Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TELAVIV2853
2008-12-19 11:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

PM OLMERT TO VISIT ANKARA DECEMBER 22

Tags:  PREL PGOV SY TU IS GB 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTV #2853 3541152
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191152Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9692
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5560
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4783
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 3210
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 5556
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2397
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2054
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0622
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 1039
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002853 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SY TU IS GB
SUBJECT: PM OLMERT TO VISIT ANKARA DECEMBER 22

Classified By: Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002853

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SY TU IS GB
SUBJECT: PM OLMERT TO VISIT ANKARA DECEMBER 22

Classified By: Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (U) The Israeli popular daily "Yediot Aharonot" reported
December 19 that Prime Minister Olmert will visit Ankara
December 22 to meet PM Erdogan. According to the article,
which was written by Olmert's favorite correspondent, Shim'on
Schiffer, "the purpose of the visit, from the Prime
Minister's point of view, is to prepare the ground for direct
talks between Israel and Syria, which will obligate any
government formed after the elections to continue in this
direction." Schiffer's article also "reveals" that Olmert
used a visit to London earlier this week to "meet with
contacts involved in negotiations with Syria" in order to
exchange messages with Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad.
Opposition Likud Party leader Netanyahu is quoted in the same
newspaper as saying that he will not be bound by "Olmert's
concessions" to Syria if he becomes Israel's next Prime
Minister.


2. (C) Turkish Embassy DCM Mehmet Bozay confirmed Olmert's
visit to Ankara. In a December 19 conversation with A/DCM,
Bozay said the visit is being billed as a "farewell call" on
Erdogan, with whom Olmert will dine the evening of the 22nd
before returning to Jerusalem. Bozay noted, however, that
the indirect talks with Syria will certainly be high on both
Olmert and Erdogan's agenda. Bozay agreed that Olmert is
projecting to all parties that he remains in charge of the
Syrian negotiations even though he is in a caretaker capacity.
Bozay also confirmed that, Israeli media
speculation to the contrary, no fifth round of indirect talks
has been scheduled. Bozay also said that Turkish President
Abdullah Gul has postponed a long-anticipated early January
visit to Israel due to "ear problems" that prevent him from
flying. Gul reportedly has also cancelled January visits to
Baghdad and Moscow.


3. (C) Comment. Olmert used his speech closing the December
18 annual conference of the prestigious, Tel Aviv-based
Institute for National Security Studies to declare that a
peace agreement with Syria can be achieved and would
represent an enormous strategic gain for Israel. The
overwhelming majority of the Israeli political class,
however, argues that as a highly unpopular caretaker PM only
two months before national elections, Olmert lacks the
political weight or popular support to deliver on any
negotiated agreements with either the Syrians or
Palestinians.

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CUNNINGHAM