Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NICOSIA576
2009-09-11 13:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:  

CYPRUS: TURKISH FM SUPPORTS PEACE PROCESS DURING

Tags:  PREL PGOV TR CY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0134
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1521
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)

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