US embassy cable - 05ANKARA912

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000912 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AID FOR TMEFFORD AND VKWOK 
TREASURY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - RADKINS AND MMILLS 
NSC FOR BRYZA AND MCKIBBEN 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, EFIN, TU 
SUBJECT: ESF SIGNING CEREMONY GENERATES POSITIVE NEWS 
COVERAGE 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: On February 7, the Ambassador participated 
in a signing ceremony for the $9 million U.S. ESF grant to 
the World Bank to be used for conditional cash payments to 
poor families.  Remarks by the Ambassador, World Bank 
director, Turkish Treasury Undersecretary and the manager of 
the project, helped publicize the project and the U.S. role. 
The event garnered substantial attendance from the press, 
who produced ample, and mostly favorable, coverage. 
Combined with the largely positive coverage of the 
Secretary's visit, Turkish newspaper readers have been given 
 
SIPDIS 
a break from the relentlessly negative coverage of the U.S. 
This demonstrates, however, that a modest allocation of ESF 
funds can play a useful Post believes this kind of event can 
play a useful role in countering anti-Americanism in 
Turkey.here, justifying the relatively modest allocation of 
ESF funds.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
-------------- 
Ambassador Speaks at Signing Ceremony at Turkish Treasury: 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
-------------- 
 
 
 
2. (SBU) The U.S. Government's $9 million grant to the World 
Bank for the Social Risk Mitigation Project of the Turkish 
Social Solidarity Fund, was signed at athe ceremony at 
Turkish Treasury.  As the Ambassador witnessed the U.S. 
grant letter of agreement, which had been previously signed 
by USAID DAA Mefford (who also attended), the World Bank and 
Turkish Treasury signed the companion  agreement under which 
the Bank passes the funds on to the GOT for use by the 
Turkish Social Solidarity Fund to disburse to poor families 
under the project. 
 
3. (SBU) In addition to the Ambassador, Treasury 
Undersecretary Ibrahim Canakci, World Bank Director Andrew 
Vorkink, and Project Director Yadigar Gokalp also spoke at 
the ceremony.  In his remarks, the Ambassador highlighted 
the U.S. desire to help the poorest families in Turkey, and 
noted the U.S. interest in education issues and, in 
particular, increasing school enrollment rates for girls, 
one of the goals of the project.  He highlighted the 
historical role U.S. public and private institutions, 
including USAID, have played in supporting education and 
development in Turkey in the past.  The other speakers 
thanked the U.S. for its contribution, and used the event to 
help publicize the project itself, which is gradually 
increasing its nationwide coverage and delivery.  The 
project now reaches nearly 1.2 million beneficiaries, all 
from the poorest 6% of Turkish society. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Good Press Attendance and Coverage: 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU)  Due to the Embassy's and the Whether because of 
Turkish Treasury's or the Embassy's efforts to call in the 
press and as a result of or because of heightened interest 
in bilateral relations on the heels of the Secretary's 
visit, the event was well attended.  Most major newspapers 
and at least one television station gave the signing 
prominent ran coverage pieces the following day,  about it, 
with some headlines crediting  the alluding to U.S. for 
supporting  for the poor.  Most of the coverage was 
straightforward, with none of the misinformation and 
twisting and conspiracy theories about U.S. motives that are 
is common herein Turkey's media. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 ESF Funding Helps US Image in Turkey: 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
5. (SBU) Later this month, the Ambassador intends to build 
on the signing event by visiting a school in a poor 
neighborhood of Ankara with a high proportion of students 
benefiting from the program.  We will also find other ways 
to continue to highlight our support to the Turkish people. 
Post believes the Ppositive coverage, such as that received 
by this grant, which "changesd the subject"  regarding 
America, and highlightsed U.S. friendship and help to the 
most disadvantaged Turks. It, is an  important element to 
counter anti-Americanism here.  Post believes that the 
positive image-buildIn addition to helping those in need, 
the positive image building, and the usefulness of this kind 
of project show howjustifies we can use a limited the 
relatively modest sumsESF allocation to make a tangible 
difference under consideration in the future for ESF in 
Turkey.