Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS2324
2007-12-07 16:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GREECE/TURKEY: BABACAN VISIT "CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE"

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS PHUM PTER CY GR TU 
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071654Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0869
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0279
RHMFISS/COMNAVREG EUR NAPLES IT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 002324 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PHUM PTER CY GR TU
SUBJECT: GREECE/TURKEY: BABACAN VISIT "CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE"


Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 002324

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PHUM PTER CY GR TU
SUBJECT: GREECE/TURKEY: BABACAN VISIT "CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE"


Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) GOG officials positively portrayed Turkish FM
Babacan's December 3 - 5 visit to Athens as an "important
step forward." Although there was no movement "on the core
issues," Babacan and FM Bakoyannis announced additional
confidence building measures (CBMs) that would require
greater mil-to-mil cooperation (and potentially increase NRF
commitments). Furthermore, the Greeks felt they were able to
press their agenda with Babacan and "be heard." The agenda
was extensive, covering EU accession, Cyprus, illegal
immigration, the Aegean, minority issues in Greece and
Turkey, the Balkans, Terrorism - PKK, and French President
Sarkozy's proposal for a Mediternion. Septel from
ConGe --------------


2. (C) A/Political Counselor met 12/7 with MFA Turkey Deputy
Director Boutos and Aegean Officer Ghikas to discuss Turkish
FM Babacan's December 3 - 5 visit to Greece. Babacan met
with Greek President Papoulias, PM Karamanlis, Parliamentary
Speaker Sioufas, Economy and Finance Minister Alogoskoufis,
and FM Bakoyannis.


3. (C) From the Greek MFA perspective it was a "good visit."
Although there was "no progress on the core issues" -- such
as the delineation of the continental shelf or a change in
the Turkish position that a Greek extension of territorial
waters from 6 to 12 nautical miles is a "casus belli" -- the
Greeks were pleased with the visit and the discussion.
Specifically, they were able to "express clearly" Greek
positions to Babacan and "get a good hearing." Readout
provided by the Greek MFA of specific issues on the agenda
follows.

--------------
EU Accession - Cyprus
--------------


4. (C) Babacan briefed the Greeks on Turkish efforts to meet
EU requirements. He said Turkey is doing its best to "be on
track" despite skepticism from some in Europe about Turkey's

European perspective. He thanked the Greeks for their
support for Turkish EU membership, but asked that this
support be "even more vocal." FM Bakoyannis responded that
Greece stands by its position of support for Turkish EU
accession, and is pressing for this within EU decision-making
councils. However, it is easier for Greece to support Turkey
as Turkey meets EU requirements. In this context, she raised
the need for Turkey to meet its commitments related to the
Additional Protocol. Babacan responded that this is linked
to Cyprus.


5. (C) Discussion of Cyprus was surprisingly desultory, but
sides agreed that the UN should take further and more
extensive efforts following Cyprus' Presidential elections.

--------------
Illegal Immigration
--------------


6. (C) FM Bakoyannis raised the need for Turkey to better
implement the Greece/Turkey "Readmission Protocol." Under
the terms of this agreement concluded in 2001, Turkey is
obligated to take back certain illegal immigrants who have
come to Greece from Turkey. The Greeks claim, however, that
of the 23,000 to 25,000 illegal immigrants that have come to
Greece from Turkey in the past year, only 1500 have been
taken back by Turkey. Babacan responded that Turkey faces a
sizeable illegal immigrant population, and it needs EU
assistance in managing this problem. Turkey is negotiating a
readmission protocol with the EU; Babacan asked for Greek
support in concluding this document. Bakoyannis said Greece
would do so, but reiterated the need for Turkey to do better
in meeting its bilateral commitments to Greece in this area.

--------------

ATHENS 00002324 002 OF 003


Additional CBMs and Aegean Issues
--------------


7. (U) Bakoyannis and Babacan announced additional CBMs
between the two militaries, specifically:
-- A joint military unit to serve in NATO's NRF;
-- An additional joint military unit to participate in future
NATO peace implementation missions;
-- Regular meetings between CHODs and lower echelon staff
officers;
-- Exchange of visits between land force commanders deployed
on the Greek-Turkish border; and
-- A joint task force with a broad operational mandate to
tackle natural disasters and facilitate the flow of
humanitarian aid across the border.


8. (C) MFA sources said that these CBMs had been agreed "in
principle" but that much greater work is needed on the
details of the two joint military units.


9. (C) Bakoyannis also called for a new emphasis on the
"exploratory talks" between Greece and Turkey (Note: The
"exploratory talks" are talks on the delineation of the
continental shelf. They are currently on their 36th meeting.
End note). Bakoyannis also urged Turkey to ratify the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Finally,
Bakoyannis raised the Turkish Parliament's 1995 decision that
any Greek claim to extend its territorial waters from 6 to 12
nautical miles is a "casus belli," reiterating the Greek
position that this decision should be withdrawn and is a
violation of the UN Charter. Babacan responded by welcoming
a greater emphasis on the "exploratory talks," and reiterated
the Turkish position that the "exploratory talks" agenda be
expanded to include other issues beyond continental shelf
delineation (such as territorial waters, national airspace,
etc.). Babacan noted that the "casus belli" decision had
been taken by the Turkish Parliament in direct response to
Greece's ratification of UNCLOS, and did not respond to
Bakoyannis' call that it be withdrawn.


10. (C) Babacan noted Turkey is discomfited by Greek
bilateral understandings with Egypt and Libya related to
exclusive economic zones. Turkey prefers that such
understandings be reached collectively and are coordinated
with all potentially affected states. Bakoyannis responded
that Greece has the right to develop bilateral understandings
and will continue to do so.

--------------
Minority Issues - Istanbul and Thrace
--------------


11. (C) MFA sources said that this part of the meeting was
"artificial with both sides reading prepared points."
Bakoyannis raised Greece's long-standing concerns about the
status of the ecumenical Patriarchate and asked for the
reopening of the Halki Seminary. Babacan responded that
Turkey is aware of, and has sympathy for, Greece's concerns,
but the political structures of the modern, secular Turkish
state restrict Turkey's ability to respond to these concerns.
Babacan also noted Turkey hopes to see improvements in the
situation of the Turkish minority in Thrace. Bakoyannis
responded that the Muslim minority in Thrace enjoys benefits
because of Greece's EU membership -- including funds and
specific rghts. She pointed to recent steps taken by Grece
-- including Turkish language education inGreek schools,
quotas for Muslim students in reek universities and
technical schools, etc.

--------------
Mediterranean Union
--------------


12. (C) The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the Sarkozy
proposal should not be seen as affecting Turkey's EU
prospects -- it offers no substitute for Turkey's goal of
full membership in the EU. Both also agreed that the
proposal requires "greater clarification."

--------------
PKK - Terrorism
--------------


13. (C) Babacan said that the PKK has "affiliate
organizations" in Europe that are "propagandizing and
securing funds" to support terrorism. He asked for Greece to
take measures to help combat this. Contrary to Greek press

ATHENS 00002324 003 OF 003


reports, however, Greek MFA sources said that Babacan did not
hand over any list of specific organizations of concern to
Turkey active in Greece. Bakoyannis said Greece condemns
terrorism, and will contribute to the fight against
terrorism, consistent with Greece's international law and
human rights obligations. On individual cases, she said
Greece would take action, provided it had sufficient evidence
to do so. She also noted the need for Turkey to improve
conditions in Southeast Turkey.

--------------
Balkans
--------------


14. (C) Bakoyannis laid out Greek concerns related to
Macedonia's name and expressed hope for "greater Turkish
solidarity" on this point. Babacan was noncommittal. The
two also exchanged views on Kosovo. Babacan said that he
plans to visit Pristina before the end of the year to urge
the Kosovar Albanians "not to be hasty" and to urge Belgrade
"to be realistic."
SPECKHARD