TURKEY WOOS ARAB LEAGUE FOR SUPPORT ON MIDDLE EAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001805

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV AL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY WOOS ARAB LEAGUE FOR SUPPORT ON MIDDLE EAST
SECURITY AND COOPERATION INITIATIVE

REF: A. ANKARA 1694

B. ANKARA 129

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOT continues to move forward with its
Middle East outreach proposals -- the Turkey-Arab League
Forum and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in the
Middle East (CSCME) -- with only minimal results. Contrary
to expectations, President Gul did not outline Turkey's CSCME
proposal during his UNGA address, opting instead to encourage
regional nations to consider signing-up to a vaguely
described "collective arrangement." The CSCME also became a
footnote in an arduously negotiated joint statement at the
October 11 inaugural Turkey-Arab League Forum ministerial.
While the GOT has gained initial Arab League buy-in for the
CSCME concept, both the organization and its members appear
to be reserving further commitment until Turkey provides a
more concrete vision. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Following President Gul's call for Middle Eastern
countries to consider a "collective arrangement for conflict
prevention and resolution" during his September 24 UNGA
address, the GOT is pushing forward its plans to establish
the Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Middle East
(CSCME). Although the GOT originally envisioned Gul's speech
would outline a definitive way ahead, the final version only
introduced the concept in very general terms (REF A).
Meanwhile, GOT continues to focus its efforts on gaining Arab
League buy-in, according to MFA Middle East desk officer
Murat Omeroglu.


3. (C) Egyptian Embassy First Secretary Ihab Soliman told us
that President Gul first pitched the CSCME to Arab League
Secretary Amr Moussa in January (REF B). While the Arab
League officially blessed the CSCME during its September
Foreign Ministers meeting, the organization has withheld any
firm commitment to participate until the GOT better fleshes
out its proposal. Nevertheless, the GOT had hoped to
capitalize on the inaugural Turkey-Arab League Forum to gain
additional support.

Focus on Joint Statement Text
--------------
.

4. (C) On October 11 in Istanbul, Foreign Minister Babacan
hosted Arab League representatives Syrian FM Muallem (Arab
League Summit President),Troika representatives Saudi
Arabian Foreign Minister Saud el Faisal, Djiboutian Foreign
Minister Ali Youssef, and Algerian State Minister and Special
Presidential Representative Abdelaziz Belkhadem, and
Secretary General Amr Moussa. Omeroglu reported the one-day
meeting focused almost exclusively on negotiating the joint
statement text, which swelled from the 22 proposed Turkish
paragraphs to 43. (Note: The document in its entirety is
available in the press and information section of the MFA,s
homepage http://www.mfa.gov.tr.)


5. (C) Omeroglu noted each foreign minister brought his own
country's agenda to the table including such anomalistic
language as an endorsement of a constructive dialogue between
Eritrea and Djibouti. Arab League representatives also
introduced Darfur language. The final Turkey-Arab League
Joint Statement, however, offered relatively constructive
language on the Arab-Israeli conflict, expressing support for
the Annapolis process and calling for a comprehensive and
lasting solution. Despite heavy pressure from the Arab
League representatives to include criticisms of Israel,
Omeroglu said the GOT refused to significantly alter the
original draft's tone. He added that Iraq language was
lifted almost directly from previous Iraqi Neighbors
communiqus. Turkey also introduced the paragraph expressing
concern over recent developments in Georgia. Arab League
representatives insisted on removing language calling for
respect of Georgia's territorial integrity, Omeroglu noted.


6. (C) Omeroglu told us the original draft joint statement
text included more definitive CSCME language, but was
subsequently altered to reflect President Gul's UNGA speech.
In the end, the document reflected the Arab League's
"welcoming in principle" of President Gul's CSCME initiative
and agreed to pursue further consultations in paragraph 31.

ANKARA 00001805 002 OF 002


With the focus on negotiating the joint statement, Omeroglu
reported the GOT and Arab League representatives spent little
time discussing Turkey-Arab League Forum modalities. The
Ministers agreed to create a task force which would develop
an action plan prior to the next Turkey-Arab League Forum
ministerial to be held in six months. The Saudi Arabian
delegation reportedly insisted the task force be established
no later than November, prior to the end of its Arab League
Ministerial Council Presidency.

Israeli Participation?
--------------

7. (C) Potential members, however, remain skeptical of the
CSCME's utility. Israeli Embassy Spokesman Amit Zarouk told
us that during the MFA,s CSCME briefing to Israeli
Ambassador Gabi Levi one week prior to Gul's UNGA speech,
Deputy Director General for Middle East Omer Onhon reportedly
said the Arab League maintains working level reservations
about Israeli participation. The Arab League had expressed
concerns that engaging Israel before achieving progress on
core issues (Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security,
borders, and water) could give the wrong impression of
normalization. Nevertheless, Zarouk said Onhon urged the GOI
to include language supporting the CSCME in President Peres'
UNGA speech. Ambassador Levy responded that the GOI would
first need time to evaluate the proposal before making any
formal commitments. Given the current political situation in
Israel, Levy warned that the GOI would not likely sign on
without a better defined vision. Soliman added the GOE has
yet to determine if it would participate in the CSCME, noting
serious questions in the Egyptian MFA as to whether such an
organization would contribute any added value or simply
distract from other established peace tracks.

8. (C) Comment: In its efforts to boost its credibility as a
regional player, the GOT appears to have launched two
intentionally benign initiatives without first testing their
relative buoyancy. It remains unclear as to why President
Gul decided not to push for the CSCME at UNGA, but reports
indicate the GOT is having difficulties gaining firm
commitments from potential members without a substantive
roadmap. From the Turkey-Arab League Forum communiqu, GOT
received lip service for the CSCME concept as well as formal
Arab League support for many of its recent foreign policy
endeavors including its UNSC non-permanent member bid, the
Turkey-African Union Summit, Alliance of Civilizations,
Israel-Syria talks, and Cyprus negotiations as well as a
condemnation of the PKK. Nevertheless, the inaugural
Ministerial rendered nothing of consequence, much less a
better understanding of the Forum itself.

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

WILSON