US embassy cable - 04ANKARA5014

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005014 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2029 
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, MNUC, TRGY, IR, TU 
SUBJECT: IAEA/IRAN - TURKEY TO SPEAK OUT AT UNGA, BUT FEARS 
UNSC REFERRAL BEFORE GROUND IS PREPARED 
 
REF: FBIS IAP20040901000098 
 
Classified By: PolMil Counselor Timothy A. Betts.  Reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Turkish FM Gul is expected to voice Turkey's 
concerns about Iran's nuclear program at the UNGA, but MFA 
worries that referring Iran's case to the Security Council 
before the outcome there is assured might actually accelerate 
Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) The Tehran Times reported on Sept. 1 that Turkish 
Ambassador to Iran Halit Bozkurt Aran had told a member of 
the Majlies that Turkey supported Iran's right to the 
peaceful use of nuclear energy (ref).  This was replayed in 
the Turkish press on Sept. 3.  During a Sept. 3 meeting on 
another subject, Polmilcouns and EXBS Advisor raised these 
reports with MFA Deputy Director General for Disarmament and 
Arms Control Haluk Ilicak. 
 
3. (C) Ilicak had not seen Ambassador Aran's reported 
remarks.  He confirmed that part of Turkey's position is that 
Art. 6 of the NPT does give Iran the right to use nuclear 
power for peaceful purposes, but Turkey has real concerns 
about Iran's nuclear program, he emphasized.  Reading from 
talking points prepared for Foreign Minister Gul's use at the 
UNGA, Ilicak said Gul would urge Iran to uphold its 
responsibilities under the NPT and the additional protocol. 
Gul would also note how Iran's concealing of its violations 
of the NPT and its commitments to the EU-3 over the 
centrifuge had increased Turkey's concern.  Gul would also 
praise Russia for its position not to supply fuel to the 
Bushehr plant until the subsequent return of that fuel is 
assured.  Ilicak was confident that Ambassador Aran 
understood the policy since he had been in Ankara the week of 
August 23 and had discussed it in a meeting with Gul and 
Ilicak.  He presumed that the ambassador's remarks were taken 
out of context. 
 
4. (C) Regarding the IAEA's upcoming meeting, Ilicak said he 
had read the report on Iran.  He thought the IAEA concerns 
were serious, but he had doubts about whether now was the 
time for the IAEA Board of Governors to refer the matter to 
the UN Security Council.  If the UNSC refused to take action, 
then the IAEA's inspections would most likely cease.  Iran 
would have no incentive to cooperate and would proceed 
unencumbered by inspectors.  Ilicak thought that eventually 
the case would need to be referred to the UNSC, but before 
that happens, the ground must first be laid within the 
Council to ensure the proper outcome.  While he did not 
believe that this groundwork had been done now, he hoped it 
would in be in the near future because "once Iran has the 
bomb, it will be too late." 
EDELMAN