TURKISH MFA COMMENTS ON LARIJANI-SOLANA MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001004

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM TU IR
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA COMMENTS ON LARIJANI-SOLANA MEETING


Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: MFA Deputy U/S Rafet Akgunay told Ambassador
on April 27 that EU Foreign Policy Chief Solana told the
Turks that the gap between the EU and Iranian positions was
very wide. Iranian Supreme National Security Council
Secretary Larijani complained to FM Gul that the EU was not

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being flexible. Turkey had not given Larijani any particular
message on this occasion, Akgunay said. Larijani's bilateral
meeting with NSC Director Alpogan was canceled because the EU
meeting lasted longer than expected. End summary


2. (C) Akgunay explained that since Turkey had not
participated in the April 25-26 Ankara talks on Iran's
nuclear program, he could only offer comments that Gul and
others had gleaned on the margins. The suggestion that
Turkey be the venue for the meeting had come from Iranian FM
Mottaki, he said. After the delegations met on the evening
of April 25 for about three hours, Solana and Larijani
continued tete-a-tete. Gul hosted a breakfast for the
delegations, and the meeting continued until early afternoon
on April 26. Prior to the meeting PM Erodogan hosted a
bilateral lunch for Larijani.


3. (C) Solana told Gul that the gap in EU and Iranian
positions was very wide, according to Akgunay. The Iranians
had not been helpful on the enrichment suspension issue, but
Solana hoped talks would continue.


4. (C) Larijani complained to Gul that the EU had not been
flexible, Akgunay said. Larijani commented that the
Europeans and even Russia were applying more pressure than
the U.S., a remark Akgunay ascribed to Iran's "old tactic" of
playing off adversaries against each other. Larijani's
deputy reportedly told Turkish officials that the difference
in positions was wide, but that Larijani was prepared to
continue discussions. At the same time, Akgunay said
Mohammed Sayeed of the Iranian Atomic Energy Board told
Deputy Undersecretary Sinirlioglu that he thought the talks
might result in some progress, and that Iran was ready to
meet with the United States. Akgunay commented that Turkey
understood there were divergent opinions among Iranian
officials.


5. (C) Akgunay said that Gul had not given any particular
message to Larijani on this occasion, although Turkey has in
the past and continues to urge Iranian consideration for the
P5 proposal. He said that Turkey is ready and willing to
host a follow-on meeting, but that he understood the next
meeting will be at another location. There was no mention by
the Iranians of a rumor of a softening U.S. position on the
condition of complete suspension of enrichment, but Akgunay
noted the MFA had heard of rumors in Tehran that some kind of
deal was in the offing.


6. (C) Akgunay declined to comment on the lunch Erdogan
hosted for Larijani, other than to say unrelated bilateral
issues had been discussed including the unsolved
disappearance of former Iranian Deputy Defense Minister
Alireza Askari, last seen in Istanbul on February 7. Akgunay
told Ambassador that the Gul breakfast was non-substantive.
The bilateral meeting planned for Larijani with NSC Director
Alpogan was canceled because the EU meeting had lasted longer
than expected and Larijani had to return to Tehran.

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WILSON