PERES ENCOURAGES MODERATION, COMPROMISE WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002769 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KMDR TU IS SUBJECT: PERES ENCOURAGES MODERATION, COMPROMISE WITH TURKISH STUDENTS REF: ANKARA 2734 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Israeli President Shimon Peres addressed a group of Bilkent University students and faculty on November 11, his first public event during a three-day visit to Ankara. He encouraged the students to embrace a future defined by moderation and risk-taking. Throughout his talk, Peres emphasized the importance of economic development in reaching a sustainable peace, indirectly complimenting the Turkey's industrial revitalization efforts in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Students asked thoughtful questions regarding the region, Peres' life, and his views on the next round of the Middle East peace process. In his answers, Peres repeatedly warned against Iran's growing influence. Of Annapolis, he said a success need not be perfect, but a failure would be absolute. Students took to heart his message of peace and conciliation, but generally rejected his commentary on Israel's role in the region and USG policy. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) In an address to Ankara's Bilkent University students and faculty on November 11, Israeli President Shimon Peres encouraged moderation and compromise. The future, Peres contended, will be led not by governments, but by civil society groups and NGOs who will lead using harmony and goodwill, not armies and force. Unlike many of today's politicians, future leaders must be willing to take risks. In a theme to which he returned many times throughout his discussion, Peres emphasized the crucial role economic development plays in reaching a sustainable peace. The state of the economy, he noted, dictates political goals. ¶3. (SBU) During the question and answer session, Peres repeatedly warned against Iran's increasing influence in the region. Many Middle Eastern countries subscribe to the "Turkish model" of understanding, compromise, and rule of law. However, Iran, in its attempt to become a hegemon, is "taking the Muslim world by force." Noting that one should not hate people or a nation, Peres argued the main problem is Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who has "put the nuclear bomb at the same rank as Mohammad." ¶4. (SBU) On the Middle East peace process, Peres underscored the difficulty of striking a balance between fair compromise and the demands of his domestic constituency. Nevertheless, a successful agreement would involve a two-state system in which both countries would live together as neighbors. Peres cautioned that if Annapolis is a success, it will not be a "perfect success." If it is a failure, however, it will be an "absolute failure." For the last question of the night, a student asked Peres to what extent the "Jewish lobby" manipulates USG Middle East policy. Peres instructed him to "show a little respect" for the United States. While the U.S. has made mistakes, the world would be in a far worse place without its efforts. After explaining Israel's geo-strategic realities, Peres asked the student not to make the issue "so cheap and easy" by implying conspiratorial intentions. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The students with whom we spoke after Peres' address expressed great appreciation for his words on peace and conciliation. His political message, however, missed its mark. One undergraduate openly disagreed with his assessment, placing the blame for Middle East tensions on Israel, and to a lesser degree on the U.S. All to whom we spoke to afterward believed that a "Jewish lobby" heavily influences, if not dictates, USG Middle East policy. One student noted that a sizable minority of Turks openly dislike Israel, although most Bilkent students (private, relatively exclusive institution) did not share that view. Several others questioned Peres' assessment of the Iranian threat, dismissing his opinion as an attempt to drag the international community into Israel's fight. When pressed, however, these students could not articulate how Iran did not present an equal threat to Turkey. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ ANKARA 00002769 002 OF 002 WILSON