TURKEY: JORDANIAN KING DISCUSSES MEPP, SYRIA WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003000 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: PREL TU IS JO SY SUBJECT: TURKEY: JORDANIAN KING DISCUSSES MEPP, SYRIA WITH TOP GOT OFFICIALS REF: ANKARA 2640 Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Jordanian King Abdullah's discussions with President Gul and PM Erdogan during his December 10 visit focused primarily on regional security issues, according to MFA Levant desk officer Cem Ulusoy. All three leaders expressed support for the latest round of the Middle East peace process (MEPP) in Annapolis. During a joint press conference with Gul, the King underscored the importance of establishing a Palestinian state by the end of 2008. As widely reported by the Turkish press, Gul criticized recent GOI actions in the Palestinian territories and encouraged the Israelis not to take any further steps that could derail the peace process. ¶2. (C) King Abdullah's views mirrored those of Erdogan and Gul on all issues except Syria, Ulusoy reported. Both Turkish leaders encouraged Jordan to increase its engagement with the SARG in an effort to reduce Iranian influence. While the King publicly stated that he views Syrian-Israeli rapprochement as positive, in private, he warned the GOT that the pursuit of such reconciliation should "not overshadow the Palestinian track." He also insisted the SARG must stop its support of terrorist organizations, specifically in Palestine, before the Jordanians would fully engage. Ulusoy noted the King bemoaned the growing influence of Iranian and Syria-supported Palestinian groups in Jordan as well (reftel). Gul encouraged King Abdullah not to take any steps or make any inflammatory statements that could provoke Iran. ¶3. (C) The GOT capitalized on the King's visit to pursue a bilateral agenda in line with its greater Middle East "good neighbors" policy. Gul and King Abdullah signed a joint declaration at their press conference. The two nations agreed to pursue cooperative political, security, economic, tourism, and energy related measures. The declaration included a commitment to closely coordinate counterterrorism endeavors in a joint effort against terror, and condemned the PKK. The terrorism language is standard in most agreements Turkey has signed with its Middle East neighbors over the last five years, Ulusoy noted, adding that the GOT has yet to operationalize it with any regional partner. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON