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
--------------

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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