TURKEY HOLDS FIRM AGAINST CYPRUS IN THE GLOBAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001005

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ACTING U/S ROOD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER KNNP KGIC PARM TU CY
SUBJECT: TURKEY HOLDS FIRM AGAINST CYPRUS IN THE GLOBAL
INITIATIVE

REF: A. STATE 50656

B. ANKARA 954

C. ROOD-WILSON TELCON

D. WALDEN-SIEBENTRITT/RICH E-MAIL

E. ANKARA 860

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


1. (C) Summary: MFA Deputy U/S Rafet Akgunay told the
Ambassador on April 27 that Turkey is re-evaluating its
participation in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism (GI) now that Cyprus is joining. While the issue
is still under discussion at the highest levels of the MFA,
Akgunay said it was clear Turkey will not be able to
participate in the GI at the level expected by the U.S.
Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. has consulted with the
Russian co-chairs and that misuse of the forum by the GOC
will not be permitted or tolerated. Akgunay called for
"creative thinking" and suggested that U.S. support to
Turkey's efforts to play a greater role in European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP) (ref e) might help Turkey work
through its objections to Cyprus' GI membership. MFA DDG
Ahmet Gun told us separately that Turkey may decide not to
send a delegate to the June GI meeting in Astana and to
cancel the 2008 intelligence sharing meeting it has proposed
for the GI workplan. End Summary.


2. (C) Akgunay reiterated Turkey's position against Cyprus'
joining the GI in strong terms, highlighting language in the
February 12 Co-Chairs' Statement in Ankara against "importing
political problems into the process." Turkey, he said, had
been very clear in its concerns about Cyprus even before the
first meeting of the GI in Morocco in October 2006, and had
discussed the issue with both co-chairs in Ankara in
February, he claimed.


3. (C) The MFA is not ready to see Cyprus on the list of GI
member states and will therefore reconsider Turkey's full
participation in the Initiative. While the issue is still
under discussion at the highest levels of the MFA, the GOT is
taking it very seriously, Akgunay said. It is clear that
Turkey will not be able to participate in the GI at the level
expected by the U.S. in the future.


4. (C) Drawing from points provided ref d, Ambassador told
Akgunay that the U.S. understood the political sensitivities
of this decision, but stressed the value to the GI of
Turkey's leadership, particularly its successful hosting of
the second meeting in Ankara, and the importance to the GI of
Turkey's strategic location. The issue of nuclear terrorism
is serious and U.S. wishes to see the maximum number of
participants in the GI. Ambassador pointed to Turkey and
Cyprus participation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group,
Australia Group, and a number of other major international
non-proliferation conventions. He reconfirmed that Cyprus
had presented its commitment to the GI Statement of
Principles to the U.S. and expressed the U.S. desire for
Turkey's continued full participation.


5. (C) Ambassador emphasized the U.S. view that the GI not be
abused for political purposes by the GOC or any other
country. He informed Akgunay that the U.S. has consulted
with the Russian co-chairs and that misuse of the forum will
not be permitted or tolerated.


6. (C) Akgunay discounted the assurance, noting that he had
begun his career exactly 30 years earlier as a Cyprus Desk
Officer and that similar assurances had not been upheld over
the years. He said that some "creative thinking" might help
the situation, and hinted that U.S. support to Turkey's
efforts to be included in ESDP decisionmaking could be
helpful in encouraging some GOT flexibility on GI.


7. (C) MFA Arms Control DDG Ahmet Muhtar Gun told us
separately that he was "deeply disappointed" at Cyprus'
joining the GI and warned of serious consequences. While
confirming that the MFA is still evaluating its future
participation in the GI, he warned that Turkey may decide not
to participate in the June GI meeting in Astana and may
cancel the intelligence sharing event the GOT had offered to
host in 2008 as part of the GI workplan. At the same time,
Gun reiterated Turkey's commitment to fulfill its
international responsibilities to combat terrorism and
nuclear non-proliferation


8. (C) Comment: Turkey considers itself a founding member of
the GI and feels almost betrayed by the decision to invite
Cyprus to join the Initiative, or at the very least, without
what it feels was adequate consultation. Turkish struggles

with Cyprus in other fora, including the EU, are clearly a
factor. We should accept Akgunay's invitation to think
creativity about ways to encourage Turkey to maintain its
momentum.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
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WILSON