US embassy cable - 05ANKARA348

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINS, TU 
SUBJECT: CODEL KYL 10 JANUARY MEETINGS WITH TGNA SPEAKER 
ARINC AND DPM/FM GUL 
 
REF: ANKARA 000242 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch; reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  On 10 January, a CODEL led by Senator Jon 
Kyl, including Senator Murkowski, Senator Martinez and 
Representative Adam Smith, met separately with Turkish Grand 
National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker Bulent Arinc and DPM/FM 
Abdullah Gul.  Speaker Arinc noted Turkey's recent 
EU-oriented reforms and successes, but also stressed the 
Turkish public's concerns regarding perceived US inaction on 
the PKK/Kongra-Gel and Turkoman issues.  DPM/FM Gul stressed 
the importance of US-Turkish cooperation and Turkish 
contributions to the U.S.-led global war on terrorism (GWOT) 
in Afghanistan and Iraq, but he also emphasized the 
importance of the PKK issue.  End Summary. 
 
 
Meeting With Speaker Arinc 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (C) TGNA Speaker Arinc opened the meeting by noting that 
inter-parliamentary meetings are important and expressed his 
wish to visit with Speaker Hastert when Arinc, at some future 
date, visits Washington.  In the last two years, the TGNA has 
passed laws reforming Turkey's constitution and legal system 
in order to meet the EU's Copenhagen Criteria.  Turkey does 
not know how long the EU process will continue, but there is 
broad domestic consensus to support the process.  Turkey is 
uncomfortable with what it perceives as US inaction against 
PKK/Kongra-Gel, but the government is hopeful that the 
trilateral PKK talks (Reftel) will be successful.  The 
Turkish public, moreover, is uncomfortable with certain 
incidents in Iraq and concerned about the status of the 
Turkoman population.  All groups in Iraq should be treated 
equally and innocent people -- especially the Turkoman in 
Kirkuk -- should be protected.  Turkey has cooperated with 
the US to bring peace to the Balkans and Afghanistan and the 
US can trust Turkey to cooperate on Iraq.  Arinc also noted 
that over 70 Turkish truck drivers have died in Iraq. 
 
3. (C) Senator Kyl thanked Arinc for his support for the 
historically strong US-Turkish relationship.  The U.S. 
appreciates Turkey's support for the GWOT and U.S.-led 
operations in Iraq and hopes that Turkey's EU process will be 
successful.  Senator Kyl noted that the U.S. is concerned by 
recent anti-American statements made in Turkey, but the U.S. 
hopes that the relationship will be restored.  Senator Kyl 
also related PM Sharon's hope that Turkey can play a positive 
role in the MEPP.  Kyl noted that the U.S. Congress will 
support close Israeli-Turkish cooperation on the MEPP. 
 
 
Meeting With FM Gul 
------------------- 
 
4. (C) DPM/FM Gul started by noting that Turkey understands 
the problem of terrorism because it has a long history with 
the problem.  Terrorists do not have to defend territory and 
they are fighting against the values -- democracy, human 
rights, and transparency -- that the US represents.  Gul said 
that "we" should push for our universal values without 
undermining local values.  Gul insisted that terrorism should 
not be identified with a specific religion and asserted that 
terrorism is rooted in social conditions, e.g. public 
oppression, oppression of religion, lack of hope, lack of 
political transparency, income inequality, and abridgment of 
freedom of speech. 
 
5. (C) Gul was pleased with recent developments in Israel and 
the Palestinian territories.  He claimed that the Turks can 
play a positive role in the MEPP because they have a long 
history with both peoples.  Gul also believed that after the 
US election, President Bush is in a strong domestic political 
position and is therefore able to bring "justice" to the 
Israeli-Palestinian problem.  Turkey supports Israel's 
withdrawal from Gaza and believes that the implementation of 
the "Road Map" is important.  Turkey is also playing a key 
role by training Palestine's future diplomats and doctors. 
The PA must also reform, adopt new policies, and improve its 
internal structure.  Gul claimed that Abbas believes he can 
control both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but Israel must be 
strong too.  Abbas must control the suicide bombers and 
Israel must stop the targeted killings. 
 
6. (C) Senator Kyl noted that the Sharon government is taking 
huge political risks with its Gaza pullout plan and Abbas 
must be willing to take political risks too.  Gul said he 
agreed, but countered by noting that Likud and Labor had come 
together in a new cabinet; therefore, Gul argued, the pullout 
is a "strategic" Israeli decision.  Gul said that Abbas will 
stop the terrorists, but he will need support.  Senator Kyl 
complemented Gul on Turkey's leadership and the important 
role that Turkey has played in the GWOT, but he noted that 
some anti-American comments have been "over the top" and 
"outrageous".  Gul and others senior members of the party 
need to lead Turkish public opinion. 
 
7. (C) For over 60 years, according to Gul, the traditional 
Turkish foreign policy position has been to support 
U.S.-Turkish strategic cooperation.  The 1 March 2003 vote 
did not go the way the USG wanted, but Gul said that he had 
warned Washington that 95 percent of the Turkish public was 
against the war.  The GOT has tried its best to help the U.S. 
on Iraq, but Turkey needs more cooperation and consultation 
with the USG.  The U.S. and Turkey share the same goals in 
Iraq.  Gul emphasized the ways in which Turkey is helping the 
U.S. in Iraq: providing logistical support and access to 
Turkish air space, airfields, and seaports; two thousand 
Turkish truck drivers operating in Iraq bringing supplies to 
US forces and Iraqi citizens.  He claimed that Turkey has 
lost more citizens in Iraq than any other country after the 
U.S. and Iraq.  Turkey, moreover, will send 2,000 troops to 
Afghanistan in February when the GOT takes over ISAF for the 
second time. 
 
8. (C) Gul also emphasized that public expectations are 
running high regarding the trilateral PKK talks.  The Turkish 
leadership understands that military operations may not be in 
the offing, but the USG has the capacity to take other steps 
such as intelligence sharing and "dealing" with PKK leaders. 
Gul noted that the Turkish people like Americans, but recent 
anti-US propaganda has been damaging.  Gul promised that PM 
Erdogan and Gul would both attempt to deal with "silly 
statements" like those from TGNA Human Rights Committee Chair 
(and AK party member) Elkatmis claiming the U.S. committed 
genocide and used atomic weapons in Iraq.  Gul also requested 
support for Turkey in the event that an Armenian genocide 
bill is introduced in Congress.  Senator Kyl told Gul that 
recent anti-Americanism in Turkey could complicate that 
effort.  During a press stakeout after the Gul meeting, one 
reporter asked Senator Kyl about the effect of Elkatmis,s 
statement on a possible Armenian genocide resolution in the 
U.S. Congress.  Senator Kyl responded that he was not certain 
what effect it would have, but it would not be beneficial. 
 
9.  (C) Comment: The CODEL brought a message the Turkish 
political leadership sorely needed to hear: over-the-top 
anti-US statements incur political costs in the US, including 
in the US Congress.  End Comment. 
EDELMAN