TURKEY: ADANA GOVERNOR REVEALS HIS SUSPICIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002905 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: ADANA GOVERNOR REVEALS HIS SUSPICIONS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY DEFINITION AT NGO OPENING CEREMONY Classified By: Adana Principal Officer Eric Green for reasons 1.4(b),(d ) ¶1. (U) This is a Consulate Adana cable. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: At an opening ceremony of the Adana chapter of the EU-supported Civil Society Development Center (STGM),Adana Governor Ilhan Atis verbally attacked the coordinator, questioned European motives (and competence), and insisted civil society's role was to follow and support state policy. Appalled audience members privately characterized the governor's remarks as indicative of the kind of bureaucratic thinking that hinders the growth of this critical segment of a democratic system. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) In remarks delivered at Adana STGM's November 27 opening, an acerbic Governor Ilhan Atis criticized STGM Coordinator Sunay Demircan for suggesting civil society is necessary to fill social, political, and economic gaps where government falls short. Governor Atis claimed the definition is rather a societal effort to supplement ongoing government work and move in harmony with it. Governor Atis said civil society should be supported only if its work upholds the principles of the Turkish constitution and runs in accordance with state goals. ¶4. (SBU) Governor Atis emphasized the Turkish state always comes first in implementing social and economic projects, and this is the way it has always been through history. He claimed civil society has long existed in Turkey, pointing to the substantial personal assistance local citizens gave Mustapha Kemal Ataturk in the country's war for independence. He belittled the European Commission's role in buttressing civil society growth, citing the chaos of WWI and WWII as examples of European incompetence which left its citizens no choice but to fend for themselves -- hence, the birth of civil society. ¶5. (SBU) Governor Atis even rebuked Demircan's speaking style, insinuating Demircan may be untrustworthy because he didn't make sufficient eye contact with audience members. Several attendees approached Demircan after the reception to personally apologize for the governor's inappropriate behavior, which they said exposed more than just dissatisfaction with oration techniques. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The governor's remarks typify the thinking of many Turkish government officials, whose &state first, top-down" mantra views NGOs as potentially subversive competition for the state. Governor Atis' chest-thumping, nationalist message also showed profound suspicion toward European involvement in state-dominated areas such as economic and social development. Such attitudes will continue to challenge the further development of Turkey's civil society, which already faces an uphill battle for resources and capacity. END COMMENT. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON