TURKEY: BABACAN DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ WITH UK FS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001961

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2018
TAGS: PREL EUN IR IZ TU UK
SUBJECT: TURKEY: BABACAN DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ WITH UK FS
MILIBAND

Classified By: Acting POL Counselor Christopher Krafft, reasons 1.4 (b,
d)


1. (C) Summary: In an attempt to reconnect following a tense
meeting on the margins of UNGA, UK Foreign Secretary David
Miliband hosted FM Ali Babacan in his hometown of South
Shield November 7. Babacan provided an optimistic update on
GOT's ongoing discussions with the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG). HMG officials pledged to encourage KRG
leadership to further engage Turkey. Based on his
conversations with Iranian officials, Babacan reportedly said
the international community must modify its approach to
Tehran by making the GOI a real partner in the process. He
also asked Miliband how sure HMG is of Iran's nuclear
ambitions. Miliband responded that the international
community is confident and he would send a team of UK experts
to Ankara to brief on the issue. Bilateral talks and the
subsequent joint press conference focused on the Duchess of
York Sarah Ferguson's recent undercover expose exposing
neglect in Turkish orphanages. End Summary.

Iraq
--------------


2. (C) Babacan told Miliband the overall situation in Iraq is
improving, citing enhanced Shiite/Sunni relations as one
example, according to a UK Embassy officer. He expressed
concern that Arab/Kurd interactions are running high,
particularly regarding the hydrocarbon issue. Babacan voiced
support for the SOFA as a means of keeping U.S. troops in
Iraq and predicted negotiations would come down to the wire.
Noting that dialogue with the KRG is going well, Babacan
believes KRG President Massoud Barzani is serious about
engagement. He added the KRG is demonstrating a genuine
desire to tackle terrorism. Miliband underscored that it is
important for Barzani to hear the "tough messages." UK
Foreign Office Iraq Group Chair Frank Baker said he would
encourage Barzani to take concrete steps against the PKK and
to normalize relations with Turkey during his upcoming trip
to Erbil. In his meetings, he will also highlight that
Turkey could help Iraq as trading partner and a distributor
for its energy supply.
Iran
--------------


3. (C) UK Foreign Office Iran Coordinator Antony Phillipson
stressed to FM Babacan that 2009 will be a critical year for
Iran. The international community must apply great pressure
if the diplomatic route is to gain traction, in which Turkey
will have a role to play. Babacan responded he had pushed
the Iranians hard to accept the P5 1 package during recent
meetings with FM Mottaki and parliamentary speaker Ali
Larijani. However, he was not convinced the international
community had properly presented the offer, adding there were
too many participants in the process. Limiting engagement to
a core group of interlocutors was paramount for succeeding
with Tehran. Iran must see itself as a real partner in the
talks. Babacan concluded by saying that too much pressure
would just make the GOI feel cornered. Miliband countered
that the international community did not seem to be getting
anywhere by offering incentives. While he is open to
discussing the means of engagement, Miliband underscored that
the end goal remains the same -- to avoid an Iran with
nuclear weapons.

4. (C) Babacan asked Miliband about the HMG's confidence in
Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Miliband responded that,
while there is no smoking gun, the international community is
sure that the end goal of Iran's technical work is not just
nuclear energy. All open source information supports that
assumption. Babacan accepted Miliband's offer to send a
group of UK technical experts to Ankara to brief on the issue.
Cyprus
--------------


5. (C) Babacan cited "unhelpful" statements make by Cypriot
President Dimitris Christofias, which he claimed raised
questions in Ankara about the GOC's sense of urgency. Given
the uncertain future of the talks, the Cyprus discussions
need to be decoupled from Turkey's EU accession bid. Babacan
added that Greece does not appear to be doing anything to
encourage Nicosia to actively participate in the process.
Miliband emphasized that the first six months of 2009 are
crucial and said that both Christofias and "TRNC President"

ANKARA 00001961 002 OF 002


Mehmet Ali Talat needed to be empowered by all sides to come
to the table ready to negotiate.
EU
--


6. (C) Babacan told Miliband the November 5 EU progress
report was "tough, but fair," noting the absence of a
reference to Turkey's eventual accession or full membership
was unhelpful. Babacan bemoaned what has become the standard
practice of each EU presidency opening two chapters and
encouraged the EU accelerate the rate. Miliband said he
would look into the issue.
Orphanage Scandal
--------------


7. (C) Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson's undercover expose of
Turkish orphanages dominated bilateral relations discussions.
Miliband underscored to Babacan that Ferguson was no longer
a member of the royal family and, as a private citizen, her
activities could not "be controlled." While HMG had taken
steps to distance itself from the story, it takes the
treatment of children seriously. During the joint press
conference, both leaders acknowledged the issue in their
opening remarks. Babacan promised that the GOT would
investigate the accusations, but chided the public invasion
of the children's privacy. Miliband reminded the press that
the UK has had its share of similar scandals in recent
decades.

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WILSON