US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2906

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002906 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, TU 
SUBJECT: BLAIR VISIT TO ANKARA: MARKING A DEEPENING OF 
UK-TURKEY TIES? 
 
 
Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch; reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
 
1. (U) Summary: During a brief but concentrated visit to 
Turkey May 17, UK PM Blair assured PM Erdogan and President 
Sezer the UK will back Turkey's EU bid and work to end the 
isolation of Turkish Cypriots.  Blair and Erdogan agreed on a 
UK-initiated "Action Plan" to hold annual PM-level bilateral 
summits and enhance cooperation on a range of political, 
economic, and security issues.  The plan includes an MOU on 
counter-terrorism.  A British Embassy contact told us the 
visit reflects a growing awareness among British leaders of 
the importance of UK-Turkey relations.  End Summary. 
 
 
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Turkey, UK Adopt Action Plan 
---------------------------- 
 
 
2. (C) Ajay Sharma, head of the UK Embassy's Political 
Section, told us Blair's visit marks the start of a program 
to significantly upgrade UK-Turkey relations.  More important 
than the substance of the discussions was the symbolism of 
the visit -- the first working visit by a British PM to 
Turkey in 16 years -- combined with the broad "Action Plan" 
adopted by both sides.  The Turks understand the importance 
of Blair's decision to spend nine hours in flight for a 
six-hour visit in the midst of a tense political period in 
London, especially given that Blair will travel to Turkey in 
June to attend the NATO Summit. 
 
 
3. (C) Blair and Erdogan approved a broad "Action Plan" that 
includes: UK support for Turkey's EU candidacy; UK efforts to 
end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots; and enhanced bilateral 
cooperation on defense, security, regional stability, 
environmental safety, macroeconomic stability, and cultural 
issues.  The Plan includes an MOU on counter-terrorism, 
essentially an agreement to enhance cooperation between 
security agencies.  It also includes an agreement to hold 
annual, bilateral summits at the PM level, making Turkey one 
of only a handful of countries to hold such summits with the 
UK.  Sharma said the Plan, initiated by the UK, reflects a 
growing realization among British leaders of the need to "get 
closer to Turkey."  On a broad range of issues important to 
the UK, from the British bases on Cyprus to the smuggling of 
drugs and people into Europe, Turkey plays a central role. 
 
 
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Blair: Further Efforts for EU Needed 
------------------------------------ 
 
 
4. (C) Sharma said Blair and Erdogan covered a broad range of 
issues in their bilateral meeting, with a special emphasis on 
Cyprus and the EU.  Blair told Erdogan EU leaders are 
impressed by the reforms Turkey has adopted to meet the 
Copenhagen Criteria for EU membership.  Still, Turkey needs 
to make further efforts in advance of the December EU Summit 
to deprive the EU's Turkey skeptics of excuses for refusing 
to set a date to begin accession talks with Turkey.  For 
example, the GOT should find a way to release Leyla Zana and 
her co-defendants -- all of whom are Kurdish former MPs -- 
from prison while their conviction is under appeal.  The GOT 
should also take new measures to protect the rights of 
non-Muslims in Turkey. 
 
 
5. (C) In addition, Turkey needs to engage in a public 
relations effort to improve its image in Europe.  This should 
include information about economic development in Turkey and 
the level of economic cooperation between Turkey and EU 
states, Blair reportedly said.  Although economic issues are 
technically not among the criteria for starting accession 
talks, concerns about Turkey's economy weigh heavily on the 
minds of many in Europe.  Kemal Eruygur, head of the MFA 
Western Europe Department, said Blair told GOT leaders he 
believes Germany will back Turkey at the December Summit. 
Blair said French public opinion is against Turkey, but 
French President Chirac appears supportive.  Blair also urged 
the GOT to focus on the EU Commission's Regular Report on 
Turkey, due for release September 29.  Erdogan reportedly 
agreed with all of Blair's points.  Sharma said Sezer, who 
held a shorter meeting with Blair, urged Blair to make every 
effort to ensure the EU in December sets a date to begin 
accession talks with Turkey.  Sezer averred that a refusal by 
the EU to set a date would severely damage Turkey-EU 
relations. 
 
 
----------------------------------- 
Support, But No Specifics on Cyprus 
----------------------------------- 
 
 
5. (C) Our contacts told us Erdogan and Sezer both urged 
Blair to take the lead within the EU to end the isolation of 
the Turkish Cypriots.  Both privately and publicly, Blair 
agreed the EU must take steps to expand economic and trade 
cooperation with North Cyprus, though he did not offer any 
concrete proposals, according to Sharma and Eruygur. 
 
 
--------------------------- 
Iraq, Afghanistan Discussed 
--------------------------- 
 
 
6. (C) Sharma said Erdogan and Blair discussed the need to 
create stability in Iraq.  Contrary to some Turkish press 
reports, Blair did not ask Erdogan whether Turkey could send 
troops to Iraq.  Blair did, however, raise the issue of 
sending more Turkish troops to Afghanistan. 
EDELMAN