TURKS CONCERNED ABOUT UNBALANCED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

UNCLAS ANKARA 000936 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ AM SUBJECT: TURKS CONCERNED ABOUT UNBALANCED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PROGRAM TO BE AIMED ON AL HURRA ¶1. (SBU) Turkish MFA Deputy Director General for Security Affairs Sakir Torunlar called us in April 18, under instructions, to express concern about a program they had heard would be aired on Iraqi TV station Al Hurra soon regarding allegations of Armenian genocide. Torunlar said that, were this a commercial station with advertisers, it might be understandable, but al Hurra appears to be congressionally funded. This was neither the appropriate time nor the appropriate audience, he emphasized, for such a film. If it made it into the Turkish press, the reactions would be very unpleasant. Deputy U/S Haydar Berk, in a separate meeting, made similar points to the Ambassador. ¶2. (SBU) We shared information that the Turkish desk in Washington had been in touch with the programmers, who had reviewed the film for balance. We stressed that it would be the station's call, not the Embassy's or the State Department's. We noted that there is an issue of freedom of the press. We pointed out that these sorts of issues will continue to arise until Turkey and Armenia take concrete steps toward normalizing relations. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The MFA's attention to detail shows continuing Turkish sensitivities on this issue. It is one of the prisms through which they view the world and will continue until the sore is lanced. We hope that can occur after parliamentary elections later this year and formation of a new government with a fresh mandate. End comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON