Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA710
2007-03-28 14:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY ON KOSOVO: SUPPORT AHTISAARI PLAN; HOPE TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #0710 0871431 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281431Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1497 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 2416 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0074
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000710
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ON KOSOVO: SUPPORT AHTISAARI PLAN; HOPE TO
PARTICIPATE IN CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION
REF: A. STATE 37835
B. ANKARA 89 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000710
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ON KOSOVO: SUPPORT AHTISAARI PLAN; HOPE TO
PARTICIPATE IN CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION
REF: A. STATE 37835
B. ANKARA 89 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Turkey continues to support UN Special Envoy
Ahtisaari's plan, including his recommendation that Kosovo
become independent. We delivered ref a points March 27 to
MFA Balkans Department Head Ilhan Saygili, who reiterated
Turkey's long-standing position (reported ref b) in support
of the process Ahtisaari and the Contact Group have mapped
out to solve the Kosovo problem. Saygili said the GOT
remains concerned, however, about Russian intentions to veto
a follow-on UN Security Council resolution to UNSCR 1244, the
possibility of a unilateral declaration of independence by
Kosovar Albanians should such a veto occur, and what follows
thereafter. He also worried aloud whether the EU will remain
united behind Ahtisaari's report, specifically citing reports
he had seen questioning the support of Cyprus and Slovakia.
We noted both of these governments had indicated an intention
to follow EU consensus on the issue.
2. (C) Pointing to the ongoing debate regarding Kosovo in
some European capitals, however, we emphasized the need for
strong, unified support from the EU and others like Turkey
for Ahtisaari's recommendations and a Security Council
resolution approving them. Saygili said the GOT also shares
the USG's strong desire that the European Union in particular
do all it can to help alleviate Serbia's "wounds" by moving
as soon as possible to open negotiations on a stabilization
and association agreement with it, as well as to provide
needed economic assistance. Saygili indicated that Turkey
would remain in close touch with the EU and us and would
associate itself with any EU statement on Ahtisaari's
recommendations.
3. (C) As a contributing country to UNMIK, Saygili also
underscored the GOT's desire to remain engaged in Kosovo by
contributing personnel to the International Civilian Office
and by participating in the International Steering Group that
would be established should a new UNSCR be adopted. Saygili
argued that Turkey has played a useful role in similar
institutions in Bosnia and believes it could make a useful
contribution in Kosovo as well. He noted Turkish officials
have raised this already in Washington (as well as in Berlin
and Brussels).
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ON KOSOVO: SUPPORT AHTISAARI PLAN; HOPE TO
PARTICIPATE IN CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION
REF: A. STATE 37835
B. ANKARA 89 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Turkey continues to support UN Special Envoy
Ahtisaari's plan, including his recommendation that Kosovo
become independent. We delivered ref a points March 27 to
MFA Balkans Department Head Ilhan Saygili, who reiterated
Turkey's long-standing position (reported ref b) in support
of the process Ahtisaari and the Contact Group have mapped
out to solve the Kosovo problem. Saygili said the GOT
remains concerned, however, about Russian intentions to veto
a follow-on UN Security Council resolution to UNSCR 1244, the
possibility of a unilateral declaration of independence by
Kosovar Albanians should such a veto occur, and what follows
thereafter. He also worried aloud whether the EU will remain
united behind Ahtisaari's report, specifically citing reports
he had seen questioning the support of Cyprus and Slovakia.
We noted both of these governments had indicated an intention
to follow EU consensus on the issue.
2. (C) Pointing to the ongoing debate regarding Kosovo in
some European capitals, however, we emphasized the need for
strong, unified support from the EU and others like Turkey
for Ahtisaari's recommendations and a Security Council
resolution approving them. Saygili said the GOT also shares
the USG's strong desire that the European Union in particular
do all it can to help alleviate Serbia's "wounds" by moving
as soon as possible to open negotiations on a stabilization
and association agreement with it, as well as to provide
needed economic assistance. Saygili indicated that Turkey
would remain in close touch with the EU and us and would
associate itself with any EU statement on Ahtisaari's
recommendations.
3. (C) As a contributing country to UNMIK, Saygili also
underscored the GOT's desire to remain engaged in Kosovo by
contributing personnel to the International Civilian Office
and by participating in the International Steering Group that
would be established should a new UNSCR be adopted. Saygili
argued that Turkey has played a useful role in similar
institutions in Bosnia and believes it could make a useful
contribution in Kosovo as well. He noted Turkish officials
have raised this already in Washington (as well as in Berlin
and Brussels).
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY