Cablegate: Turkey and Its Neighbors: November 1 Fm Gul Press
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
021046Z Nov 05
UNCLAS ANKARA 006547
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY AND ITS NEIGHBORS: NOVEMBER 1 FM GUL PRESS
CONFERENCE
1. Summary. In a wide-ranging November 1 press conference,
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul acknowledged a "new
phase" in U.S. - Turkish cooperation against (PKK) terrorism
and addressed developments with a number of Turkey's
problematic neighbors. His remarks on Iran in the wake of
Iranian President Ahmedinejad's troubling statement are
covered septel. End Summary.
2. Turkey - U.S. Gul noted that Turkey and the U.S. had a
special and comprehensive relationship and referred to
high-level U.S. visitors to Turkey in the preceding months.
He stressed there was "sound" cooperation between Turkey and
the U.S. in the fight against terrorism, adding that talks
were underway on this matter. While acknowledging that the
results of counter-terrorism cooperation would not be
immediately evident, he said "I can tell you we have entered
a new phase."
3. Barzani Visit. Gul appeared to downplay Iraqi Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani's official
visit to the U.S., stressing Barzani visited as the president
of a region of Iraq, as understood in the Iraqi constitution.
Gul underlined the need to maintain Iraq's territorial
integrity and warned that, while PKK terrorists were harming
Turkey today, they could just as easily harm Kurdish leaders
in northern Iraq tomorrow.
4. Iraq. Again on Iraq, Gul predicted the December
elections would be a milestone and expressed his hope that
the passage of the constitution will strengthen Iraq's
"integrity and unity." He reiterated Turkey's position that
the new assembly would have to modify the constitution to
remove its imperfections.
5. Syria. Turning to developments in Syria, Gul was more
circumspect, noting that Syria was in a sensitive period and
that Turkey was watching developments there closely in the
wake of the Mehlis report.
6. Caucasus. Addressing the south Caucasus, Gul said that
"transparent elections will make Azerbaijan stronger in
international fora." He welcomed the upcoming visit of the
Georgian Prime Minister to Turkey and noted that oil from the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline would soon reach Ceyhan. Gul
dismissed the European Parliament's resolution acknowledging
the Armenian "genocide," noting it had no force in law.
7. Terrorism. Gul was critical of Belgium for failing to
prosecute Fehriye Erdal, accused of terrorist crimes in
Turkey, but said he did not believe the Belgian court
decision not to prosecute Erdal was a political one directed
against Turkey. He hoped the Belgian government would find
"a way out" in this matter, noting the problem was in
Brussels, not Ankara. He also noted PM Erdogan would make a
one-day visit to Germany in the coming days.
8. Cyprus. Gul highlighted the importance of TRNC
"President" Talat's visit to the U.S. and noted the Turkish
proposal to lift all restrictions regarding Cyprus at the
same time. "No settlement can be reached by unilateral
efforts only," he concluded.
9. EU Accession. Gul said the EU's progress report on
Turkey and the Accession Partnership Accord is expected on
November 9. He emphasized that issues such as mother tongue
(read Kurdish language) education and having the Turkish
General Staff report to the Ministry of National Defense are
not mentioned in the draft texts. Noting that the screening
process is underway, Gul said that negotiations could be
opened on chapters after they are screened. On EU demands to
open Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot vessels by 2006, Gul said
Turkey's views were known to all. He dismissed as "pure
rhetoric" Greece's reported statement that Turkey could not
become an EU member unless it withdraws its troops from
Cyprus, noting the overall settlement issue remains on the UN
agenda. He reaffirmed Turkish support for the TRNC in the
face of Greek Cypriot intransigence over the Annan Plan.
MCELDOWNEY