CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUP ON TURKEY, CODEL NELSON

UNCLAS ANKARA 001372 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS TU US IZ SY AM LE SUBJECT: CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUP ON TURKEY, CODEL NELSON WITH PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN: IRAQI STABILITY PARAMOUNT ¶1. (SBU) Summary. PM Erdogan and FM Gul met May 28 with Codel Nelson and the Congressional Study Group on Turkey. An unusually upbeat Erdogan focused on the solid footing of the US-Turkish strategic relationship and Turkey's efforts to contribute to regional peace and stability, including in Afghanistan and Lebanon. A unified, stable Iraq was essential; it would be disastrous for the region if coalition forces left without setting a specific timetable. Turkey also remained between a rock and hard place on the PKK as civilians and soldiers continued to die. End summary. ¶2. (U) In an hour long joint meeting May 28, PM Erdogan told Codel Nelson and the Congressional Study Group on Turkey that US-Turkish relations are in good shape. Occasional bumps in the road can be worked through. Parliamentary and Congressional visits are a key element of the relationship. Based on common values, they enrich our dialogue and provide a sound footing to deal with military, political and economic challenges. ¶3. (U) Erdogan commended Senator Lott for having nominated a Turkish-American from Mississippi to serve on the US Southern District Court - an important first. He pointed to the large numbers of Turkish students studying in the US as another driver in relations. The PM also thanked the Congressional Study Group on Turkey for meeting the day before with the "TRNC Ambassador" to Turkey, noting the group's travel two years ago to northern Cyprus as having created an opening that others could follow and fostering an atmosphere more conducive to moving toward a final settlement. ¶4. (SBU) With respect to our common war on terrorism, the PM referred to the terrorist PKK's ability to shelter in northern Iraq, which he described as a source of serious discomfort to the Turks. The May 22 suicide bombing in a crowded marketplace in the heart of Ankara could have, he stressed, had considerably graver consequences. In addition, Turkey continues to lose many soldiers to mines and IEDs. While FM Gul and Secretary Rice talked frequently and contact with the Ambassador was good as well, Turkey would like to achieve results as soon as possible. ¶5. (SBU) As this drags on, the Turkish people are slowly losing confidence in America. If there is a rise in anti-Americanism, this is its source. Citing a Turkish proverb, he said, "Friends tell friends the bitter truth." ¶6. (U) With respect to Iraq, there was room for increased US-Turkish cooperation. For Turkey, Iraqi territorial integrity and political unity are key. Should coalition forces pull out precipitously, it would be a disaster for the entire region. A timeline for withdrawal might, however, give Iraqis the sense that they need to take charge. Unfortunately, substantial ethnic violence continues. The GOT regularly tells all Iraqis that violence is not the way out, the PM emphasized, reviewing Turkey's efforts to convince Sunni leaders to participate in the Iraqi elections. Failure in Iraq is not an option; the USG must attain its goals, and it must start to achieve success soon. Otherwise, as losses increases, so will hopelessness and despair. ¶7. (U) Regarding Kirkuk's final status, Erdogan stated that Kirkuk belongs to all Iraqis, not to a specific ethnic component. It represents a microcosm of what is happening in the rest of Iraq. Were it to go to one ethnic group, it would be like a bomb, ready to explode. ¶8. (U) In Afghanistan, Erdogan focused on Turkish contributions: the Turks have twice commanded ISAF and recently assumed control over Kabul central regional command. They also run a PRT in Wardak province. He cited serious contributions to rebuilding efforts, including hospitals that have already cared for over 650,000 patients and schools for 45,000, mostly dedicated to girls' education. Recently, President Karzai had asked the GOT to open two more girls' schools in Kandahar, which the GOT would do. ¶9. (U) Elsewhere in the region, Lebanon's stability was essential. The GOT had already sent to parliament the extension of Turkey's participation in UNIFIL, in order to prevent any gap in Turkey's commitment there. (NB: Parliament on May 29 approved a one-year extension until August 31, 2008, but it was a bruising fight, with the secular CHP opposition accusing the GOT of aligning itself with Israel.) Turkey, working with the US, could also contribute to solving the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. ¶10. (U) On Syria, the PM referred to his recent travel with the Turkish Fenerbahce soccer team to open a new stadium in Aleppo, which occurred at the same time as Speaker Pelosi and Representative Lantos were in Damascus to see President Asad. This was, he said, a useful opening. ¶11. (U) On the possibility of a congressional Armenian genocide resolution (AGR),the PM said that he viewed this as the realm of historians, archaeologists and legal experts. It was the job of governments and parliaments to move forward and provide the basis for prosperity. The PM added that he had proposed a way forward on historical issues to Armenian President Kocharian but had received no response. It appeared to him that Armenia had economic reasons for wanting to engage, judging by the 40,000 plus Armenians living and working illegally in Turkey, and to whom Turkish authorities were turning a blind eye. ¶12. (U) The PM was grateful as well for continued US support for Turkey's EU aspirations, a process the Arab world followed closely. Turkey's relations with Israel, combined with those with the US, provided a solid contribution to peace in the region. Turkey and the US were also engaged in a joint fight against trafficking in persons, narcotics and arms, all key for the region. Efforts to improve peace and security in the region included economic security in the form of gas and oil. Here, Turkey was working to help develop a new project to bring energy from the Caucasus and Central Asia to western markets. On Kosovo, the PM regretted that movement had been delayed and hoped it would move forward soon. ¶13. (U) Senator Nelson, speaking on behalf of his Codel, thanked the PM for Turkey's leadership on regional security issues, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. He agreed that the issue of Kirkuk could not be neglected, and recognized the challenges Turkey faces with the PKK. The Senator noted that when he visited Iraq three weeks ago, he told PM Maliki that the American commitment was not open-ended. He previewed for Maliki the timeline, with benchmarks, later passed in the House, on which a continuing American presence would be based, and made it clear the GOI must seek peace with Shi'a and Sunni politicians rather than resolve its issues by military means. Nelson agreed that a divided Iraq was in no one's interest except perhaps that of the terrorists. He expressed condolences for the Ankara bombing and Turkey's recent loss of soldiers in Sirnak province. As a Senator, one of his more difficult duties was to call families in Nebraska who had lost soldiers in Iraq; that number now stood at 50. ¶14. (U) Congressman Whitfield, on behalf of the Congressional Study Group on Turkey, acknowledged the host of difficult issues the PM and FM face daily. Among those issues, he listed their fight against the PKK, combined with the fact that the USG has asked them not to enter Iraq; the EU's decision to admit Cyprus despite the "no" vote on the Annan plan and the EU's concurrent request that Turkey open its ports to Greek Cypriot shipping; and the potential impact of an AGR. He thanked the PM for sending delegations of Turkish MPs to Washington to help explain Turkish thinking and sensitivities on the issues and judged their effort as helpful. ¶15. (U) Codel Nelson and the Congressional Study Group on Turkey have cleared this message. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON