US embassy cable - 05ANKARA916

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000916 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, SY, LE, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY ON HARIRI MURDER AND SYRIA 
 
REF: A. STATE 272178 
 
     B. ANKARA 296 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Responding to our approach (ref A) by 
averring that evidence of Syrian involvement in the Hariri 
murder is currently unclear, Turkish MFA interlocutors show 
no inclination to deviate from the line of warming 
Turkish-Syrian relationship and seem to ignore the larger 
point that Syrian troop and security presence destabilizes 
Lebanon and threatens fair elections.  We see no evidence the 
MFA is currently inclined to press the Syrians to withdraw 
troops and security forces.  We reiterated our opposition to 
the Turkey/Syria free trade agreement (ref B).  End summary. 
 
2.  (C) DCM used ref A with Turkish MFA Middle East DG 
Celikkol and poloff delivered points to Middle East 
Department Head Bozay.  Celikkol (Turkey's immediate former 
Ambassador to Syria) responded to DCM by asking whether the 
U.S. has evidence of Syrian involvement.  DCM replied that is 
not the issue; the issue is pressing the Syrians to support a 
rapid investigation and to live up to UNSCR 1559. 
 
3.  (C) Bozay agreed the Hariri murder is terrorism and 
unacceptable, and that the perpetrators should be brought to 
justice.  He also agreed that Syria should obey UNSCR 1559. 
He claimed the GOT "always" emphasizes this in discussions 
with the Syrians.  Bozay said Turkey will condemn the Syrian 
involvement in Hariri's murder if a connection is 
established, adding that such a connection has not yet been 
established. 
 
4.  (C) Both appeared to either resist or perhaps not grasp 
the larger point that Syrian troop and security presence is 
destabilizing and threatens Lebanon's upcoming elections. 
Asked whether the MFA plans to press the Syrians to withdraw 
troops, Bozay responded that it is unclear who is responsible 
for Hariri's murder.  He predicted Turkey will not take any 
such initiative vis-a-vis Syria now, but will wait to see 
what the UNSC does. 
 
5.  (C) The MFA issued two bland statements on February 14 
condemning Hariri's murder, expressing condolences and 
praising Hariri's contributions to Turkish-Lebanese 
relations.  Neither statement contains even a veiled 
reference to Syria.  Bozay told us that FM Gul personally 
received Lebanon's Ambassador on February 15 and extended his 
personal condolences.  Bozay asserted that the statements and 
the visit should be "signals to partners like you and to our 
neighbors."  We responded that a direct message to Syria, 
like the one in ref A, is better. 
 
6.  (C) With Bozay, we took the opportunity to reiterate our 
opposition to the Turkey/Syria free trade agreement and urge 
Turkey not to ratify it.  Bozay reiterated the reasons for 
the agreement, adding that it is an EU requirement to 
harmonize trade with countries like Syria that have an EU 
association agreements. 
 
7.  (C) Comment:  Based the responses we received, we doubt 
the MFA is currently inclined to press the Syrians to 
withdraw troops and security forces.  End Comment. 
EDELMAN