TURKEY: DEMARCHE ON SHARM AL-SHAYKH RECONSTRUCTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000276 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: DEMARCHE ON SHARM AL-SHAYKH RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE REF: STATE 14575 Classified By: DCM Doug Silliman for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. Ambassador and DCM on February 18 separately delivered reftel points on the March 2 Sharm al-Shaykh conference to MFA Director General for the Middle East Huseyin Dirioz. DCM also demarched MFA Director General for International Organizations Hasan Gogus and Prime Ministry Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Hakan Fidan. Both Ambassador and DCM communicated our strong support for the March 2 Sharm al-Shaykh Gaza Reconstruction Conference. All three Turkish officials agreed that the conference should emphasize the primacy of the Palestinian Authority. They also agreed that reconstruction aid should be substantially carried out through established international bodies, though they also mentioned that some bilateral aid from Turkey would still be sent via the Red Crescent. Fidan welcomed Secretary Clinton's attendance and noted that FM Babacan would want to meet with her during the conference. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey Jeffrey