Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA1040
2008-06-04 15:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAN: NO STATEMENT ON IAEA REPORT,
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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)
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
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