CODELS TANNER AND LEAHY MEET WITH PM ERDOGAN,

UNCLAS ANKARA 001055 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PTER ENRG ETTC IR IS TU SUBJECT: CODELS TANNER AND LEAHY MEET WITH PM ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT GUL, AND DEFENSE MINISTER GONUL ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In May 29 meetings with Codels Tanner and Leahy, President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan lauded improved U.S.-Turkey relations and expressed gratitude for U.S. support against PKK terrorism. Erdogan complained of Congressional resolutions introduced on Cyprus and the Aegean that work against Turkey's interests. Both stressed that Turkey will continue its military and reconstruction support to allied efforts in Afghanistan and the Balkans, while using its prestige to promote democracy and stability, and mediate disputes, in the Middle East. They noted the importance of NATO and Turkey's support for enlargement and engagement with Georgia and Ukraine. Erdogan was pessimistic about prospects for stability in Iraq, but he and Gul pledged to pursue improved relations with Iraq and continued assistance. Erdogan described government efforts to improve economic and political conditions in Turkey's southeast in order to defeat PKK terrorism. Both leaders expressed concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions, calling for international unity to get Tehran to change its stance, while downplaying the significance of Turkey's energy discussions with Iran. Meeting separately with Defense Minister Gonul, Codel Tanner urged Turkey to reduce national caveats on its ISAF forces, consider additional contributions to Afghanistan, and be mindful of the need for NATO interoperability in upcoming defense procurement decisions. End Summary U.S.-Turkey Relations: Coinciding Agendas -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Gul and Erdogan described the U.S.-Turkey relationship as one of "coinciding agendas and mutual goals" in confronting global terrorism, human and drug trafficking, and regional challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Caucasus. Drawing particular attention to Ambassador's efforts, Erdogan stated a new era in bilateral cooperation had begun with his November 5, 2007 meeting with President Bush and the clear U.S. commitment to helping Turkey combat PKK terrorism. "The Turkish people appreciate this," Gul told the Codels. Gul and Erdogan highlighted NATO as the cornerstone of Turkey's security in a changing world. Turkey is maintaining its commitment to Afghanistan with over 800 troops in ISAF, while contributing to Balkans peacekeeping as well. Erdogan informed that Turkey will contribute 32 civilian police to the EULEX mission in Kosovo. Both Gul and Erdogan stated that Turkey was disappointed not all MAP countries were invited to join NATO at the Bucharest summit and hopes that this will soon be remedied, while welcoming NATO's engagement with Georgia and Ukraine. ¶3. (SBU) Afghanistan is an important test for NATO, Gul told the Codels. Training the Afghan army is vital, as is winning over the public. Afghans want us to teach them to defend Afghanistan, rather than sending our children to do the job, Gul commented. Praising US efforts and commitment, Gul added, "the ultimate success rests in winning the hearts and minds of the people." Through its PRT and Turkish NGOs, Turkey is building schools that have educated 50,000 children and hospitals that have treated over one million Afghans, Gul said. If we tell them not to raise poppies, we must tell them what to raise instead, he stressed. We must look for ways to win over the people, such as paving roads that are now deep mud - a project Turkey has allocated $50 million to launch. But Concerns with Congressional Resolutions -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Expressing condolences for the death of Rep Tom Lantos, Erdogan said that his government looks forward to working with the next Congress on areas of mutual concern. He complained, however, that the current Congress had introduced sixteen resolutions against Turkey's interests, the majority appearing to take the Greek side on Aegean disputes and Cyprus. He claimed that seven of the resolutions introduced addressed the Cyprus situation in a way unfavorable to Turkish interests, despite the fact that Turkish Cypriots had voted in favor of the Annan Plan after Turkey closely consulted with Congress. Meanwhile, U.S. and EU promises to ease Turkish Cypriot isolation remain to be fulfilled and the Annan Report on the 2004 referendum has not been published. Turkey hopes the next Congress will see things differently. ¶5. (SBU) Senator Leahy and Rep Tanner both expressed their appreciation for Turkey's progress and understanding for Turkey's challenging neighborhood. Tanner praised Turkey's invaluable contributions to NATO over the years and expressed his gratitude for improved Turkey-U.S. relations since last fall. Rep McCarthy said that any family has its disagreements. She said she had been a sponsor of the Armenian genocide resolution (HR 106) but she and others had taken their names off the bill when Rep Tanner explained the potential harm to our bilateral relations. Iraq -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Responding to Codel's questions, Erdogan said the situation in Iraq is not promising. In addition to ongoing ethnic and sectarian violence, al Qaeda is using Iraq as a training ground, as are PKK terrorists. The Iraqi government lacks an effective national army, with Kurds in the north and Shi'a in the south maintaining their own military formations. Meanwhile, strong central authority is lacking and a hydrocarbons law has yet to be passed. Gul and Erdogan stressed that Turkey seeks to help by improving bilateral relations, trying to establish an industrial zone along the border with Kuwait, and promoting democracy with all parties. Asked by Sen Leahy if al Qaeda operationed in Iraq before the fall of Saddam Hussein, Erdogan stated that al Qaeda had not come until after Saddam's removal from power. PKK --- ¶7. (SBU) Asked about the government's success in dealing with the Kurdish issue in Turkey, Erdogan said military and law enforcement measures would not be enough; sociological, psychological, cultural and economic measures are also called for. He explained that his Justice and Development party (AKP) is the strongest party in southeastern Turkey. AKP has 70 Kurdish-origin members of parliament and four of the government's ministers have Kurdish roots, he claimed. The government has invested $8 billion in the southeast and is planning $12.5 billion in additional new projects in the region over the next five years, focusing on food, water, and transportation needs. Erdogan reported that 95 percent of the schools in the southeast now have computers. The government's drive to bring the wealthy west and poor east into balance is already undermining the PKK's appeal, Erdogan stated. Israel-Syria and Lebanon -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Codel members congratulated Erdogan and Gul on their recent efforts to mediate peace between Israel and Syria and asked about the likelihood of success. Erdogan reported that both sides had expressed an interest in peace and had accepted Turkey's offer to mediate. Success will require great patience and shuttle diplomacy, but early indications are promising. The current plan is for stakeholders to meet three times per month, but could also meet more frequently if desirable. Gul cited Turkey's mediation efforts in Israel-Syria talks and its role in resolving the recent Lebanon crisis and examples of its direct involvement in finding regional solutions. He assured the Codels that Turkey remains in close touch with the U.S. on its mediation efforts with Syrian and Israel, and in Lebanon. Iran -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Gul told the Codels that Turkey is working hard with all regional actors to achieve stability, while advancing democracy, transparency and multi-party politics. The over one million Iranian and Syrian tourists who visit Turkey each year compare the level of freedom and economic development in Turkey with that in their countries. Gul said Iran must be convinced not to pursue a nuclear weapons program, although he doubted that Iran had made much progress given its technical isolation. Nevertheless, the international community must remain united in its stand, Gul concluded. ¶10. (SBU) On the margins of the meeting with the Prime Minister, Codel members challenged AKP MPs on GOT efforts to foster energy cooperation with Iran at a time when Iran is not cooperating with the international community demands regarding its nuclear program. Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Murat Mercan stated that Turkey above all countries does not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, which would strengthen the influence of a regional competitor. The Head of the Turkish Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, AKP MP Vahit Erdem, stated that Turkey might also be compelled to acquire nuclear weapons if Iran does so. He and Mercan downplayed Turkish energy cooperation with Iran as preliminary, with little serious follow-up to date. Mercan noted that he had seen Western business people in Tehran hotels. The West must approach Iran in a unified fashion, using political and economic levers in harmony. Meeting with MOD Gonul -------------- ¶11. (SBU) In a separate May 29 meeting with Minister of Defense Vecdi Gonul, Codel Tanner recognized Turkey's significant assistance in Afghanistan, emphasizing that NATO is uniquely placed to help the Afghan people. Rep Tanner told Minister Gonul that the caveats imposed by Allies on their troops hindered NATO's efforts in Afghanistan. He also urged Turkey to consider the importance of interoperablity when making military procurement decisions. Gonul flagged Turkey's unique role as the only Muslim member of NATO and noted the common cultural ground between Turkey and Afghanistan. He recounted the essential responsibilities Turkey had in NATO for so many years, with the longest Warsaw Pact border of any Ally. Turkey is working on sending more forces to Afghanistan, Gonul claimed to Tanner, but is constrained by the needs of its own terrorist fight against the PKK. Tanner urged Turkey to take on a greater role in training and mentoring the Afghan Army. On the Codel's question of how to convince other Allies to provide more lift support in Afghanistan, Gonul argued that a more equitable system of burden sharing be implemented, suggesting that wealthier Allies should contribute more than they do currently. Gonul told Tanner that the Turkish people appreciated the U.S. intelligence sharing on the PKK, and stressed that Turkish military strikes against PKK terrorists in northern Iraq would continue to be carefully aimed so as not to harm civilians. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON