TURKEY HOSTS BSEC SUMMIT - USG ATTENDANCE?

UNCLAS ANKARA 001379 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE PARIS FOR USOECD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SENV KCRM TU SUBJECT: TURKEY HOSTS BSEC SUMMIT - USG ATTENDANCE? A) Ankara 804, B) State 40938 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following up on Secretary Rice's March message to FM Gul promising participation by a senior State Department official in the June 25 BSEC Summit in Istanbul (ref B) is an important opportunity to emphasize USG support for BSEC and our bigger objective of encouraging economic and political growth and diversification in the Black Sea region. Turkey is working with us to reinvigorate the organization, including by holding a seminar on environmental pollution in the Black Sea. A visit to Turkey by a senior official would also be an opportunity to support the U.S.-Turkey relationship and shared interests during a testing time in other areas. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The June 25 BSEC Summit in Istanbul will be the flagship activity of Turkey's BSEC Chairmanship that began May 1. In addition to formal meeting sessions, member country heads of state and observer country foreign ministers are invited to a luncheon hosted by PM Erdogan and dinner hosted by President Sezer. ¶3. (SBU) There will also be multiple opportunities for bilateral meetings. The BSEC Secretariat and Turkish MFA have not yet confirmed other participation, but press reports say Russian President Putin, Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis, and Azeri President Aliyev will attend. Ankara-based Embassies confirmed attendance of Ukrainian President Yushchenko, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Yatseniuk, Bulgarian President Purvanov, and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kalfin. We would expect high level participation from Georgia and Armenia, but no confirmations were available. Embassy will provide more specific information on attendance as it becomes available. ¶4. (SBU) Participation by a senior Washington-based official would recognize the United States' new observer status and our interest in contributing to revitalizing BSEC during Turkey's Chairmanship. This would boost this organization aimed at fostering economic linkages and cooperation in this challenging region. By helping Turkey build common ground during its chairmanship, we can help pull BSEC more together and towards the Atlantic community. It would also support the U.S.-proposed BSEC "Environmental Protection for Economic Growth Symposium" that will be held September 12-13 in Istanbul. ¶5. (SBU) Finally, visible U.S. support to BSEC would contribute to our bilateral agenda with Turkey by showing our support for its efforts to foster a more self-reliant region that is oriented to the west and less vulnerable to outside pressure. Wilson