TURKISH CULTURAL SEASON STILL ON IN FRANCE DESPITE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000846 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL TU FR SUBJECT: TURKISH CULTURAL SEASON STILL ON IN FRANCE DESPITE GROWING TURKISH FRUSTRATION REF: PARIS 585 Classified By: Acting Minister Counselor for Political Affairs Andrew Y oung for Reasons 1.4(b),(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Turkish Embassy Counselor Engin Solakoglu said June 19 that the "Turkish Cultural Season" in France - a series of events throughout France highlighting Turkish culture - is still on, despite Prime Minister Erdogan's recent threats during a television interview to cancel the events in response to President Sarkozy's continued vocal opposition to Turkey's EU membership. Turkish President Gul's October visit is still on the cultural events calendar, but Turkish diplomats do not expect PM Erdogan to come to France anytime in the near future. In addition, Solakoglu predicted stagnating French-Turkish economic relations and a possible political backlash by French citizens of Turkish origins against ongoing public opposition to Turkish EU aspirations. From this vantage point, Turkish frustration seems on the rise. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) During a recent interview on Turkish television station NTV, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan threatened to cancel the Turkish Cultural Season. Erdogan said, "Sarkozy will regret what he has done sooner or later," referring to recent public statements by the French president opposing Turkish membership in the EU, especially during the campaign for the European Parliament (EP) elections. According to Solakoglu, the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the French ambassador to Turkey were able at the last minute to convince Erdogan to continue with the planned cultural season, which is scheduled to begin on July 3. They argued the cultural season could help moderate French public opinion, which Solakoglu said has become "xenophobic" towards Turkey, noting that opposition to Turkish EU accession had been simplified in French politics to "No to Turkey." Solakoglu added Turkish President Gul is still scheduled to travel to Paris in October for the inauguration of an exhibit on the history of Istanbul, but said he did not expect Erdogan to come to France. ¶3. (C) Solakoglu said that though he was relieved that the cultural season was going ahead, he understood the Prime Minister's reaction. He recalled with clear bitterness a promise he said French authorities had made to him prior to the campaign for the EP elections not to use opposition to Turkish EU accession as a campaign point since this session of the EP would not be considering Turkish membership (see reftel). Solakoglu said this promise was broken by Sarkozy and other UMP members repeatedly bringing up Turkey in campaign speeches. ¶4. (C) Solakoglu acknowledged that Turkey was an easy target for President Sarkozy, since a majority of his party members and of French voters are opposed to its EU membership. Even the left is split on the issue, he added. Solakoglu even suggested Turkey should "make France pay" for cultivating Turkey as a political straw man, opining that hundreds of thousands of French citizens of Turkish origin might begin opposing politicians who do not support Turkish EU membership or that France-Turkey economic relations could stagnate as Turkish businesses and consumers rejected French partners and products. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Solakoglu's irritation with the French political class - and particularly President Sarkozy - was palpable. Indeed, the UMP's opposition to Turkish EU membership was one of the few concrete issues publicly highlighted during the EP campaign. However, while deferring to Embassy Ankara for its judgment, the strategies Solakoglu proffered for "punishing" France, just like Erdogan's outburst, likely reflect not so much Turkish foreign policy as simple frustration at what seems to have become an unmovable cornerstone of President Sarkozy's political platform. END COMMENT. BERRY