TURKEY: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001636

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS
PRIORITIES

REF: A. SECSTATE 93981

B. ANKARA 1550

Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (SBU) On September 4 we solicited from MFA Acting Head of
Department for Council of Europe and Human Rights Yonca Sunel
GOT support for U.S. priority country-specific and thematic
resolutions that will be offered, urged Turkey to vote
against the Defamation of Religions resolution, and sought
GOT views on the other resolutions noted in ref A that may be
offered or debated at the UNGA Third Committee. Sunel
offered no specific responses, but said MFA would consider
carefully each issue. She promised to convey our points to
MFA's UN department as well as to the specific departments
managing bilateral relations with the countries that are
subject to planned or possible country-specific resolutions.
We will follow up to solicit GOT support on our Third
Committee priorities.


2. (C) We also reached out separately to departments managing
bilateral relations with Iran, Africa, North Korea and Burma:

-- Iran: MFA DDG for South Asia and Iran Babur Hizlan told
us September 3 that Turkey will continue its past practice of
not voting at all -- neither voting in favor, nor opposing,
nor abstaining -- on a resolution on the human rights
situation in Iran. The GOT does not wish to oppose a U.S.
and EU priority resolution but wishes to avoid antagonizing a
neighboring state. Its position is unpopular with Tehran
and, Hizlan recognized, with us.

-- Sudan/Zimbabwe: MFA Africa Section Head Aykut Kumbaroglu
told us September 12 that Turkey will make a decision on any
possible Sudan or Zimbabwe resolution when it receives the
draft resolutions in writing. He noted that Turkey-Sudan
ties are fairly well-developed, but that Turkish interests in
Zimbabwe are few (implying Ankara would be unlikely to oppose
a Zimbabwe resolution, but would have to consider a Sudan
resolution more carefully). (COMMENT: The GOT took a far
too "business-as-usual" approach with Bashir when he visited
Istanbul in August for a Turkey-hosted African Union Summit
(see ref B). Turkey is trying to deepen political and
economic ties in Africa, not least in an effort to secure
support for its 2009 UNSC bid. We would have to urge GOT
support for a resolution condemning the dire situation of
human rights in Sudan, if one is introduced. END COMMENT.)

-- Burma/North Korea: On September 11 we conveyed our
support for resolutions on human rights in Burma and North
Korea to MFA East Asia Section Head Zeynep Yilbas. She could
not confirm GOT support, but promised to follow up with us.
Turkey supported last year's resolutions on human rights in
Burma and North Korea, and we expect it will again. Turkish
bilateral relations with both are limited and we have no
reason to believe Turkey will have altered its view on the
human rights situation in those two countries.

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WILSON