Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA1553
2008-08-27 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY SUPPORTS GEORGIA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG RU TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9844
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #1553/01 2401606
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 271606Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7281
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001553 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, EUR/SE, EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SUPPORTS GEORGIA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY; CONCERNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS

REF: A. SECSTATE 91894

B. BAKU 796

C. TBILISI 1472

Classified By: Political Counselor Daniel J. O'Grady, reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001553

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, EUR/SE, EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SUPPORTS GEORGIA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY; CONCERNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS

REF: A. SECSTATE 91894

B. BAKU 796

C. TBILISI 1472

Classified By: Political Counselor Daniel J. O'Grady, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) We delivered ref A points to MFA South Caucasus
Department Head Firat Sunel, urging a clear statement
rejecting Russia's recognition of Abkhaz and South Ossetian
independence. Sunel noted the August 26 MFA statement (see
paragraph 6),calling it a short but clear message of
concern, and said the GOT has no plans to issue additional
statements on Georgia at this time.


2. (C) Sunel confirmed that Russian FM Lavrov will visit
Turkey September 2 (perhaps arriving September 1 evening) to
discuss Turkey's proposed "Caucasus Stability and Cooperation
Platform" and related matters, including President Medvedev's
August 26 announcement. The GOT, he said, is still working on
what message to convey to Lavrov. The Russians are clearly
interested in the Turkish proposal and the initiative was
reportedly well-received by the Azerbaijanis, what little was
conveyed to them (ref B). Sunel said he did not know whether
President Gul intended to accept Armenian President
Sargsyan's invitation to attend the soccer match in Yerevan
September 6, where they could presumably discuss the Turkish
proposal. (NOTE: Turkish media has reported Turkey intends
to hold bilateral discussions with Armenia in New York during
UNGA meetings in September. END NOTE.) It was too soon for
Sunel to suggest how the Medvedev announcement would impact
Georgia's participation in the platform, though he recognized
the obvious complications. (NOTE: The Georgians have told
the Turks they will not participate without a full Russian
withdrawal, and comments by Georgian DFM Vashadze reported
ref C indicate that the GOG intends to sever all diplomatic
ties with Russia. END NOTE.) MFA Deputy U/S for Russia,
South Caucasus and Central Asia Cevikoz, just returning from
Moscow August 26, where he met with his Russian counterpart,
plans to brief foreign Ambassadors on his visit and on the
proposed Turkish Caucasus stability platform August 28.

TURKISH MEDIA FRET "NEW COLD WAR"

--------------

3. (U) The Turkish press reports with concern a "new Cold
War" and stresses the risks to Turkey from heightened
instability in the region. Direct criticism of the Medvedev
announcement, however, is limited. Ismet Berkin, writing in
liberal "Radikal" pointed out the hypocrisy of Russia
recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
after brutally suppressing the same aspirations in Chechnya,
and predicted that South Ossetia would soon join the Russian
Federation and that Abkhazia would be under complete Russian
control. Sinan Ogan, writing in pro-government, Islamist
"Zaman" surmised that Turkey's stability platform proposal
has been weakened by Medvedev's announcement, but argued that
Turkey should remain impartial between Russia and the West in
order to contribute to resolving these crises.

ETHNIC ABKHAZ AND CIRCASSIAN NGOS LOBBYING
FOR TURKISH RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZ INDEPENDENCE
-------------- -

4. (C) Turkey's large Abkhaz "diaspora" and ethnic Circassian
community celebrated Russia's recognition of Abkhaz and South
Ossetian independence and have already begun urging the GOT
to also recognize these territories' independence, especially
Abkhazia. Eurasian Strategic Research Center (ASAM) Caucasus
Senior Researcher and media commentator Hasan Kanbolat told
us August 27 that he expects Moscow, in the coming months, to
begin pressuring the Abkhaz and South Ossetian parliaments to
vote for accession to Russia. (He likened this process to
Turkey's own machinations in 1938-39, when it successfully
pressured the parliament of the short-lived Hatay Republic to
vote for accession to Turkey.) South Ossetia's independence,
he said, is a lost cause; it will soon opt to accede to
Russia. Abkhazia, however, desires relations with the West,
and believes it can best achieve these through Turkey, with
whom it shares a cultural bond via the large Abkhaz
"diaspora" and the millions of Turks -- many affluent and
well-placed in society -- who claim Abkhaz and Circassian
heritage. Turkey, MFA estimates, is home to four times as
many Abkhaz as Abkhazia, and two Abkhaz parliamentarians are
reportedly Turkish citizens.


5. (C) Kanbolat urged that the United States and Turkey
immediately recognize Abkhaz independence and move quickly to
engage Sukhumi in order to ensure a Euro-Atlantic character
for Abkhazia. Moscow's annexation of Abkhazia, he stressed,
would double Russia's Black Sea coastline, constituting a
major strategic threat for Turkey and the West. The GOT has
long wished to engage Abkhazia more actively in order to

ANKARA 00001553 002 OF 002


strengthen Abkhazia's western orientation, but largely held
back at Tbilisi's behest, canceling, for example, a number of
planned unofficial visits to Turkey by Abkhaz "President"
Bagapsh. Kanbolat argued strongly that Turkey should no
longer be restrained by what he called the "non-existing
territorial integrity" of Georgia. Asked if he believed
Turkey would alter its self-censored approach toward Abkhazia
now that Russia recognized Abkhaz independence, Kanbolat
suggested yes. Turkey,s AKP government neglected the
Caucasus since coming to office, failing to apply the same
creative energy to the region it applied in the Middle East.
But the Caucasus are a priority now; the proposed "Caucasus
Stability and Cooperation Platform" is already evidence of
fresh thinking, he said.

MFA PRESS RELEASE
--------------

6. (U) NO-158, August 26, 2008 (OFFICIAL TRANSLATION)

BEGIN TEXT:

Turkey attaches importance to the independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Georgia and is highly concerned
about recent developments.

Turkey is of the opinion that this conflict should be
resolved through peaceful means.

END TEXT.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

WILSON