TURKEY: CALLS FOR CALM FROM CIVIL SOCIETY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000578 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: CALLS FOR CALM FROM CIVIL SOCIETY, PRESIDENT REF: ANKARA 563 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, for Reasons 1.4 (b ,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In an environment overheated by controversy surrounding the closure case against the governing party (reftels),seven civil society organizations released a delicately-worded joint statement March 26, calling for common sense and warning against polarization. President Gul called in opposition party leaders March 27 for one-on-one discussions. As tensions mount, the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) may not have enough resolve to engage in a showdown with the courts and press ahead with proposed constitutional amendments to make party closures virtually impossible. END SUMMARY. Joint Statement Urges All Parties to Cool Down -------------- - ¶2. (U) In a March 26 joint statement, seven NGOs (the Chairmen of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB),Turkish Confederation of Public Laborers' Unions (Kamu-Sen),Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is),Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen's and Craftsmen's Unions (TESK),Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK),Turkish Agricultural Chambers' Union (TZOB),and Moral Rights Workers' Union (Hak-Is)) called for common sense and warned against continued polarization stemming from uncertainty surrounding AKP's political future. "Turkey is undergoing a difficult test of democracy and law," the statement said, adding the country should focus on economic and social problems, particularly unemployment. "The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular, and social state of law based on the first articles of the constitution. These indispensable principles are keeping us together. Every issue other than these principles can be a matter of politics and be freely discussed," according to the statement. ¶3. (SBU) The NGOs criticized the political process for jeopardizing political, economic, and social stability. Current tensions stem from problems in the constitution and political parties law, the statement acknowledged, noting those problems should be addressed by raising Turkey's standards and accelerating the EU membership process. Turkey needs a constitution and political parties law in line with changing conditions in the world and prepared in consultation with all segments of society. Turkey also needs to reinforce the principle of rule of law, the statement stressed. "We have no doubt that our country will move toward a bright future when democracy is implemented in all institutions and rules and when harmony is ensured among all institutions by refraining from vicious rows. Nobody has the right to darken Turkey's future," the NGOs' statement declared. ¶4. (SBU) TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu told the press "everyone" should take a step back from current positions and establish dialogue. He observed that each side needs to respect the views and concerns of others, and warned that seeing people as "the other" would only harm Turkey. Turkey needs a new constitution and new political parties law, Hisarciklioglu said, adding the seven NGOs behind the statement -- which he claimed represent more than half of Turkey's population -- expect to be part of the constitutional platform. ¶5. (C) Politicians reacted warmly, if with a bit of a tin ear. PM Erdogan, traveling in Albania, said he agreed with the statement and Hisarciklioglu's press comments. "We are ready to take the lead for the creation of common sense. I have never been opposed to talking with the opposition parties." Deputy PM Cicek said the NGOs' efforts were positive, urging those creating tension to "sit and think why things reached this point." AKP MP Ahmet Iyimaya told us he viewed the NGO effort as a healthy sign of Turkish democracy -- something that could never have happened a decade ago; society here has changed, he asserted. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal told "Milliyet" daily he had called for compromise and common sense since 2002 but had ANKARA 00000578 002 OF 002 been ignored. Nationalist Action Party (MHP) whip Oktay Vural said the NGOs' statement should be directed squarely at PM Erdogan and AKP -- the architects of polarization and tension. Unaddressed letters, he said, cannot reach their destination. President Gul Summons Party Leaders -------------- ¶6. (C) President Gul issued separate invitations to CHP, MHP and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leaders to meet March 27 and 28; the Democratic Society Party's (DTP) leader was not invited, having recently met with Gul. Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu and Freedom Democracy Party (ODP) leader Ufuk Uras will also go to the presidential palace in the coming days. While the meetings reportedly were scheduled before the AKP closure case was filed March 14, many suspect they are aimed at reducing tensions related to the case, the legislative effort to block closure and the Ergenekon gang investigation. AKP Justice Committee Chairman Ahmet Iyimaya told us that in holding these meetings, Gul -- who is named as one of 71 individuals against whom the prosecutor is seeking a 5-year political ban -- is trying to play an appropriate presidential role. CHP Antalya MP Husnu Collu claims the presidency announced a figleaf agenda (Iraq and terrorism) because it recognizes it cannot achieve concrete results. Cracks in AKP Unity -------------- ¶7. (C) AKP's unity to engage in a constitutional fight may be slowly unraveling. Parliamentary Speaker Koksal Toptan publicly expressed doubts about the timing, if not the substance, of a constitutional amendment to limit party closures. MP Vahit Erdem warned that the timing is wrong. He said, "A wrong decision should not be corrected with another wrong move." AKP deputy whips, hosting dinners for AKP MPs in groups of 60 to take their pulse, said some deputies are warning that amending the constitution to change the course of an ongoing judicial process risks dragging the country down a dangerous path. Culture Minister leftist-turned-AKPer Ertugrul Gunay reportedly will personally urge the PM not to bring such an amendment package onto the agenda. If AKP falls shy of 330 votes (it holds 340 seats),it cannot send the amendment package to referendum. But Erdogan, the one person best able to pull the party together (and to whom all AKP MPs owe their seats) has been out of the country most of the week. An amendment package may also receive the support of the 20 DTP MPs, who have a personal interest in having all closure cases dropped. ¶8. (C) COMMENT. The NGOs' joint statement was carefully worded. Between the lines, it leaves responsibility for the regime crisis at AKP's door, while acknowledging that the laws at issue are sorely in need of revision. PM Erdogan's welcome of the statement indicates he recognizes the gravity of the situation. Taraf's Ahmet Altan challenges calls for cool headedness at such a critical time, warning the term "consensus" might mean "surrender" to a force determined to undermine economic stability, obstruct resolution of the Kurdish issue, and isolate Turkey from the world. AKP MPs, including one party whip, voiced similar concerns to us when they asked what taking a step back at this juncture would gain them, and wondered exactly who their interlocutor is supposed to be. END COMMENT. 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