TURKEY: FRENCH FM ATTEMPTS TO MEND FENCES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002511 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017 TAGS: PREL FR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: FRENCH FM ATTEMPTS TO MEND FENCES Classified By: PolCouns Janice G.Weiner, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary and Comment: On October 5, FM Kouchner became the first high-level French official to visit Turkey since the French National Assembly's approval of a bill criminalizing denial of Armenian genocide nearly a year ago. Characterizing the trip as a symbol of France's desire to improve relations, Kouchner did not pursue any particular policy agenda during his meetings with top Turkish officials and simply "agreed to disagree" on contentious issues. While economic ties have proven immune to the genocide backlash in Turkey, bilateral military relations remain frozen. Kouchner's conciliatory visit is only the first step in the long march to normalization of political ties. End Summary and Comment. ¶2. (C) Nearly a year after the French National Assembly approved a bill that would criminalize denial of Armenian genocide, the French and Turkish governments have taken preliminary steps toward normalizing political relations. As the first ministerial visitor since President Sarkozy took office, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan in Ankara on October 5. Gul's Paris visit in September 2006 (then as Foreign Minister) marked the last official high-level engagement between the two nations. Thirteen months later, Kouchner characterized his visit as "a symbol of mutual desire to give a strong impetus to relations." The choice of Kouchner to offer the French olive branch was not lost on the Turkish media, which identified the minister as one of the driving forces behind Sarkozy's recent decision not to block Turkey's EU bid. ¶3. (C) Political Officer Francois-Xavier Reymond of the French Embassy reported Kouchner's meetings focused on process over product. On the more contentious issues, the two sides simply "agreed to disagree" without pursuing resolution. With Erdogan and Gul, Kouchner generally discussed France's position on Turkey's EU membership and improvement of bilateral relations, including the GOF's declaration of 2009 as the "Season of Turkey." Kouchner addressed additional security issues during his session with Babacan. He reiterated Sarkozy's tough stance on Iran's nuclear weapons program, discussed changes to the French judicial system that would assist the courts in prosecuting PKK members and weakening their financial networks, and urged Turkey to engage the Iraqi Kurds. The two foreign ministers also agreed to begin a regular dialogue that would include Babacan visiting Paris in the coming months. Neither side raised Turkey's desire for closer relations with ESDP or other military issues. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON