TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN THE MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000933 SIPDIS S/SECC FOR TODD STERN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019 TAGS: PREL SENV TU SUBJECT: TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN THE MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM Classified By: Ambassador James Jeffrey for reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (U) For Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern from Ambassador James Jeffrey ¶2. (C) We understand that the NSC notified the Turkish Embassy in Washington on June 30 that the USG would not support Turkey's proposed participation in the July 9 Major Economies Forum meeting in Italy. Our understanding is that this request originated with the Italian government, not with the Turks. Nevertheless, it is quite likely that Prime Minister Erdogan will take our refusal as a personal snub. He will be in L'Aquila on the 9th but all his peers will be in meetings he is not allowed to attend. ¶3. (C) I understand the substantive reasons why we do not want Turkey to parachute into the MEF at this late date. It is frankly difficult for me to argue that the Turks would be able to make any substantive contributions on such short notice. ¶4. (C) So I am ready and willing to support the decision to say no, provided that the USG does not allow any other countries to come in at the last minute. If we allow any other new country to participate in the MEF, then the rejection of Turkey will be seen here as a political act, not a policy decision, and I will argue actively that Turkey also be admitted to the MEF. We have too many immediate, national security issues that we are actively engaged in with Turkey -- Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, Syria, the Middle East peace process, and energy. The Prime Minister is the key decisionmaker on Turkish policy for all of these issues, and he is far less likely to be cooperative if we embarrass him at the Summit by admitting another new country without admitting Turkey. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey JEFFREY