THE DISTAFF SIDE OF AK LEADERSHIP: ROOM FOR MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000060

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO TU
SUBJECT: THE DISTAFF SIDE OF AK LEADERSHIP: ROOM FOR MORE
THAN ONE STYLE OF SCARF

Classified By: Consul General Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary: During a small dinner hosted by Justice and
Development Party (AKP) "networker" Mutlu Alkan, State
Minister for Women's and Children's issues Nimet Cubukcu
expressed confidence in the ruling party's ability to succeed
in this year's parliamentary elections, while lamenting the
continued low numbers of women candidates. She spoke warmly
and positively of her encounters with "real Americans" in the
United States while expressing serious concern over the
spread of "negative (American) cultural influences,"
including fast food-induced obesity, "Coca-cola addiction"
and pornography. Perhaps underscoring the fundamental
differences in our political and cultural environments, she
questioned why the USG did not "require Hollywood" to present
a more balanced and positive view of the American people.
All in all, however, the conversation would have sounded
familiar to many suburban American parents of all stripes.
Indeed, Cubukcu and Alkan themselves personify the social and
cultural diversity found within AKP. End summary.


2. (C) Consulate staff joined Cubukcu at a small dinner
hosted January 13 by AKP Istanbul Province Women's Branch
Chairman Mutlu Alkan, a former IV grantee. From outward
appearances, Cubukcu and Alkan reflected the diversity within
their party: Alkan wore a headscarf tightly knotted around
the neck in a style that has become identified with AKP;
Cubukcu, who was an attorney prior to entering politics six
years ago, wore a conservative suit with scarf loosely
gathered around her neck in a classically western way.
Styles aside, both were confident, straightforward,
disciplined and energetic interlocutors with a passion for
political activism at a grass-roots level that is the AKP's
strongsuit.


3. (C) Noting AKP's goal to further promote women's
participation in the Turkish political process, Alkan and
Cubukcu described to us a new initiative to open a Women's'
Center in Istanbul. The party intends to partner with a yet
to be selected university to open a research facility that
would collect information related to the status of women in
Turkey. Cubukcu said the AKP supports in principle efforts
by some Turkish NGOs to promote quotas requiring party
tickets to include a minimum percentage of women, but added
that quotas, alone, are not sufficient. "Parties will always
find a way to work around these quotas," she lamented.


4. (C) Cubukcu and Alkan appeared particularly confident
about AKP prospects in the November parliamentary elections.
Alkan noted AKP had received 42% of the vote in Istanbul in
the 2002 elections and believed that 50% is a realistic goal
for 2007. Cubukcu confidently asserted AKP's superiority to
its rivals in the practice of "grass roots" politics: it
knows exactly in which neighborhoods it is strong and where
it is weak due to its door-to-door, person-to-person style of
politicking; it also knows which neighborhoods include
immigrants from which regions of Turkey, and thus could, in
effect, conduct "regional political outreach" from within
Istanbul. Cubukcu said AKP had done a good job serving the
country but had not successfully publicized its activities.
The party needs to focus on this prior to the elections, she
stressed.


5. (C) Turning to U.S.-Turkish relations, Cubukcu opined
that sending people to the United States is the strongest
diplomatic tool available to the USG. Alkan agreed, noting
that when she was an IV program participant, she was struck
by America's diversity and by the tolerance Americans have
for this diversity. Cubukcu added, however, that American
"fast food" and "addiction to Coca-cola" seemed to be leading
to epidemic obesity beyond its borders. Both women
disparaged the U.S.'s (particularly Hollywood's) export of
violent movies and pornography, suggesting that the Internet
and satellite television have "normalized" such images by
transmitting them throughout the world and, consequently,
de-sensitized people to their immorality. Cubukcu asked,
with apparent sincerity, why the U.S. government did not
restrict Hollywood from producing violent and sexually
explicit films that offered such inaccurate images of America
to the world. Note: We later sent Minister Cubukcu
information and resources regarding US DOJ programs to combat
child pornography.


6. (C) Comment: Belying what one might expect from a party
rooted in Islam, both Cubukcu and Alkan are modern female
politicians. Their views and living situations are similar
to those of many professional American women. Both are
married with children and Cubukcu commutes to see her husband
who lives and works outside of Ankara. Alkan, who appears to

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exercise influence beyond her nominal party position and
youth, is the principal bread winner in her family and her
husband clearly plays a supportive role at home with their
infant daughter. (Note: At a previous engagement for the
Consul General at Alkan's home, Interior Minister Aksu
dropped by and stayed for some time, relating to Alkan quite
informally. End note.) Despite strong leadership in its
women's auxiliary, AKP continues to lack female parliamentary
candidates and admittedly, both Cubukcu and Alkan are
assigned to responsibilities associated with women's issues.
While the two may not define the character of AKP, they do
showcase the broad net that the party casts for its
membership. End comment.
JONES