, arguing, "We don't want extremists to take
the
lead." In that spirit, Erdogan claimed that he discusses
the plight of the community with the GOG at every
opportunity,
adding that Turkey had an historical responsibility for the
Turks
of Western Thrace and that the dialogue will bear fruit. In
addition to his advocacy for minority rights in Western
Thrace,
Erdogan stated that Turkey seeks to improve the lives of
Western
Thrace Turks through economic development and that the
Turkey-Greece natural gas pipeline running through Komotini
(in Western Thrace) is one such initiative that will improve
conditions for the community.

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What Have You Done for My Ethnic Minority Lately?
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) While acknowledging a new phase of Greek-Turkish
friendship, PM Erdogan stated that he has good relations
with Greek PM Karamanlis but that he has the political
advantage, since he has visited him twice in Athens while
Karamanlis has yet to come to Ankara. Erdogan also
drew comparisons between Greek minority rights in Turkey
and Turkish minority rights in Western Thrace. He called

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upon the GOG to recognize the election of the Turkish
minority
community muftis, asking, "Do we elect your Patriarch in
Istanbul?" He added that Turkey allows the Greek minority
to restore churches but the GOG does not allow the same for
mosques in Greece. "These problems need to be solved," he
stated emphatically. "When they are, Turkey will give an
appropriate, reciprocal response."


6. (SBU) Indicating he is aware that he has his own
minority communities to deal with, PM Erdogan urged Western
Thrace Turks to be good Greek citizens and to speak Greek
fluently. At the same time, he pointed out they should
never forget that in addition to being Greek citizens they
are also EU citizens and should enjoy and exploit all of
the privileges which come with that status. "Greece," he
stressed, "is obligated to act properly as a member of the
EU."

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Litmus Test on the Horizon
--------------


7. (SBU) All speakers praised the name of Mehmet Emin Aga,
the elected Mufti (local religious leader) of Iskece in
Western Thrace who passed away on 10 September. An
election is scheduled for 15 October in order to select a
new Mufti. Both Koc and PM Erdogan called upon the GOG to
recognize the results of this election by appointing the
emerging victor. (Note: The GOG, arguing that Muftis have
both religious and civic responsibilities, requires that
Muftis be appointed by the Government. The Turkish
minority community disputes this procedure and elects
separate Muftis, which, since 1985, have not been
recognized by the GOG. End note.) PM Erdogan urged all
eligible community members to vote, reminding them that
"one ballot equals one election--don't take it for
granted."


8. (C) Comment: PM Erdogan's public declaration of GOT
intent to reciprocate GOG initiated reform of restrictions
on the Turkish minority in Western Thrace reiterates in
public what we have been told privately. We have repeatedly
urged the Turks to take a bold step, whether opening Halki
seminary, restoring properties or easing restrictions on who
can be elected (and who can elect) the Patriarch. In this
speech, the PM openly offered to reciprocate on an issue that
for the GOT has long been neuralgic. It is a significant
message; we and Embassy Ankara will follow up. The timing is
likely not coincidental, with the European Union due to
release its 2006 progress report on Turkey in early November,
and with Turkish ports and airports still closed to the Greek
Cypriots. PM Erdogan, by stressing the link between Greek
and EU citizenship, was nudging the EU to get its own house
in
order, while indicating that Turkey, too, may be prepared to
take steps. End comment.
JONES