TURKEY AND TALAT ON THE SAME PAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000482 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV CY TU SUBJECT: TURKEY AND TALAT ON THE SAME PAGE REF: A. ANKARA 439 ¶B. ATHENS 367 Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: "TRNC President" Talat's March 6 visit to Ankara underscored the congruity of Turkish views and those of their Turkish Cypriot counterparts on the way forward toward resuming comprehensive settlement talks. The GOT position remains unchanged: it wants to push forward on comprehensive negotiations, intends to stay one step ahead, and believes the basis of a deal can be found in language agreed upon in the Annan Plan. GOT officials are looking forward to the initial meeting between Christofias and Talat as well as to the expected follow-on UN assessment mission led by Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe. Turkish officials, not looking to make any unilateral concessions at the moment, are focused on making positive progress toward establishing negotiations. Once it becomes clear there is serious intent on both sides, the GOT will be ready take steps to push the process to completion. PM Erdogan has written to the UNSYG as well as to P-5 and EU leaders emphasizing Turkey's support for resuming talks and laying out its long-standing position on negotiations. The GOT looks to the USG to maintain the important role it played and constructive position it held during negotiations leading up to the 2004 Annan Plan referenda and aftermath. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy DG for Cyprus and Greece Kerim Uras told us "TRNC President" Talat's March 6 meetings in Ankara were scheduled as a "quick coordination visit," during which Talat briefed President Gul, PM Erdogan, Deputy PM Cicek, MFA U/S Apakan, and Deputy U/S Berk on Christofias' election as president of the ROC. Talat discussed what, in his view, Christofias' election means for resuming comprehensive settlement negotiations and briefed on some of the new ministers who will join Christofias' cabinet. Although some of AKEL's leftist rhetoric causes occasional heartburn in Ankara, the view that AKEL historically has had "no Turkish blood on its hands" resonates here and leads to a sense of optimism. Uras noted that the GOT and "TRNC" had coordinated in January their approach to the post-election period. There were no changes as a result of this latest visit. The Turkish side intends to continue to press hard for comprehensive talks to begin as soon as possible and to try to remain "one step ahead" of the G/Cs to keep the pressure on. ¶3. (C) The one step ahead approach does not, for the moment, include plans for unilateral concessions by Turkey. Uras said opening a port to Greek Cypriot vessels or similar steps that have been suggested are "not in the cards right now." He added the GOT will be ready to do the right thing if it becomes evident to all that there is serious intent on both sides of the island to strike a comprehensive deal. Turkey continues to emphasize its belief that talks should use as a basis the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan of 2004. The Turks' core redlines remain that a final settlement must be based on bi-zonality, political equality of the two sides, and equal status of the two constituent states that will form a new federation. Those are the principles PM Erdogan wanted to underscore in sending similar letters to UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon, EC President Barroso, P-5 heads of state, and EU member heads of state (other than Christofias). (Text of letter to President Bush, passed to us informally, in para 8.) ¶4. (C) Pointing to the reference in the letters to the "UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan," we reminded Uras of DU/S Berk's March 3 discussion with DAS Bryza (ref A) regarding the G/C sensitivities to that terminology. We reiterated our hope that the Turkish side can emphasize its wish not to begin negotiations from a blank slate by making reference to "the body of work" with particular emphasis on the most recent phase of negotiations from 2000-2004. Uras said the GOT understands that but, for now, believes that clearly stating its position is important and that G/C sensitivities should not prevent the Turks from expressing their opinions, especially in private. The GOT has no intent to release the text of Erdogan's letter to the public. In contrast, Uras pointed to public comments made by Christofias during his March 4-6 visit to Athens (ref B) where he used vitriolic language that pushes all of the Turkish buttons (e.g., "Turkey is an occupation force," "the Annan Plan does not exist anymore," any attempt to resurrect it would be "akin to waking a vampire to us.") The G/Cs, as part of their domestic politicking, seem to feel no compulsion to avoid making provocative statements. ¶5. (C) Uras said the GOT looks forward to the initial meeting between Talat and Christofias sometime the week of March 17, ANKARA 00000482 002 OF 002 as well as to the follow-on UN assessment mission led by Lynn Pascoe. He added the Turkish side is hopeful the UNSYG will name both a new head of UNFICYP and, separately, a new special envoy who is a non-EU member state citizen. While the new head of UNFICYP can take care of everyday issues on the island, the hope is the new SRSG will choose not to live on the island, but rather come and go as negotiations require. Uras noted when UNSRSGs live on the Greek side of the island, they tend to adapt certain Greek Cypriot prejudices toward the T/Cs, an eventuality the Turks hope Moller's successor will avoid. ¶6. (C) Uras reiterated GOT optimism that the remainder of 2008 and the election of Christofias represent a window of opportunity to achieve a lasting Cyprus settlement. He pointed to a very positive March 4 article in the Nicosia Greek language daily "Politis" that, according to Talat, was an unprecedented commentary on the need for Greek Cypriots to treat their Turkish compatriots with compassion and as equals. ¶7. (C) Uras also underscored the importance Turkey places on U.S. support for the negotiating process. Noting that the U.S. is an ally of all the guarantors and has good relations with parties on both sides of the island, he said the USG can play a critical role in ensuring comprehensive talks take place and are constructive. He also made a plea for the U.S. to adhere to its long-standing position of support for the key principles that comprised the Annan Plan, pointing to the June 11, 2004 speech by then-U.S. Deputy PermRep James Cunningham before the UN Security Council as a strong statement of support that was deeply appreciated by the GOT and which it hopes remains U.S. policy. ¶8. (C) Text of PM Erdogan Letter to President Bush: I am glad to observe that there is a renewed sense of optimism in the international community for significant progress and hope that the year 2008 offers a window of opportunity for achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement in Cyprus. Turkey is ready to assist the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to revive the negotiating process as soon as possible, between the two sides under his good-offices mission. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, we would greatly appreciate your support in our search for a comprehensive solution. It is our considered view that the new round of full-fledged negotiations should resume as soon as possible, from where we left off in the spring of 2004, on the basis of the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan and thus the long-established UN parameters, mainly bi-zonality, political equality of the two sides and the equal status of the two constituent States which will bring about a new partnership State. To this end, I would like to underline that we continue to support the constructive approach adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side, which is reflected in the words and actions of President Mehmet Ali Talat. In this context, I believe that the guarantor States should all contribute and actively support the process. For your information, I would like to reiterate once again that our expectation from the European Union and its members States is to encourage the Greek Cypriot side to find a solution that will bring peace and stability to the two peoples of the Island and the region as a whole. We continue to regard the EU's commitment to accommodate itself to the solution as a fundamental aspect of the comprehensive settlement. It is my firm belief that lifting of the unjust isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people will also contribute to finding a comprehensive solution. In view of the previous commitments, I hope Your Excellency will take a leading role so that concrete steps are taken in this regard. I would like to inform you that I have already conveyed these views to the UN Secretary-General. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Recep Tayyip Erdogan Prime Minister Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON