US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2189

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND EB/OIA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, CASC, EINV, KCRM, KWMN, JO, TU 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS REFORM, TIP, AMCIT 
CASES WITH JUSTICE MINISTER 
 
 
REF: ANKARA 1838 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman; reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
 
1. (C) Summary: In an April 14 meeting with Justice Minister 
Cicek, the Ambassador praised GOT human rights reforms and 
encouraged further progress in the run-up to the December EU 
Summit.  He recommended the Embassy and GOT establish a 
regular exchange of information on trafficking in persons 
(TIP).  He also urged a speedy, fair resolution of legal 
proceedings in two cases involving Amcits: the Bedoian 
investment case and the Corapcioglu child custody dispute. 
Cicek said the GOT plans to adopt a package of 10-15 
constitutional amendments in May, including the abolition of 
the State Security Courts (SSCs) and the removal of National 
Security Council (NSC) nominees from the broadcasting and 
higher education boards.  The GOT is eager to enhance 
international cooperation and share information with allies 
on TIP.  He said he would check on the status of the Bedoian 
case; the Corapcioglu case should be completed shortly.  He 
also said the GOT is concerned about reports that Jordan is 
sheltering members of the Uzan family, wanted in Turkey for 
bank fraud.  End Summary. 
 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Constitutional Amendments in the Works 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
2. (SBU) The Ambassador congratulated Cicek for the progress 
the GOT has made on human rights reform.  He noted the recent 
court ruling convicting four police in the Altinbas 
death-in-detention case (reftel).  For any country, trials 
involving police defendants are among the toughest challenges 
for the judiciary.  There have been press reports of a new 
package of constitutional amendments, including the 
abolishment of the SSCs.  Any new reforms, in addition to 
implementation of previous reforms, could prove crucial at 
the December EU Summit, when the EU will decide whether to 
set a date to begin accession negotiations with Turkey. 
Cicek confirmed that the GOT is preparing a package of 10-15 
constitutional amendments.  They will include measures 
stressing gender equality and freedom of the press.  There 
are plans to abolish the SSCs; however, GOT officials are not 
discussing this issue publicly because there are a number of 
major cases currently being tried in SSCs, and they don't 
want court authorities to slacken their pace.  Once the SSCs 
are closed, the SSC caseload, which includes terrorism, will 
be handled by the heavy penal courts.  There are also plans 
to remove NSC nominees from civilian boards such as the High 
Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) and the Higher Education 
Council (YOK), as demanded by the EU.  The GOT plans to adopt 
the constitutional amendments, as well as the corresponding 
legal reforms, in May. 
 
 
-------------------------- 
Regular Data on TIP Needed 
-------------------------- 
 
 
3. (U) The Ambassador thanked Cicek for his efforts to combat 
TIP, and for providing Embassy with data on TIP-related 
arrests and prosecutions.  It would be helpful if the Justice 
Ministry could provide the Embassy with such data on a 
regular basis throughout the year.  The Ambassador also said 
he would be grateful if Cicek would raise TIP in his public 
statements, as a way to emphasize the importance of the issue 
to judges and prosecutors.  Cicek said the GOT is concerned 
about the trafficking problem in Turkey.  Organized crime and 
terrorist organizations are using human trafficking as a way 
to raise money for their operations.  TIP is a global issue; 
the GOT has made some progress in enhancing its cooperation 
with other countries to combat TIP, but would like to do much 
more.  Along those lines, he fully supports sharing 
information with the Embassy.  Cicek said he will raise TIP 
next week when he addresses chief prosecutors at a conference 
in Antalya. 
 
 
-------------------------------- 
Corapcioglu Child Abduction Case 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that an appeals court recently 
ruled in favor of the Amcit mother in the Corapcioglu child 
abduction case.  However, the father filed an appeal to the 
decision.  Given the appeals court ruling in the mother's 
favor, would it be possible for the mother to take custody of 
the child and return to the U.S. while the legal process 
continues?  Cicek said the current appeal is only a request 
for a "correction" of the previous decision.  Such requests 
are normally handled quickly. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Cicek: Islamic World Lacks "Democratic Infrastructure" 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
 
5. (U) The Ambassador said he was impressed by Cicek's speech 
at the Istanbul conference on Islamic Democracy.  Cicek said 
a major effort is required to bring democracy to Islamic 
countries.  There is currently no cultural infrastructure to 
support democracy in much of the Islamic world.  Many Islamic 
countries still operate under an ancient clan system 
incompatible with democracy.  In some countries, people 
interpret Islam in a way that makes them intolerant.  It is 
difficult, for example, for followers of Shia and Wahabi 
Islam to adopt democracy, because their religious beliefs 
prevent them from living peacefully with people who are 
different from them.  This is not true for Turkey, which long 
ago chose democracy, he asserted.  The goal for Turkey now is 
to improve the existing democratic system. 
 
 
------------ 
Bedoian Case 
------------ 
 
 
6. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that one of his top goals has 
been to find ways to attract more U.S. investment to Turkey. 
One of the obstacles has been the problems faced by a number 
of U.S. investors.  One such case involves Amcits Victor and 
Kristy Bedoian, who, along with others, invested about USD 
750,000 to renovate a hotel in Van in 2001.  They have faced 
a number of legal problems, and currently their residency and 
operating permits are being contested in administrative 
court.  The quick, fair resolution of the case would provide 
a good example of an improved investment climate in the 
country.  Cicek said he is not familiar with the case, but 
promised to look into it.  Foreign investment is important 
for Turkey, and a well-functioning judiciary gives confidence 
to foreign investors.  He said he has spent his entire 
political career fighting the kinds of corruption that scare 
away foreign investment. 
 
 
----------- 
Uzan Family 
----------- 
 
 
7. (U) Cicek said the GOT is concerned about reports that 
some members of the Uzan family, wanted for bank fraud, are 
hiding in Jordan.  If true, then Jordan is protecting them. 
Noting that Jordan has issued passports to some family 
members, he said the GOT is aware of the Uzans' "special 
relationship" with Jordan, dating back to a childhood 
friendship between a member of the family and King Abdullah. 
The GOT has not been able to confirm whether Jordan has 
followed through on Abdullah's promise to revoke the 
passports.  The Ambassador noted that we are looking for any 
of the Uzans Turkey seeks who might be hiding in the U.S., 
but none have been found. 
 
 
 
 
EDELMAN