Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1455
2009-10-07 15:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
DAVUTOGLU TAKES THE CASE FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION
how-toVZCZCXRO4531 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #1455 2801558 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 071558Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0912 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4071 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001455
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN TU
SUBJECT: DAVUTOGLU TAKES THE CASE FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION
TO BRUSSELS
Classified By: Classified by DCM Doug Silliman; Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001455
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN TU
SUBJECT: DAVUTOGLU TAKES THE CASE FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION
TO BRUSSELS
Classified By: Classified by DCM Doug Silliman; Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Summary: EU embassy interlocutors here interpreted
Davutoglu's October 1 Brussels statement urging the EU to
admit Turkey by 2015 not as an ultimatum, but as a
reaffirmation of the GoT's commitment to its EU candidacy.
Progress on internal reforms and GoT actions that encourage
hopes for a Cyprus settlement remain the most compelling
arguments Turkey can muster on behalf of its EU aspirations.
End Summary.
2. (SBU) During his October 2 speech to the European Policy
Center in Brussels, FM Davutolgu argued strongly that
Turkey's EU accession would be a win/win for his own country
and the EU. He contended Turkey would provide a strategic
connection between the EU and the rest of Eurasia that would
allow Europe to become a truly global power. In what may
have been perceived as an excessively emotional response to a
question, Davutoglu said the EU should not risk postponing
its own global destiny by delaying Turkey's accession, but
should admit Turkey by 2015, if not earlier.
3. (C) The Swedish Embassy's Turkey-accession lead welcomed
Davutolgu's 2015 statement, saying it reaffirmed the GoT's
commitment to the accession process. Similarly, the German
Embassy POLCOUNS interpreted the statement as evidence the
GoT really wants EU membership. Faruk Kaymakci, assistant to
State Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis, said the 2015
date was not intended as a deadline. He asserted it is the
GoT's calculation of the earliest practical date by which
Turkey could accede to EU. He said the GoT believes Lisbon
Treaty uncertainties and the EU's internal seven-year
financial planning cycle, the current term of which runs to
2014, preclude an earlier accession date.
4. (C) The German POLCOUNS was unperturbed by Davutoglu's
reiteration of Turkey's unwillingness to open its ports and
airports to Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft in accordance
with the Ankara Additional Protocol: "It was nothing new."
Kaymakci readily repeated Turkey's argument that its
obligation to receive Greek Cypriot aircraft and vessels is
contingent upon the EU's execution of its 2004 post-Annan
Plan undertaking to relieve the isolation of northern Cyprus'
Turkish Cypriots.
5. (C) Comment: Davutoglu's Brussels speech does not seem to
have done any harm to Turkey's accession prospects among EU
diplomats here, but neither did it advance Turkey's
candidacy. We will continue to advise the GOT that its
progress on internal reforms and its encouragement of hopes
for a Cyprus settlement are the most compelling arguments it
can muster on behalf of its EU aspirations.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN TU
SUBJECT: DAVUTOGLU TAKES THE CASE FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION
TO BRUSSELS
Classified By: Classified by DCM Doug Silliman; Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Summary: EU embassy interlocutors here interpreted
Davutoglu's October 1 Brussels statement urging the EU to
admit Turkey by 2015 not as an ultimatum, but as a
reaffirmation of the GoT's commitment to its EU candidacy.
Progress on internal reforms and GoT actions that encourage
hopes for a Cyprus settlement remain the most compelling
arguments Turkey can muster on behalf of its EU aspirations.
End Summary.
2. (SBU) During his October 2 speech to the European Policy
Center in Brussels, FM Davutolgu argued strongly that
Turkey's EU accession would be a win/win for his own country
and the EU. He contended Turkey would provide a strategic
connection between the EU and the rest of Eurasia that would
allow Europe to become a truly global power. In what may
have been perceived as an excessively emotional response to a
question, Davutoglu said the EU should not risk postponing
its own global destiny by delaying Turkey's accession, but
should admit Turkey by 2015, if not earlier.
3. (C) The Swedish Embassy's Turkey-accession lead welcomed
Davutolgu's 2015 statement, saying it reaffirmed the GoT's
commitment to the accession process. Similarly, the German
Embassy POLCOUNS interpreted the statement as evidence the
GoT really wants EU membership. Faruk Kaymakci, assistant to
State Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis, said the 2015
date was not intended as a deadline. He asserted it is the
GoT's calculation of the earliest practical date by which
Turkey could accede to EU. He said the GoT believes Lisbon
Treaty uncertainties and the EU's internal seven-year
financial planning cycle, the current term of which runs to
2014, preclude an earlier accession date.
4. (C) The German POLCOUNS was unperturbed by Davutoglu's
reiteration of Turkey's unwillingness to open its ports and
airports to Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft in accordance
with the Ankara Additional Protocol: "It was nothing new."
Kaymakci readily repeated Turkey's argument that its
obligation to receive Greek Cypriot aircraft and vessels is
contingent upon the EU's execution of its 2004 post-Annan
Plan undertaking to relieve the isolation of northern Cyprus'
Turkish Cypriots.
5. (C) Comment: Davutoglu's Brussels speech does not seem to
have done any harm to Turkey's accession prospects among EU
diplomats here, but neither did it advance Turkey's
candidacy. We will continue to advise the GOT that its
progress on internal reforms and its encouragement of hopes
for a Cyprus settlement are the most compelling arguments it
can muster on behalf of its EU aspirations.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"