OSCE MINISTERIAL: U/S BURNS' MEETING WITH TURKISH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002182

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

P FOR SUMONA GUHA
EUR/SE FOR PAUL MALIK
DRL/AE FOR SUSAN CORKE
USOSCE FOR KYLE SCOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2017
TAGS: PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: OSCE MINISTERIAL: U/S BURNS' MEETING WITH TURKISH
FM BABACAN


Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a November 29 bi-lateral meeting, U/S
Burns and DAS Bryza met with FM Ali Babacan and the Turkish
delegation at the OSCE Ministerial in Madrid in a productive
exchange on critical issues: Annapolis Summit, Kosovo final
status, and Turkey's relations with Cyprus. On Annapolis
Summit: FM Babacan was extremely pleased with the central and
strategic role that Turkey was able to play in contributing
to what he views as a very successful outcome in Annapolis.
He praised Secretary Rice for the inclusiveness of the
process, setting dates for follow-up, and discussing final
status. Babacan sees this as evidence that Turkey has the
capacity to play an integral balancing role in the Middle
East Peace Process and that Turkey is an "asset" that is
ready to be of use to the United States for any crises in the
region. On Kosovo, Turkey still hopes for a negotiated
compromise, but knows that time is running out, and will
immediately reevaluate. He was supportive (although
non-committal) of the basic tenets of the U.S. approach that
- sometime after December 10 and before the end of January -
the U.S. and approximately 22 other European countries would
recognize Kosovo's independence en masse. On relations with
Greece overall Babacan was very positive, but Cyprus is still
a festering issue. Babacan said it was time for the Cyprus
issue to be revitalized and brought to a final comprehensive
solution with the UN as the neutral negotiator; he was
heartened by U/S Burns' and DAS Bryza's expression of U.S.
support for this approach. END SUMMARY.

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Turks Eager to Play Balancing Role, Annapolis as a Win-Win
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2. (C) FM Babacan discussed the active role Turkey played in
the region to help make the Annapolis Summit a success. In
particular, Babacan and others conducted extensive travel
throughout the Middle East, and encouraged others, including
Syria and Saudi Arabia to support the plan for peace between
Israel and Palestine. In addition he touted the historic
joint invitation to Mahmoud Abbas and Shiman Peres, where
both spoke to the Turkish Parliament on the same day and
signed a statement creating a statement laying the basis for
an Industrial Zone in the West Bank that provides business
and jobs to all three parties, but especially, the
Palestinians. Both leaders, along with Saudi King Abdullah,
had spoken before the Turkish parliament in unprecedented
appearances.


3. (C) Turkey was pleased to collect acknowledgment and
praise from all for the pivotal role it has played as a
central point between the U.S., EU, and the Middle East. The
Israelis thanked Turkey for bringing Syria in from the cold
and even Syria was happy too. FM Babacan appreciated the
personal thank you voiced by Secretary Rice. He noted that
the EU progress report on Turkey also referenced that it was
using its influence in the region in constructive ways on
Middle East Peace Process and Iran.


4. (C) Now the challenge is moving to the implementation
phase. Babacan sees the process itself, with follow-on
meetings, as vitally important and positive as it will task
each country to come back every few months to report
progress. Russia's offer to host a follow-up meeting was
viewed positively by Turkey.

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Last Minute Hopes For a Negotiated Compromise Fading On Kosovo
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5. (C) On Kosovo, FM Babacan opened by stating that he still
hopes for a negotiated compromise as the best solution, but
he understands that time is running out, and said Turkey
would need to immediately reevaluate whether Turkey will be
ready to join in with imminent recognition of Kosovo. U/S
Burns described the current timeline: that after December 10
Kosovo would announce its independence and that between
mid-late January the U.S. and approximately 22 European
countries would all recognize Kosovo. U/S Burns notes that
the actual date for Kosovo's independence announcement will
not be made public until after Serbia announces its election
date, so that Serbia cannot stall the process. Babacan was
supportive (although non-committal) of the basic tenets of
the U.S. approach.

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Relations on the Upswing With Greece; Cyprus Still an Issue
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6. (C) Greek and Turkish relations are at a high point.
Babacan will visit Athens next week to prepare for Greek
Prime Minister Karamanlis' visit to Ankara in the spring; the
first such visit in 49 years.


7. (C) Babacan said it would be time for the Cyprus issue to
be revitalized, after the Greek Cypriot elections, with all
of the issues brought to the table, in pursuit of a
comprehensive settlement. The EU is not in a position to be
a fair and neutral middle party on the issue due to Cyprus'
EU membership. There needs to be a final comprehensive
solution with the UN acting as the neutral negotiator.
Babacan was heartened by U/S Burns' and DAS Bryza's
expression of U.S. agreement that the U.S. would continue
pressing to reduce isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and that
the U.S. would work through the UN to come up with a
comprehensive solution that is fair to both sides. U/S Burns
said that in March, after Greek Cypriot elections, the U.S.
would look to renewing efforts through the UN.

Participants

United States
Under Secretary Burns
Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryza
Special Assistant Sumona Guha
DRL/AE: Susan Corke

Turkey
Foreign Minister Babacan
Ambassador Yusuf Buluc
Murat Salim Esenli, Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Director
General
Levent Bilman, Minister Plenipotentiary, MFA Spokesman
Erkan Aytun, Counsellor, Embassy of Turkey in Madrid
LLORENS