TURKEY INFORMED THAT CYPRUS JOINS THE GLOBAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000954 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017 TAGS: PTER KNNP KGIC PREL PARM TU CY SUBJECT: TURKEY INFORMED THAT CYPRUS JOINS THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM REF: STATE 50656 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador informed MFA U/S Apakan on April 20 of the adherence by Cyprus to the Global Initiative Statement of Principles, drawing on the points provided reftel. He emphasized the importance the USG attaches to combating nuclear terrorism and our view that the forum should not be used/misused by countries to pursue separate agendas. He also noted the decisions made at the outset to open the GI to all nations that share its goals, commit to combating nuclear terror, and endorse the statement of principles. ¶2. (C) Apakan responded that this outcome is not a good one and is unacceptable to Turkey. Apakan said that this country regards itself as a co-founder of the GI and strongly supports it. He feared that Cyprus will spoil the GI for its own political purposes against Turkey, and its joining will greatly complicate the MFA's ability to win interagency support within the Turkish government for effective participation in GI efforts. He deferred more substantive comment by the MFA to a later date. ¶3. (C) Embassy will follow up with the MFA and continue to argue for active GOT participation in the Global Initiative. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON