DEMARCHE TO TURKISH GOVERNMENT ON HAMAS

S E C R E T ANKARA 002751 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KTFN TU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO TURKISH GOVERNMENT ON HAMAS FUNDRAISING IN TURKEY REF: A. SECSTATE 153489 ¶B. ANKARA 2736 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) Ambassador used the opportunity of a meeting late November 8 with Turkish FM Babacan on other subjects to urge steps by the Turkish authorities to stop the planned "International Jerusalem Meeting" planned for Istanbul and prevent HAMAS-related fundraising that may be planned there. Drawing on the talking points in ref a, Ambassador also stressed that PA President Abbas has expressed deep concern about this conference. It undermines what his government is trying to do, runs contrary to its work with Israel ahead of the Annapolis Middle East peace conference, and may prove embarrassing to the Palestinian leader and to Turkey itself in light of Abu Mazen's planned visit to Ankara. Ambassador also noted the personal interest of Secretary Rice in this matter following her visit to the region after last weekend's Iraq Neighbors ministerial. ¶2. (S) Babacan expressed uncertainty about the government's ability effectively to prevent this meeting from taking place, but took careful note of US views. Ambassador observed that the authorities had successfully put off a planned meeting of violent anti-Iraq Sunni groups from around the Arab world last year, suggesting a model that could be utilized in this case. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON