PM ERDOGAN RAISES HOPES OF MINORITY COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000323 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CLASSIFIED BY AND REASON) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV TU OSCE GR SUBJECT: PM ERDOGAN RAISES HOPES OF MINORITY COMMUNITY ISTANBUL 00000323 001.2 OF 002 Classified by: DPO Win Dayton for reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On August 15, in an unprecedented event, Prime Minister Erdogan spoke to 150 business, community, and religious leaders during a lunch on Buyukada Island, also attended by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Prominent human rights lawyer Kezban Hatimi, the CHP Mayor of the Princes' Islands Mustafa Farsakoglu, and Minister for European Affairs Egemen Bagis organized the event. Consulate General Istanbul's DPO and Political Officer also attended. The PM's remarks focused on the importance of a broader understanding of Turkish citizenship and the "democratic opening" initiative that will include several short and long-term steps to be revealed in October. Erdogan broadened the definition of what was earlier considered a Kurdish package to a democratic package for all Turkish citizens in a speech that many considered positive and bold. In addition to the major minority religious leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, State Minister Faruk Celik, Minister of Culture Ertugrul Gunay, Minister of Education Nimet Cabukcu, and Minister Egemen Bagis were in attendance. End Summary. Broader Democratization Initiative -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Erdogan's speech focused on the need for a broad initiative to enhance democracy for all of Turkey's citizens of all ethnicities and religions, saying that "this package will comprise the rights of all 71.5 million Turkish citizens. Everyone will benefit from this package in line with the constitutional principle of equality." He reminisced on playing soccer with his Armenian and Greek "brothers" when he was younger, stressing the broad ethnic and religious definition of Turkish citizenship. Erdogan recalled the "three red lines" for his administration that he laid out eight years ago: he would discourage any nationalism based upon region, ethnicity, or religion. He closed his speech with a brief overview of the infrastructural investment made in the southeast and the wealth of resources, like tourism, that Turkey can continue to develop that would lead to a better life for all Turks. The AKP is currently surveying political, business, and civil society actors of all sectors in the formation of its democratization package �0A;it says it will release in October. In daily Today's Zaman's August 17 write-up on the lunch, it reported that the reform package would be strategically released prior to the European Union's progress report in November, with planned implementation by January 2010. Expectations and Skepticism -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Invitations for the lunch went out only the day before leading island residents and many in the audience to speculate about Erdogan's intentions and potential speech topic. Island residents, not traditionally supporters of AKP, were skeptical about Erdogan's intentions and the heavy security posted at the port and near the Anatolian Club's entrance. The Ecumenical Patriarch shared with us prior to the Prime Minister's arrival that he had great hopes for the lunch and Erdogan's speech, and other contacts noted that they anticipated remarks about the opening of Halki Seminary. In addition to the Ecumenical Patriarch, Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan Yusuf Cetin, Armenian Archbishop Aram Atesyan, Jewish Community President Sylvio Ovadya, and Syriac Catholic Monsignor Yusuf Cag were in attendance. Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva was unable to attend because the lunch was held on Shabbat. Prime Minister Meets Patriarch, Visits Greek Orthodox Sites -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) While the Prime Minister did not mention Halki in his remarks, he did meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch and representatives of the Greek Orthodox community at St. George's church and the Buyukada Orphanage for two hours after lunch. A representative from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Father Dositheos, shared that Erdogan and the Ecumenical Patriarch had a private conversation in which the Patriarch voiced the Greek Orthodox community's concerns. Another contact from the Patriarchate told POLOFF that Erdogan's visit to the Greek religious and community sites as a "good positive, almost tangible step that had never happened before in the Prime Minister's tenure. It really is quite something." Reaction to Speech and Event Positive but Hesitant -------------- -------------- ISTANBUL 00000323 002.2 OF 002 Classified by: DPO Win Dayton for reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶5. (C) Several of those in attendance at the lunch were impressed by the Prime Minister's visit and content with the content of the speech, but felt left empty-handed. Two journalist contacts said they were happy with "all this talk" about the democratic opening but were doubtful anything substantive would come of the movement given the lack of action. Two other contacts, one active in interfaith cultural planning and the other the Greek deputy principal officer, said they were heartened and encouraged by this "brave new tack in Erdogan's approach to working with all of Turkey's citizens." Influential columnist Semih Idiz from daily Milliyet commented, however, that Erdogan still has to prove that he is not just another populist politician. "While doing this, he has to consider the political risks awaiting him and proceed despite those. Erdogan says important things but we are still not convinced that he could deliver those. Time will tell." Columnist Yusuf Kanli in Hurriyet Daily News on August 17 considered the meeting to be a major step in the right direction and "good news because the 'democracy problems' of this country are not limited to the complaints of the ethnic Kurdish people." On August 16, independent daily Taraf referred to the meeting as "historic" and reported optimistically on the hopes for positive next steps following the speech. Conservative daily Zaman also reported on the meeting, noting only that "many things will change in our country." ¶6. (SBU) Comment. The Prime Minister's acceptance of an invitation to speak at a lunch hosted by a slew of CHPers on Buyukada attended by leaders of the religious minorities in Turkey was a surprise to many in attendance. His discussion of the Kurdish initiative and a basic "redefinition" of the traditional understanding of Turkish citizenship to embrace minorities and provide equal democratic rights to all would have been unlikely only a year ago. Jews and Christians constitute less than two percent of the Turkish population. By marketing an inclusive interpretation of the initiative directly to them, Erdogan may hope to generate favor among their supporters in Greece, the EU, Israel and the United States. End comment. DAYTON