Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2511
2007-10-11 06:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY: FRENCH FM ATTEMPTS TO MEND FENCES

Tags:  PREL FR TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6421
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #2511 2840619
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 110619Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3975
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
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)

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