Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1960
2007-07-31 13:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL GROVE'S MEETINGS WITH TURKISH MFA

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER OREP AJ AM IZ IR RS TU 
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FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3217
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001960 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER OREP AJ AM IZ IR RS TU
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL GROVE'S MEETINGS WITH TURKISH MFA
OFFICIALS

Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 b, d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001960

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER OREP AJ AM IZ IR RS TU
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL GROVE'S MEETINGS WITH TURKISH MFA
OFFICIALS

Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 b, d


1. (C) SUMMARY. A Senate Appropriations Committee staffdel
led by Paul Grove discussed Russia, Iraq and Iran with
Turkish MFA officials on July 26. Emphasizing the importance
of Turkey's strategic partnership with the United States, the
Turks stressed the damage to bilateral relations if the House
passes an Armenian "genocide" resolution (AGR),or if the
U.S. does not adequately address PKK terrorism originating
from northern Iraq. On Armenia, officials repeated that
Turkey is prepared to "be visionary" and to go beyond merely
preventing AGR passage. Some gesture of reciprocity on the
part of Armenia, however, is needed in order to sell this
approach to the Turkish public. END SUMMARY.

TURKEY READY TO BE "VISIONARY" ON ARMENIA
--------------


2. (C) Noting the value of Congressional visits and the
importance of the U.S.-Turkish partnership, MFA officials
stressed to Staffdel Grove that House passage of an AGR would
damage U.S.-Turkey relations. Grove replied that educating
Congress on the issue is key. Director General for Americas
Vefahan Ocak told the Staffdel Turkey's next step would be
"visionary". He added that Turkey would induce Azerbaijan to
also "be progressive."


3. (C) DG for Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia Resit Uman
told Staffdel Grove that passage of the AGR would be
unhelpful to furthering dialogue with Armenia. "Let me
underline our pre-disposition to normalizing our relations
with Armenia," he said. What Turkey needs are certain
gestures from Armenia in response to Turkey's openings. He
emphasized that the GOT may be in a better position to take
more substantial initiatives following its strong showing in
the July 22 general elections. Uman added that, while the
Armenian diaspora's hostility to Turkey is understandable,
the Armenian government's active encouragement of resolutions

and decisions against Turkey in foreign parliaments is
incompatible with Armenia's declared desire to normalize
relations. Turkey's relations with Armenia are not linked to
the Ngorno-Karabakh issue, Uman claimed, but Turks recognize
that progress on bilateral relations would reverberate
positively on N-K. Turkey is encouraging Azerbaijan to be
more forthcoming in its negotiations with Armenia and less
combative in its rhetoric.

A MODUS VIVENDI WITH RUSSIA, A QUIET APPROACH IN THE REGION
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Uman said Turkey, like the United States, seeks a
modus vivendi with Russia. Turkey's good relations with
Russia advance its bilateral relations with other countries
in the region and allow Turkey to help resolve crises between
Russia and other CIS countries, such as Georgia. Russian
cooperation is essential to countering the spread of WMDs and
combating international terrorism and human and drug
trafficking, and Russia is Turkey's second largest trade
partner, behind Germany, he commented. Uman listed twelve
different bilateral dialogues taking place between the two
foreign ministries, adding that the political dialogue is
also developing.


5. (C) Uman opined that Russia's deepening nationalism is
influencing its foreign policy, explaining some of the
escalating rhetoric from Moscow. Today's Russia, he said, is
nearly eighty percent Slavic -- a figure higher than at any
time since the early Tsarist period. Russia wants to be
treated like an equal partner and to defend its last bastions
of influence. Despite Putin's popularity and near absolute
power, Uman said that Turkey sees "almost zero probability"
that he will extend his term of office. Putin does not wish
to be likened to the other autocrats of the region.


6. (C) Uman agreed with Grove that Russia sees the U.S. as
over-extended and is seeking, in particular, to benefit from
the anti-U.S. mood in the Middle East. He noted Putin's
first trip to Saudi Arabia, and Russia's recent gain of
Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) observer status.
More importantly, Russia exploits its energy and military
links to create dependency and takes advantage of the
priority that the U.S. and the West place on democratization.
Russia is not hindered by the democratic deficiencies of the
governments with which it deals, he said. At the same time,
democratic revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia have convinced

ANKARA 00001960 002 OF 002


regional autocrats that close U.S. relations put their rule
at risk. Turkey agrees that democratic change is at the core
of stability and progress, but change needs to be advanced
carefully, without alienating leaders. Responding to a
question from Grove about the utility of, for example, $75
million to support democracy in Iran, Uman said it is not
Turkey's practice to pursue such initiatives.

TURKISH PRIORITIES IN THE REGION...
--------------


7. (C) The staffdel said they were assessing regional
conditions to help the Senate align U.S. priorities with
budgetary expenditures. One priority is the refugee and
internally displaced persons crisis in the region, for which
Grove acknowledged the U.S. bears some responsibility. Ocak
listed as long-term Turkish priorities: better harnessing of
Caspian energy resources, a more modern Muslim world,
improved EU understanding of Turkey's compatibility, peace in
the Balkans, expanded Middle East trade, and expanded
U.S.-Turkish trade relations.

...IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
--------------


8. (C) On Afghanistan, Ocak admitted that the situation
warranted more PRTs but said that Turkey has done more than
many other nations and that he believes it has reached its
full capacity to contribute. On Iraq, Ocak said he
understood the numerous challenges facing the U.S. At the
same time, Turkey was facing problems as well. He said
Barzani needed to "shut up, behave, and show some manners,"
and he cautioned that the KRG needs to keep in mind that they
will have to live with Turkey.


9. (C) Iraq Special Representative Officer Aydin Selcen
emphasized the influence Barzani has on Turkish public
opinion, but added that Kurdish aspirations are also a threat
to non-Kurdish Sunni, Shia and Turkmen communities in Iraq.
Holding a referendum on Kirkuk this year without the
necessary preparations violates the Iraqi constitution and
risks the emergence of more ethnic strife. Delaying by two
to three years will allow Kirkuk residents to find their own
solutions.

...AND IN IRAN
--------------


10. (C) Head of Department for Middle East Affairs Sedat
Onal, who served in Tehran, said that it is not clear Iran
really prefers a unified Iraq. Iran has been cultivating its
relations with the current Iraqi Shia leadership for years
and has influence; a divided Iraq still presents Iran with a
sympathetic neighbor and prevents the emergence of an Iraq
that could, one day, counter-balance it. In addition, Selcen
noted that Iran has supported Sunni insurgent groups while,
at the same time, Shia insurgent groups in Iraq compete with
each other, using Iran to advance their own narrow
objectives.


11. (U) Staffdel Grove did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

MCELDOWNEY