CYPRUS: TURKISH FM SUPPORTS PEACE PROCESS DURING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000576 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV TR CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS: TURKISH FM SUPPORTS PEACE PROCESS DURING VISIT TO THE NORTH BUT "WILL NOT WAIT FOREVER" REF: A. A. SEPTEMBER 1 KURAN-FITZPATRICK E-MAIL ¶B. B. SEPTEMBER 3 PANICO-NETOS E-MAIL ¶C. C. NICOSIA 561 Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.4 (b) and 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hit all the right notes with his Turkish Cypriot (T/C) audience during a one-day, September 1 visit to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)." The goal of the visit was to coordinate Cyprus policy with T/C leader Mehmet Ali Talat before the second round of UN-brokered peace talks that had been scheduled to begin September 3, now postponed (Ref C) until September 10. Davutoglu,s strong message of support for Talat's negotiating efforts, combined with a pointed warning to the Greek Cypriots that the status quo was unacceptable in case of failure, pleased both pro-solution activists and "TRNC" hard-liners. Talat advisers welcomed Davutoglu's visit, his second including a May 2009 trip, and praised his new MFA Cyprus team. The T/Cs continue to underscore that Davutoglu and Ankara are giving Talat a free hand in the negotiations as long as he respects Turkish "sensitivities" on guarantees, strong bizonality, and political equality. Greek Cypriots overall dismissed the visit as "illegal" and further proof of Ankara's control of Talat. End Summary. -------------- -------------- "If Solution Doesn't Happen, Status Quo Can,t Persist" -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Davutoglu's one day visit to the island on September 1 included meetings with Turkish Peace Forces Commander Lt. General Hilmi Zorlu, "TRNC PM" Dervish Eroglu, "TRNC FM" Huseyin Ozgurgun, Turkish "Ambassador" to the "TRNC" Sakir Fakili, and a three-hour meeting with Talat, following by a joint press conference. Talat's Chief of Staff Asim Akansoy (please protect) told us September 3 that Talat had sought the visit to increase Turkish engagement as well as to huddle with Davutoglu and his new Cyprus team before the second round of UN-brokered talks. Akansoy dubbed the Talat-Davutoglu encounter a "a working meeting," and said that Talat and his team still had not determined what was to be "traded" during the "give and take"; consequently, Talat was planning a trip to Ankara in the near future. ¶3. (C) Akansoy said that Talat enjoyed "unlimited" support from Davutoglu in his efforts, provided that the Turkish Cypriots respected three issues of vital importance to Ankara: strong bizonality; political equality; and the continuation of guarantees. He added that Davutoglu was largely in listening mode during the meeting with Talat. 4.(C) Talat's Press Secretary, Hasan Ercakica (please protect),told us September 4 that Talat previewed to Davutoglu the outline of a new Turkish Cypriot proposal on electing the chief executive of the federal government that would combine communal voting (a T/C concern) with election on a single ticket (a G/C position). Under the plan, the T/Cs would abandon their proposed "Presidential Council" for two rotating "Members of the Presidency"--one Greek Cypriot and one Turkish Cypriot--to be elected on a joint ticket by a communally elected Senate. It has already been agreed that the senate will consist of equal T/C and G/C representation. The T/Cs plan to table the proposal at the September 10 Leaders' meeting. Ercakica said Davutoglu liked the idea and had no objections: "As long as Ankara supports us, our right-wing anti-solution opposition really cannot foil us." An insider from Talat's pro-solution Republican Turkish Party dubbed Davutoglu "Talat's PR man" in a September 3 meeting with Embassy officers. ¶5. (C) In a joint press conference with Talat, Davutoglu voiced strong support for the present peace process while at the same time warning the Greek Cypriots that EU-targeted pressure was useless and that neither Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots would "wait for ever." He promised, however, a "zone of peace and security in the eastern Mediterranean" if the Greek Cypriots abandoned their zero-sum game positions. Davutoglu effectively mixed well-worn Turkish rhetoric about continued support and security for the "TRNC" and Turkish Cypriots with exhortations to "unite their country," a reference to the existence of a greater Cypriot entity. He made the following additional points: NICOSIA 00000576 002 OF 002 -- Turkey wants a comprehensive solution on Cyprus; -- Turkish Cypriots should support Talat and the peace process; -- Greek Cypriots should not reject a solution as in 2004 or delay the talks to gain concessions related to Turkey's EU accession; -- The UN must accelerate the pace of the process; -- If the present process fails, the continued isolation of the T/Cs is unacceptable and will not be allowed to stand: "If the (solution) doesn't happen, the (status quo) cannot persist." -------------- Praise for Davutoglu's new Cyprus Team -------------- ¶6. (C) Akansoy also praised both Davutoglu and his new MFA Cyprus team: "he is really well-versed on our issues unlike former FM Ali Babacan, who was wanting on the subject." He complained that former U/S Ertugrul Apakan, a hawk, filled "the vacuum" during the Babacan-era, much to Talat's detriment. Akansoy said that Davutoglu got rid of Apakan precisely because of his hard-line views and praised the new U/S, Feridun Sinirlioglu, who possesses a "real vision," according to Akansoy. -------------- "Explained AKP Cyprus Policy" -------------- ¶7. (C) Even right-wing Turkish Cypriots, most of whom have long quarreled with AKP over its pro-solution Cyprus policy, praised Davutoglu's message. Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the former head of the anti-solution National Unity Party (UBP) and a past "TRNC FM" (1999-2004),called Davutoglu's performance "perfect and decisive." He said that Davutoglu had finally managed to explain AKP's Cyprus policy, which hitherto been cloaked behind the actions of Talat. Ertugruloglu added that Davutoglu's emphasis on the unacceptability of the status quo,s isolation and the need to change it in the event of failure was heartening. "When I listen to Davutoglu, I know the Cyprus problem is in good hands," he added. -------------- G/Cs: Visit is Illegal -------------- ¶8. (U) All G/C papers covered Davutoglu's visit and conveyed its substance more or less accurately. Official Greek Cypriot reactions were negative, though subdued. Government Spokesman Stephanou called the visit "illegal" and urged Turkey to implement its EU obligations, namely the Additional Ankara Protocol, including opening its ports to Cypriot shipping. President Christofias said that "substantial" change was needed in Turkish policy to achieve progress in the peace talks and that Turkey should alter its attitude following the Davutoglu visit. Political parties struck a negative tone, with comments describing the visit ranging from "illegal" to "inflammatory." Only the pro-solution main opposition DISY party struck a different tack, arguing that the Davutoglu visit was another sign of Ankara's "one step ahead" Cyprus policy. ¶9. (C) Comment: This is the first time a Turkish FM has so directly aimed his message of "solution or else" at Greek Cypriots during a visit to the north. Usually, Turkey studiously avoids direct messages for the Greek Cypriots, letting Talat, for example, answer the numerous brickbats aimed at Ankara. Many Greek Cypriots, including lead Greek Cypriot negotiator George Iacovou, interpreted Davutoglu,s message as threatening. The visit also reinforced the widespread Greek Cypriot belief that Turkey is calling the shots for Talat. End Comment. URBANCIC