SUDAN: TURKEY UNDECIDED ON POTENTIAL ARTICLE 16

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000235 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP -- GOLDENBERG, FITZGERALD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019 TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SU TU XA XW SUBJECT: SUDAN: TURKEY UNDECIDED ON POTENTIAL ARTICLE 16 UNSCR REF: STATE 12900 Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador raised reftel points with MFA U/S Apakan on February 12. Apakan asked what the US would do should the proposed UNSCR come to a vote. Ambassador underscored USG support for the ICC in pursuit of those who have perpetuated war crimes, and reiterated our interest in having this not come to a vote in the first place. We also delivered the same demarche to MFA Africa Section Chief Aykut Kumbaroglu. Kumbaroglu said the GOT is studying the issue and has yet to decide on its position. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Sudanese Vice President Taha and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Mefin both visited Ankara this week to solicit Turkey's assistance on this issue as a non-permanent UNSC member. Both PM Erdogan and FM Babacan reportedly declined to offer an opinion, opting instead to reiterate Turkey's support for Sudan's territorial integrity and political unity. Given the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) dialogue with Sudanese President Bashir, increasing pressure from African nations to represent their view on the UNSC as promised, and Ankara's history of supporting the OIC position in the UNGA, the GOT is unlikely to make any choice other than abstention if a vote occurs. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey Jeffrey