Cablegate: Turkey's Support to Foundation for the Future

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

241434Z Oct 05

UNCLAS ANKARA 006401

SIPDIS

DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO ALL NEAR EAST COLLECTIVE

SENSITIVE

FOR EUR/ERA - BONO, NEA/PI - WINCUP AND EUR/SE - YOUNTCHI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV PHUM EU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S SUPPORT TO FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

REF: A. STATE 190853

B. SIEBENTRITT/WINCUP/BONO E-MAILS OCT 21

1. (SBU) Poloff discussed Turkey's support for the
Foundation for the Future October 21 with MFA Policy Planning
officer Levent Gumrukcu. Asked about Turkey's likely
contribution to the Foundation, Gumrukcu said his office had
proposed USD 500,000 and was awaiting Foreign Minister Gul's
approval. He said he expected the figure to stand, however,
with an official announcement in a few days. Gumrukcu said
he was aware of the USD 1 million minimum pledge and
explained that USD 500,000 was all that the MFA could spare
from its current BMENA budget without jeopardizing Turkey's
Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) projects. He said that
additional funds may be found in a future budget cycle.

2. (SBU) Gumrukcu appreciated our providing Foundation and
Fund for the Future concept papers for comment. He said the
GOT is concerned the USD 1 million floor on contributions to
the Foundation may discourage some smaller donors in the
region and wondered if this ante could be made less strict.
According to Gumrukcu, Turkey may also suggest that the ban
on government officials on the Foundation Board be modified
to allow a limited number of widely-respected technocrats to
serve, in order to give interested governments the sense they
are participating. He admitted this end could also be served
via a separate government steering committee.
MCELDOWNEY

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