AKP INSIDER COMMENTS ON MISSIONARIES, TRADE WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001037

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU IR SY
SUBJECT: AKP INSIDER COMMENTS ON MISSIONARIES, TRADE WITH
IRAN AND U.S. IMAGE

REF: A. ISTANBUL 353

B. ANKARA 933

Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary and comment. Ibrahim Yildirim is a
well-connected Justice and Development Party (AK) insider and
frequent contact of the consulate, though he holds neither a
titled party position nor political office. During an
extended conversation, Yildirim said there should be no
compulsion in religion, suggested portions of the Koran may
be apocryphal, had no ideas for expanding freedoms of
expression in the public sphere and said missionary activity
was okay in Turkey. He said "everyone" (Europe) trades with
Iran; Turkey should therefore not have to sacrifice
commercial and energy interests to thwart Iran's nuclear
ambition. Yildirim is shocked the U.S. does not attack its
image problem in Turkey more aggressively. He said failure
to address image issues with more robust PR campaigns that
respond directly to charges leveled, such as helping the PKK,
will feed the negative image and implies guilt in the minds
of Turks. End summary and comment.

ISLAM, FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN TURKEY
--------------


2. (C) Commenting on religion in Turkey, Yildirim, referring
to the Koran, said there is no compulsion in religion, that
Turkey is a secular state with respect to its government and
that AKP believes there should be - and is - freedom of
religion in Turkey, including space for Christian missionary
activity. He noted millions of Muslims across Europe that
have freedom to propagate the Muslim faith. Referring to the
Koran, he explained that Islam allows a level of
self-determination or free will in matters of religious
faith. While lamenting the murder of the foreign and local
missionaries in Malatya this spring (ref A),Yildirim had no
suggestions for ways to create space for open discussion of
unpopular ideas.


3. (C) Personally, Yildirim appears sympathetic to the
hospitable face of the Fethullah Gulen application of Islamic
principles (ref B). Out of the public eye, he is known to
enjoy a glass of wine. Discussing the traditionally
temperate expression of Islam in Turkish life, he suggested
many believe later portions of the Koran itself are
apocryphal and not governing for life and practice. This is
one reason Turks exhibit greater charity and are less prone
to radical Islam than others, he argued.

IRAN AND SYRIA
--------------


4. (C) Regarding trade and normal business ties with Iran,
Yildirim said everyone's doing it. Why, he wondered, should
Turkey suffer economic losses, particularly as a neighbor to
Iran? Asked about AKP views on a possible Iranian nuclear
weapon, his nuanced response was that Iran had been an
essentially peaceful neighbor since Turkic migration to
Anatolia began hundreds of years ago. There were many points
in common, such as overall religious agreement and practice,
some shared customs and outlook. Nevertheless, he pointed
out ongoing and historical Turkish suspicion of Iranian
intentions, indicating definite rivalry with the Persian
neighbor. Iran's acquisition of nuclear weaponry, therefore,
is against Turkey's interest. He said, "The international
community will take care of it - the United States." Asked
what means or tools the U.S. could use to stop acquisition
short of military action - which clearly no one wanted -
Yildirim's only response was diplomatic pressure. Questioned
about diplomatic efficacy with neighbors signing agreements
to develop gas fields in Iran, Yildirim had no answer but
argued that most Europeans - Germans, Italians, others - were
engaged in lucrative deals with Iran. The U.S. should not
expect Turkey to deny itself when others carried on business
as usual. As have other Turks, Yildirim mentioned Israel's
reputed possession of nuclear weapons. As a layman, he made
a side comment on the U.S. relationship with Syria, saying
Turkey sees the Bashar al Assad presidency very differently
from his father's. In comparison to Hafez, Bashar's
administration is transparent. Turkey found it difficult to
understand the U.S.' continuing distance from Syria.


ISTANBUL 00001037 002 OF 002


U.S. IMAGE IN TURKEY - OR WHAT EVERYONE BELIEVES
-------------- ---


5. (C) Yildirim rehearsed strong Turkish perceptions
respecting U.S. actions and motivations. Since people think
the USG has the ability and resources (ultimate control over
media sources in the U.S., from news organizations to cinema
and television outlets) to shape, filter and deliver whatever
message it wishes to produce, embassy press releases are all
but ignored. Embassy press releases responding to headlines
"denying allegations that" the U.S. meets with and supplies
arms to the PKK are not heard or believed, he explained.
Average Turks take popular press reporting as fact and
embassy press releases are not seen as a credible response,
leaving the damning press reports essentially unchallenged in
the mind of Turks. Average and not so average Turks believe
the repetitive and amplified press. Turks reason that if the
press accounts were not true - and Yildirim himself asked us
twice if we were sure the U.S. does not help PKK - the U.S.,
with all its resources, prestige and power would produce an
effective, believable campaign, including its own
attention-grabbing news items to discredit the stories. In
the absence of a strong, multi-faceted campaign repudiating
the charge, the U.S. is judged guilty.
WIENER