TURKEY/IRAN: NO STATEMENT ON IAEA REPORT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001040 SIPDIS NEA/IR, EUR/SE, EUR/PRA, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL TU IR SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN: NO STATEMENT ON IAEA REPORT, AHMADINEJAD VISIT UNLIKELY IN NEAR TERM REF: STATE 57726 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel non-paper to MFA Department Head for Iranian Affairs Devrim Ozturk and MFA Department Head for Nonproliferation and Disarmament Bora Kerimoglu on June 3. Ozturk offered the following response: -- Turkey appreciates the reftel information and has been studying the IAEA report. Turkey remains deeply concerned about Iran's nuclear program and fully supports the IAEA, UNSC, and P5 1 efforts to find a diplomatic resolution. -- Turkey does not intend to issue a public statement regarding the 26 May IAEA report, but will continue to urge the Iranian leadership privately at the highest levels to fully cooperate with the IAEA, be transparent about Iran's nuclear program in order to address the international community's ongoing concerns, and accept the P5 1 incentive package rather than continue on the path of confrontation. -- If there is a joint EU statement regarding the IAEA report or the outcome of the IAEA BoG meeting, Turkey may/may be in a position to join the EU statement as an EU candidate country (Turkey had joined EU statements on various subjects in the past, including on Iran). -- Citing the role Turkey played in hosting EU High Representative Solana's meeting with then-Iranian Nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in April 2007, Ozturk said Turkey has offered to host a meeting between a P5 1 rep and the Iranian nuclear negotiator when the P5 1 refreshed package of incentives is ready to be presented to Iran. Ozturk said Turkey has signaled its willingness to play such a facilitating role to Washington, Brussels, the UN, and Tehran, but did not receive a response from any of the contacted parties. ¶2. (C) Ozturk stated that no dates have been set for a possible visit to Turkey by President Ahmadinejad, although he acknowledged that the Iranians continue to press hard for a visit. Turkey believes a visit by the president of a neighboring country should be viewed as a normal part of maintaining neighborly relations, and not as a political statement or an unusual event. Yet, Turkey is sensitive to the strong views that some in the international community have about Ahmadinejad. Turkey in no way wants to see Ahmadinejad's electoral prospects bolstered by a state visit to Ankara. According to Ozturk, the MFA has suggested to President Gul that Turkey should consider waiting until after the Iranian presidential elections next year before setting a visit date. With continuing international concerns over Iran's nuclear program and the complicated domestic political situation resulting from the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),Ozturk surmised that it would be difficult to find a "mutually convenient" time for Ahmadinejad to visit in the near term. ¶3. (C) Ozturk, who had served as DCM and then charge at the Turkish Embassy in Tehran until last fall, also offered his assessment of Ali Larijani's election as Speaker of the Majles. Ozturk thought t