MFA DEPUTY U/S CEVIKOZ ASKS FOR U.S. HELP GETTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001506 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2017 TAGS: PREL NATO OSCE AM TU SUBJECT: MFA DEPUTY U/S CEVIKOZ ASKS FOR U.S. HELP GETTING KOCHARIAN TO BSEC REF: A. ANKARA 1414 ¶B. ANKARA 1131 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 5. ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy Undersecretary for Africa, Asia and Pacific Affairs Unal Cevikoz told Ambassador on June 12 that he is very pleased with the comprehensive program planned for his Washington visit next week. Cevikoz greatly appreciates USG efforts to ensure a productive trip. He agreed that further close cooperation on improving Turkey's relations with Armenia would be useful, but noted several disappointing steps by Armenia that make it harder to advocate within the GOT for initiatives. ¶3. (C) In particular, Cevikoz said Armenian President Kocharian's choice not to attend the June 25 BSEC Summit in Istanbul -- the 15th anniversary of the organization -- is a harsh rebuke. Apart from OSCE and COE, BSEC is the only significant organization that Turkey and Armenia participate in jointly, but Armenia will be the only member country that will not be represented at the Head of State level (reftel A). (The Russian Embassy informed us President Putin plans to attend; MFA confirmed separately that FonMin Oskanian will represent Armenia.) Cevikoz also regretted Armenia's decision to reject Turkish OSCE election observers (reftel B),and last week's decision to refuse Turkish participation in a technical NATO PfP program on border security to be held in Armenia. ¶4. (C) Ambassador noted that Washington officials had raised this with the Armenians and urged the GOAM to take advantage of this opportunity to ease the country's isolation from Turkey. Cevikoz asked that the U.S. do so again and encourage Kocharian to attend the BSEC summit. (MFA Head of Department for South Caucasus Suleyman Gokce has told us separately that Turkey would have no problem receiving Kocharian.) ¶5. (C) Action Request: As noted in reftel A, Post supports efforts to persuade President Kocharian to participate in the BSEC meeting and would appreciate an update from Embassy Yerevan or the Department on whether he may attend. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON