TURKEY: EU TROIKA, IN ANKARA, FOCUSES ON NEED FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000937

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2023
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU EUN
SUBJECT: TURKEY: EU TROIKA, IN ANKARA, FOCUSES ON NEED FOR

REFORM, DOMESTIC CHALLENGES

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary and comment: The EU continued its intense
engagement with Turkey (following EC President Barroso's
recent visit) with a May 6 EU Troika meeting in Ankara. The
EU delegation stressed the accession door remains very much
open for Turkey, but reforms must be reinvigorated. Turkish
FM Babacan acknowledged 2007 had been a lost year, but
pledged 2008 was the "year of the EU". The ministers
reviewed a range of regional issues and agreed that the
nascent Cyprus process must move forward under UN auspices.
The closure case against the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP) also came under the microscope, both publicly,
with Enlargement Commissioner Rehn pointing to the need to
hone to EU and Western standards, and in private. Babacan
told assembled EU Ambassadors, cameras rolling, that the AKP
will accept whatever ruling the Constitutional Court makes.
Turkey has only just started to revitalize the EU reform
process. The EU is engaging robustly. If the GOT is
serious, there is plenty of fodder, including more freedom of
express-related articles of the Turkish Penal Code, revision
of the Commercial Code, a draft law on protection of personal
data and a host of other issues. End summary and comment.


2. (U) The EU Troika meeting in Turkey May 6 featured
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Slovene FM Rupel, French
EU minister Jouyet and Turkish FM Babacan. The initial day
of meetings stretched into four days of consultations, with
Europe Day celebrations on May 9 hosted by President Gul and
a breakfast with EU Ambassadors at which FM Babacan spoke.
Need for Reforms, Continue the Process
--------------


3. (C) In the Troika consultations, the Slovene Ambassador
reported, FM and Chief EU Negotiator Babacan highlighted
Turkey's commitment to EU accession. He acknowledged that
work slowed in 2007 because of the elections but stressed
that 2008 is the "Year of the EU" and will see a major reform
drive. Initial steps have been taken -- the Foundations Law,
changes to Article 301. "Political issues" (e.g., Cyprus)
interfere, as do irresponsible accession-related statements
by some European leaders. Turkey recognizes the accession
time-line is 15-20 years or more, and sees nothing to be
gained by European leaders downplaying Turkey's prospects.
Unfortunately, European leaders' statements translate into
reduced Turkish public support for the EU. EC President
Barroso sent encouraging signals, which should continue.


4. (C) On specific issues, Babacan said constitutional reform
remains at the top of the government's agenda, but implied
there will be no action before the Constitutional Court's
ruling on the AKP closure case. He highlighted the need for
comprehensive reform of the judiciary, taking steps against
corruption, improving the status of women, greater
transparency in the military budget, and recognizing cultural
rights. Asked if this means Kurds, Babacan replied that they
are part of Turkey. He expressed appreciation that the EU
continues to include the PKK on its terrorist lists, despite
European court rulings to the contrary, and talked up
economic developments plans in the Southeast.


5. (C) Slovene FM Rupel stressed that the EU door is very
much open for Turkey and urged the GOT to continue work in
2008 on accession-related issues. The EU expects progress on
reform and is encouraged by Babacan's statements. He worried
about the closure case and recapped the points expressed in
the Slovene EU Presidency statement on the issue in March.
The EU hopes the matter will be resolved in a manner
consistent with rule of law and democratic secularism. Rupel
encouraged political compromise, characterizing it as an
essential element of the way European governments do business
and the EU itself works. He mentioned the Ecumenical
Patriarch, civil-military relations and the May Day violence,
urging tolerance and moderation. He noted Turkey's work to
address the PKK terror threat and said the military mechanism
can only be one part of the solution to the PKK problem.


6. (C) Olli Rehn also commented on the May Day violence. He
was pleased that two chapters will likely open during the
Slovene Presidency. Babacan complained that two is too few.
On Cyprus, Rehn noted the need for Turkey to ratify the
Additional Protocol, normalize relations with the ROC and
engage intensely in UN-led comprehensive settlement talks as
in 2003-04. In reply, Babacan noted that the working groups
and technical committees are working. He hopes the
anticipated meeting of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders
will take place after June 21; this should lead to
comprehensive negotiations soon. While urging that that the
EU, like other third parties, treat the two sides (Greek and
Turkish Cypriots) equally, EU technical assistance to the

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negotiations would be helpful, as it was in 2004. Babacan
appealed for an end to Turkish Cypriot isolation and said
Turkey's role since 1960 as a guarantor power will remain
unchanged.

Regional Politics
--------------


7. (C) The Troika meeting also covered the waterfront on
regional politics:

--Greece: Babacan highlighted confidence building efforts
and progress in bilateral relations, as well as work to
resolve Aegean issues, where some problems remain.

--Iraq: Babacan said Turkey is trying to be in contact with
all factions. It supports the territorial integrity and
unity of Iraq. He referenced Turkey's consulate in Mosul and
plans to open another in Basra.

--Iran/Syria: Babacan said Turkey does not want a nuclear
Iran. It supports diplomacy on the problem. Syrian and
Iranian interests are not identical, and Turkey believe it
useful to play on this to separate the two. Syria does not
have the influence in Lebanon over Hezbollah that it used to.
Turkey wants to be helpful on the Syria-Israel track, as
well as on Lebanon. Babacan said the countries all want
Turkey to play a role. Rehn said the EU is pleased and is
following closely. According to Turkey's EU secretariat
general's political chief Cem Kahyayolu, Rehn also asked
about a possible Ahmedinejad visit to Ankara. Babacan
responded there are no plans for such a visit.

--Caucasus: Babacan highlighted solidarity with Azerbaijan
and the outreach to Armenia's new leaders.

--MEPP: The Slovene, having just come from a Quartet
meeting, was pessimistic about progress by the end of the
year. Babacan agreed.

The Closure Case and the EU
--------------


8. (C) EU officials have been outspoken on the AKP closure
case. Commissioner Rehn, in Ankara, stated that the EU
cannot remain indifferent to the developments in an EU
candidate country. He noted that a political party should be
banned only if it issues calls for violence, racism or
terror. AKP was not posing such threats. Rehn stressed that
the suit to ban the AKP should be finalized in light of
democratic principles, rule of law, EU standards, the Council
of Europe's Venice Commission recommendations and the
European human rights treaty. He drew attention as well to
Article 90 of the Turkish Constitution, which proclaims the
precedence of international law in the event of a conflict
between national and international laws. Slovene FM Rupel
also stated in a press conference that the EU was concerned
about the suit.


9. (C) While no one, certainly not Turks, enjoy being
chastised publicly, some grudgingly acknowledge the EU has
the right. Since Turkey aspires to join the EU club, it must
also aspire to its values, including on standards for
political party closure. Even the opposition is less rabid
when Olli Rehn makes a statement. The opposition has been
most strident about the optics of AKP and GOT officials
appearing to LOBBY foreign leaders on the case; they are
adamant that it is a domestic issue, and that AKP invites
only trouble by soliciting outside support for its cause.
Others, however, have expressed concern that even EU
statements might be construed by Constitutional Court judges
as attempts to interfere in the judicial process.


10. (C) Babacan reportedly asked the EU to avoid deadlocks
on Turkey's EU entry negotiations in the event the court
rules to close AKP. The French EU Minister, Jouyet, made the
point during the meetings that France will not abuse its
Presidency to seek to block Turkey's EU progress. Jouyet
also indicated the French would unblock Chapters 17 of the
Acquis (Economic and Monetary Policy) and 26 (Education and
Culture). The French are currently blocking 5 chapters. The
Slovene Ambassador suggested to us that France needs the
Presidency to succeed here, given that so many other doors
are closed to it. He thought the Turks will segment France
the Presidency country from France the bilateral headache.
It is likely, however, that the AKP closure case will come to
a head during the French EU Presidency.


11. (C) At the March 9 Europe Day EU Ambassadors' gathering,
Babacan, uncharacteristically, read a written statement and

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had arranged for media. He reportedly referred to the
closure case and different scenarios for its resolution. He
said the government had been interested in a
mini-constitutional package, but the opposition had rejected
it. The government, he stated, presumes the legitimacy of
the Constitutional Court and the rule of law. It will accept
the Court's decisions.

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

WILSON