REP HARMAN DISCUSSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISTANBUL 000150 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU SUBJECT: REP HARMAN DISCUSSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION WITH LEADING TURKS Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) met February 21 with Turkish PM Erdogan, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, and reform-minded NGO leaders Can Paker and Etyen Mahcupyan to hear Turkish views on the Armenian genocide resolution pending in the House. PM Erdogan highlighted Turkey,s close work with the US on regional issues and urged against passage of the resolution. Rep. Harman expressed appreciation for Turkey,s role on key issues, said she would try to be helpful on difficult issues facing US-Turkish relations, and suggested changes to Article 301 that criminalizes "insulting Turkishness". Mesrob also strongly cautioned against passage of a US Congressional resolution and feared what might follow for this country,s Armenians and other minorities. Paker similarly expressed anxiety that a resolution would aggravate extreme nationalism that would be used to turn back democratic gains Turkey has made in recent years. End summary. PM Erdogan -------------- ¶2. (C) Erdogan reviewed the regional priorities that the United States and Turkey share. He described Turkey,s unique position in the region as an asset for the U.S. We are strategic partners, Turkey will do what it can, and it can be "hands, feet, eyes and ears" in support of common objectives. This applies to pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian peace, promoting democracy in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) initiative, helping the Iraqis, Iran, and even Darfur, on which Erdogan spoke emotionally of his impressions from having visited last year. He touched on his talks the week before with Israeli PM Olmert. The Quartet,s principles are important and Turkey will encourage HAMAS to accept them, but Erdogan had also told Olmert not to rush and that matters would improve with time. President Abbas needs support if work on the peace process is to start, and backing his efforts to form a national unity government will be part of this. ¶3. (C) Harman expressed appreciation for Erdogan,s comments, Turkey,s long-term relationship with Israel, and its work with the US in the Middle East and elsewhere. PM Olmert had asked her to convey greetings to Erdogan and clearly had appreciated his productive talks in Ankara. She regretted that the Mecca accords did not reflect the Quartet principles that Turkey also embraces, but she agreed on the need to bolster Abbas. ¶4. (C) Turning to the Armenian genocide resolution, Rep. Harman observed that the resolution before the House reflected the vigorous efforts of interested Armenian-Americans with US legislators on the issue. No one had heard from the Turkish community in the US on the issue until very recently. Rep. Harman said she understands some of the problems the resolution poses for Turkey and had come to listen to the views of people in this country. ¶5. (C) Erdogan reviewed his government,s efforts to deal more sensibly with the history Turks and Armenians share. Since becoming Prime Minister, he had discussed this with many leaders, including Armenian President Kocharian. Turkey proposed establishing a joint commission to study the issue, which properly belongs to historians and scholars who could work together to review all the records. All of Turkey,s relevant archives are open now for study. Other countries, archives could also be studied, and third parties could be included in the commission. Historians should reach some conclusions, and then politicians should sit down and talk. ¶6. (C) Erdogan pointed to two Ottoman-era documents on the wall of his office that were directives from the Sultan regarding the treatment of Greek and Armenian minorities as evidence of Ottoman benevolence to Armenians. One decree asked Muslims to help their Armenian neighbors in the event of earthquakes or other catastrophes, and another provided government funds for Armenian hospitals in Istanbul. ¶7. (C) Rep. Harman expressed appreciation for Turkey,s initiative. She highlighted the importance of reconciliation and mutual understanding. She pointed out that a change in Article 301 -- a law many view as very anti-minority -- would send a good signal, including on relations with Armenia and Armenians. She said that some ethnic minorities view the term "Turkishness" in Article 301 as hostile. The term "genocide" was also provocative. Both are the kinds of unhelpful things that hold back reconciliation. Erdogan interjected that Article 301 is based on language used by other Copenhagen Criteria countries to protect national ISTANBUL 00000150 002 OF 003 symbols, and he said it has nothing to do with minorities. Citizens of Turkey are Turks just as all citizens of the US are Americans. Harman acknowledged the point "as a lawyer" but repeated that the emphasis on "Turkishness" is seen as a wedge by some and is unhelpful. ¶8. (C) Harman and Erdogan had a debate about the events of ¶1915. She urged Turkish recognition that something very bad had happened. Erdogan replied that he could not say that. Harman referred to the Turkish commission proposal, whose intent would be to find out what had happened. The sides should work past the problems, and Harman pledged to try to be helpful toward that end. She asked the Prime Minister to keep working on dialogue with Armenians who want to live in freedom, not in the past. The Prime Minister said he couldn't shout out loud that he is doing this, but that this is exactly what he had done. ¶9. (C) As the meeting closed and in a brief private aside with Erdogan and PM advisor Saban Disli, Ambassador seconded Harman,s appeal for action on Article 301, which would help address for many, including some of Turkey,s strongest supporters in the US, one of the largest concerns arising out of Hrant Dink,s murder in January. He said that his and other US discussions with Republic of Armenia representatives have highlighted the importance leaders there attach to normalizing relations with Turkey. While Turkish leaders may think they have taken steps, these are not well-perceived in Yerevan; in fact, leaders there basically feel Armenia has nothing to lose in its relations with Turkey. ¶10. (C) Ambassador said that Turkish diplomacy should focus on establishing with Yerevan more trust and an understanding that Erdogan,s government is sincere about its good intentions. He urged that Erdogan consider sending a high-level envoy to meet with the Armenians in Yerevan or elsewhere. The PM, who apparently misunderstood this appeal when made during U/S Burns, visit to Ankara in January, listened carefully as his advisor Disli translated the Ambassador,s remarks and elaborated on them, referring to his own visit to the US and the fact that Armenian FM Oskanian will be there at the same time. CAN PAKER AND ETYEN MACHUPYAN -------------- ¶11. (C) Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) founder Can Paker, accompanied by TESEV staffer and and newly named Agos editor-in-chief Etyen Mahcupyan, stressed to Rep. Harman the negative impact an Armenian genocide resolution passed by Congress would have for minorities here and for this country,s democratic development. Rising extremist nationalism would get a large additional boost. It would feed the most authoritarian tendencies arising from Turkey,s past. Paker and Mahcupyan said that the so-called deep state, which has been much discussed in Turkish media in recent weeks, needed only a hostile act from the EU or US to create a reaction that would turn back the democracy clock for decades. A resolution would be that act. ¶12. (C) Mahcupyan also noted the questions Turkish-Armenians are already asking about their long-term safety and security in this country. He worried about attacks on them by extreme nationalists. This, too, would feed the worst anti-democratic tendencies and reinforce the remnants of "military state" that has dominated this country,s history and the remains strong. Armenian Patriarch -------------- ¶13. (C) Rep. Harman told Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II that her priority is a peaceful world where all problems could be solved amicably, and she solicited his views on the situation Armenians face here and the genocide resolution. The Patriarch cautioned strongly against any resolution. He said that Turkey and Armenia share the same geography and are badly in need of dialogue. This will not happen if one side is labeled a murderer from the outset. Of course, there had been wrongs committed by both sides that led to a huge death toll. During World War I, Armenian community leaders had badly led their people, and the Patriarch cited inflammatory advice by his predecessor of the time urging Istanbul parishioners to arm their kinsmen in the East to fight against the Ottomans. In Mesrob,s view, Turkey should say it is sorry. This would be sufficient to heal the wounds within this country,s Armenian community. ¶14. (C) The Patriarch worried about the fate of his flock in ISTANBUL 00000150 003 OF 003 this country. "How will people look at us" the day after a resolution in the US passes, he wondered, and he distinguished this concern from the views of Diaspora Armenians unconcerned with the fate of their brethren here. When Rep. Harman suggested that the Patriarch come to the US so that legislators considering the genocide resolution could hear his views, the Patriarch said that he would not be comfortable doing so. He did not want his words recounted in any way attributable to him. He said his delicate position here and threats against him from Diaspora Armenians mean that the most helpful thing would be to say nothing about his views. ¶15. (U) Codel Harman did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. JONES JONES