TURKEY SHOCKED BY ADL REVERSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002193 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AM IS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY SHOCKED BY ADL REVERSAL Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. The Anti-Defamation League's reversal in describing the events of 1915 as genocide has shocked Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs blasted the ADL statement and rejected ADL National Director Foxman's concern that passage of an Armenian genocide resolution (AGR) could threaten the welfare of Turkey's Jewish community. Leaders of Turkey's Jewish community rejected what they called a "false comparison" with the Holocaust and underscored their support for the GOT position that the issue be discussed openly at an academic level. While most Turkish papers denounce the ADL move, some columnists argue that Turkey is losing support from Jewish groups as a result of growing anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism in Turkey and the GOT's misguided rapprochement with Hamas and Iran. This controversy brings to the surface -- on the eve of Turkey's presidential election and government formation -- one of the most prickly issues the new government will confront. Columnist Mehmet Ali Birand is right: Turkey must either make a major policy shift or face increased international approbation. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. ¶2. (SBU) On August 21 the ADL issued a statement calling the tragedies perpetrated against Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire a genocide, while underscoring the group's continued opposition to passage of an AGR in Congress. The decision by the ADL, a long-time Turkey supporter, to recognize the events of 1915-18 as genocide came as a disappointing surprise. A subsequent editorial by the American Jewish Committee's Executive Director David Harris, in which he calls on Turkey to own up to its painful history, has underscored for many Turks that they are facing a fundamental shift. THE GOT REACTS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The official GOT response to the ADL statement was swift. MFA Spokesman Levent Bilman accused the ADL of trying to re-write history, and termed the ADL decision unfair to the memory of victims of the Holocaust. Turkey-U.S. parliamentary friendship group head Egemen Bagis stated that Turkey cannot remain indifferent to developments and would review relations with the supporters of the genocide claims. ADL National Director Foxman's invoking the welfare of the Jewish community in Turkey as an argument for opposing Congressional Armenian genocide resolution (AGR) struck a particular nerve. Bilman stated bluntly that the Jewish community is part of Turkish society and that they have nothing to be concerned about related to Armenian allegations. ¶4. (C) MFA South Caucasus desk officer Yavuz Kul told us that the ADL statement is discouraging and has reinforced the GOT view that the probability of House AGR passage is high. In addition, he believes any initiative vis-a-vis Armenia that the GOT now pursues will be viewed by the public and by opposition politicians as a concession made under pressure. He underscored, however, the GOT's commitment to move forward with Armenia. TURKISH JEWS REJECT ADL DECISION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Turkey's Jewish community also disavowed the ADL decision and pledged continued support for Turkey's positions and interests. Silvio Ovadio, a community leader, released a statement declaring the community's support for the GOT position that the tragic events of 1915 be discussed at the academic level and that parliaments are not arbiters of history. His press secretary told ConGen Istanbul that they are disturbed by the implication that the Jewish community could be at risk over this issue and stressed the importance of Turkey's Jewish community not becoming entangled in statements by U.S.-based groups. In a letter to Foxman, prominent Turkish Jewish businessman Jak Kahmi (a recipient last week of Turkey's State Meritorious Service Medal) said the ADL "committed a very great injustice to the memory and status of the Holocaust, to the people and government of my country, and to all those who continue to share our common vision and struggle for reconciliation and the avoidance of absolutely unnecessary complications in the relations between our countries." He went on to complain about ADL's insensitivity to the "pride of the Turkish people, who deserve your praise for their centuries-long tradition of compassion and their culture of humanity and cohabitation that remains an example to the world." ISRAELI OFFICIALS CONCERNED -------------- ANKARA 00002193 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) Following the ADL decision, the Israeli Embassy asserted that there was no change in Israel's official position: it takes no sides in the debate between Turks and Armenians. Outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Pinhas Avivi, in his farewell call on FM Gul yesterday, said he was surprised by the sudden ADL decision. The Israeli DCM told us that Israeli President Shimon Peres called PM Erdogan, and Israeli FM Livni called FM Gul, to assure them that there was no change in Israel's position. Following the call, she said Peres contacted Foxman to stress the implications of the statement on Turkish-Israeli bilateral relations. The result was a second statement, urging Turkish-Armenian reconciliation through scholarly examination. THE MEDIA: SOUL SEARCHING -------------- ¶7. (SBU) While the ultranationalist media looked for traitors in their midst, mainstream commentators demonstrated considerable introspection. Mehmet Ali Birand, writing in "Posta," said, "Turkey can no longer prevent genocide resolutions by blackmailing Washington, Israel, France or other countries...Turkey has two options: make a policy change and open diplomatic relations or the border with Armenia, or accept the consequences of continued international isolation." Semih Idiz, in "Milliyet," asked why, with anti-Semitic and anti-U.S. feelings peaking in Turkey, should U.S.-based Jewish organizations support a Turkey which hated them? Other papers criticize Turkish foreign policy, focusing on the impact Turkey's heightened engagement with Iran, Syria and Hamas has had on its relations with Israel and with American Jews. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON