Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA628
2008-04-03 12:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: ERDOGAN'S BALKAN TOUR HEAVY ON GOOD WILL,
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2018
TAGS: PREL ZL BK AL BU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: ERDOGAN'S BALKAN TOUR HEAVY ON GOOD WILL,
LIGHT ON SUBSTANCE
REF: TIRANA 254
Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2018
TAGS: PREL ZL BK AL BU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: ERDOGAN'S BALKAN TOUR HEAVY ON GOOD WILL,
LIGHT ON SUBSTANCE
REF: TIRANA 254
Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary and Comment: PM Erdogan's March 24-28
regional trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),Albania, and
Bulgaria was "successful, but light on substance." It came
at a time when Turkey wants to demonstrate what it can to
enhance stability in the Balkans, and signaled as well to the
Turkish public that the PM (embattled at home with an ongoing
closure case against his political party) is trying to tend
to business as usual. End Summary and Comment.
2. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Central and
Southeastern Europe Hasan Asan told us April 1 that most of
the meetings focused on bilateral economic relations,
reflected by the large delegation of Turkish businessmen
accompanying Erdogan. The trip's timing was more a function
of an opening in the Prime Minister's schedule than a
specific agenda; Erdogan had to cancel his last two planned
trips to Albania. Overall, he characterized the trip as
successful, if light on substance. Asan noted that both the
GOA and GOBiH expressed interest in becoming transit
countries for the TGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy) pipeline project.
3. (C) Asan reported Erdogan had harbored apprehensions about
meeting Bosnian PM Spiric for the first time, but found his
tete-a-tete with the Bosnian Serb to be "fruitful." The
Prime Ministers reportedly discussed "all aspects of the
bilateral relationship." As in his meetings with other
Bosnian leaders, Erdogan emphasized the importance of
maintaining Bosnia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
During his joint talk with the Tri-Presidency members,
Erdogan encouraged the three ethnic groups to find a
compromise on police reform in order to "open the door" to a
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.
4. (C) On the margins of the meeting, Asan noted Erdogan
pushed Bosniak Presidency Member Silajdzic to work with
Bosniak opposition Democratic Action Party (SDA) leader Tihic
so as not to give the public impression that the Bosnian
Muslims were divided, emphasizing that "if everyone works
together, the SAA will come." During his private session
with Tihic, who had flown back from Ljubljana where he was
receiving cancer treatment, Erdogan delivered the same
message. BiH officials highlighted the disproportionate
trade balance between the two nations. Asan remarked that
the appropriate GOT ministries are investigating the
possibility of purchasing additional Bosnian raw materials or
minerals "for the sake of the bilateral relationship."
5. (C) MFA Balkans Department Head Ilhan Saygili told us PM
Erdogan received a warm reception in Tirana, adding Turkey's
relations with Albania are "perfect." Saygili reported
Erdogan's March 25-26 meetings with Albanian PM Berisha,
President Topi, Speaker Topalli, and opposition leader Rama
focused primarily on the economic aspects of the bilateral
relationship (reftel). Saygili added Erdogan and Berisha
discussed Kosovo in-depth during their one-on-one. Erdogan
highlighted Turkey's support for Kosovo in their subsequent
joint press conference. While in Albania, Erdogan also
opened a Turkish-owned hospital center and launched majority
Turkish-owned Eagle Mobile, Albania's third GSM provider.
6. (C) After providing glowing reports on the BiH and
Albanian trips, Asan described Erdogan's March 27-28 visit to
Bulgaria as "OK." As in Albania, Erdogan's meetings with
President Paravanov, PM Stanishev, and Speaker Pirinski
covered economic issues and were not highly political.
Erdogan paid no attention to the nationalist Agrarian Party's
protests. In addition, Erdogan met with Turkish-minority
party leader Dogan and visited ethnic Turkish communities in
Kardzhali and Targovishte, where he opened a new Sisecan
glass factory.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2018
TAGS: PREL ZL BK AL BU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: ERDOGAN'S BALKAN TOUR HEAVY ON GOOD WILL,
LIGHT ON SUBSTANCE
REF: TIRANA 254
Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary and Comment: PM Erdogan's March 24-28
regional trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),Albania, and
Bulgaria was "successful, but light on substance." It came
at a time when Turkey wants to demonstrate what it can to
enhance stability in the Balkans, and signaled as well to the
Turkish public that the PM (embattled at home with an ongoing
closure case against his political party) is trying to tend
to business as usual. End Summary and Comment.
2. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Central and
Southeastern Europe Hasan Asan told us April 1 that most of
the meetings focused on bilateral economic relations,
reflected by the large delegation of Turkish businessmen
accompanying Erdogan. The trip's timing was more a function
of an opening in the Prime Minister's schedule than a
specific agenda; Erdogan had to cancel his last two planned
trips to Albania. Overall, he characterized the trip as
successful, if light on substance. Asan noted that both the
GOA and GOBiH expressed interest in becoming transit
countries for the TGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy) pipeline project.
3. (C) Asan reported Erdogan had harbored apprehensions about
meeting Bosnian PM Spiric for the first time, but found his
tete-a-tete with the Bosnian Serb to be "fruitful." The
Prime Ministers reportedly discussed "all aspects of the
bilateral relationship." As in his meetings with other
Bosnian leaders, Erdogan emphasized the importance of
maintaining Bosnia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
During his joint talk with the Tri-Presidency members,
Erdogan encouraged the three ethnic groups to find a
compromise on police reform in order to "open the door" to a
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.
4. (C) On the margins of the meeting, Asan noted Erdogan
pushed Bosniak Presidency Member Silajdzic to work with
Bosniak opposition Democratic Action Party (SDA) leader Tihic
so as not to give the public impression that the Bosnian
Muslims were divided, emphasizing that "if everyone works
together, the SAA will come." During his private session
with Tihic, who had flown back from Ljubljana where he was
receiving cancer treatment, Erdogan delivered the same
message. BiH officials highlighted the disproportionate
trade balance between the two nations. Asan remarked that
the appropriate GOT ministries are investigating the
possibility of purchasing additional Bosnian raw materials or
minerals "for the sake of the bilateral relationship."
5. (C) MFA Balkans Department Head Ilhan Saygili told us PM
Erdogan received a warm reception in Tirana, adding Turkey's
relations with Albania are "perfect." Saygili reported
Erdogan's March 25-26 meetings with Albanian PM Berisha,
President Topi, Speaker Topalli, and opposition leader Rama
focused primarily on the economic aspects of the bilateral
relationship (reftel). Saygili added Erdogan and Berisha
discussed Kosovo in-depth during their one-on-one. Erdogan
highlighted Turkey's support for Kosovo in their subsequent
joint press conference. While in Albania, Erdogan also
opened a Turkish-owned hospital center and launched majority
Turkish-owned Eagle Mobile, Albania's third GSM provider.
6. (C) After providing glowing reports on the BiH and
Albanian trips, Asan described Erdogan's March 27-28 visit to
Bulgaria as "OK." As in Albania, Erdogan's meetings with
President Paravanov, PM Stanishev, and Speaker Pirinski
covered economic issues and were not highly political.
Erdogan paid no attention to the nationalist Agrarian Party's
protests. In addition, Erdogan met with Turkish-minority
party leader Dogan and visited ethnic Turkish communities in
Kardzhali and Targovishte, where he opened a new Sisecan
glass factory.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON