US embassy cable - 04ANKARA5820

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005820 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2014 
TAGS: CY, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE TURKISH FLEXIBILITY ON UNFICYP MOVEMENT 
RESTRICTIONS 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 5234 
 
     B. 5 OCTOBER 2004 PALMER/BLAHA E-MAIL 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d), 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request.  See paragraph 6. 
 
2.  (C) In ref A, on September 13 Turkish MFA Cyprus 
Department Head Bilman claimed no knowledge of any 
restrictions in UNFICYP movement imposed by Turks or Turkish 
Cypriots.  On October 13, we supplied Bilman with points 
about the restrictions based on ref B. 
 
3.  (C) Bilman told us he visited the island last week and he 
conceded the restrictions as set forth in ref B.  Bilman 
claimed he had "tested the waters" and thinks that "certain 
steps" could be taken to ease then restrictions.  However, he 
said there is concern on the island over whether such 
concessions by the Turkish/TC side would be adequately 
reflected in the UNSCR on UNFICYP renewal. 
 
4.  (C) If restrictions were eased, the Turks would want that 
noted in the UNSCR.  If the restrictions were eliminated, the 
Turks/TCs would want to see language urging recision of the 
restrictions removed from the UNSCR.  Bilman, who worked at 
the Turkish Mission to the UN for four years, said that, 
based on his experience, the only way to guarantee such 
changes to the UNFICYP UNSCR would be for the SYG to write a 
letter to the UNSC noting the changes, or to write an 
addendum to the September 28 UNFICYP report.  Otherwise, he 
claimed, some UNSC members (i.e., Russia) will claim an 
insufficient factual basis for inclusion of such language. 
 
5.  (C) Bilman stressed that these are only his ideas from 
having visited the island, and that he had not yet discussed 
them with the military or senior levels of the MFA.  While 
not completely certain the Turkish/TC side is prepared to 
ease the restrictions, he believes there is a "good chance" 
if the above concerns are met. 
 
6.  (C) Action request:  We request that the Department ask 
USUN to make appropriate inquiries and inform us of the 
possibility of changes to the draft text in the event the 
Turks/TCs ease or remove restrictions on UNFICYP movements. 
EDELMAN