US embassy cable - 05ANKARA1049

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001049 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, CY, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY SET TO NEGOTIATE ANKARA AGREEMENT EXTENSION 
 
REF: ANKARA 879 
 
(U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter, E.O. 
12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) A Turkish delegation travels to Brussels March 1 to 
begin negotiating the text of the Ankara Agreement extension 
protocol.  The Turkish MFA foresees no major problem 
negotiating a text Turkey can sign.  The tricky part will be 
crafting the inevitable Turkish statement that the extension 
does not constitute recognition of the ROC.  The Turks are 
coming armed with legal opinions on what text will prevent 
this; the EU will press for softer language; the MFA 
anticipates ROC opposition no matter what the language.  End 
Summary. 
 
Turkish Delegation to Brussels March 1 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) A Turkish MFA delegation travels to Brussels March 1 
to begin negotiating the text of Ankara Agreement extension 
protocol with the European Commission and to get a better 
understanding of the procedure by which the EU will approve 
it.  MFA Acting DDG for Northeastern Mediterranean Affairs 
Bilman still foresees no major problems negotiating a text 
that Turkey can sign.  However, the Turkish delegation 
includes hard-line MFA legal expert Bolukbasi (currently 
Turkish permrep to the WTO and head of the Turkish 
negotiating team for the abortive OIF northern front option 
in 2002-2003). 
 
3.  (C) Negotiations will center around whether the protocol 
should cover all countries that have entered the EU since 
1963, when the Ankara Agreement was signed, or simply those 
that entered in May 2004; and the form of Turkey's addendum 
emphasizing the protocol does not constitute recognition of 
the ROC. 
 
4.  (C) The GOT would prefer, but will probably not insist, 
the protocol cover all countries that have entered the EU 
since 1963, not just the ten that entered in May 2004. 
Otherwise, Bilman wonders how the Agreement can be extended 
to the other EU countries.  Bilman claims the ROC opposes 
this idea out of what he depicts as unreasoning concern that 
this waters down the effect of the extension to the ROC. 
 
The Tricky Part:  Non-Recognition of the ROC 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Crafting the form of Turkey's inevitable statement 
that the extension does not constitute Turkish recognition of 
the ROC will be tricky.  Turkey originally envisioned 
labeling it a "reservation," but will probably settle for 
denominating it a "footnote" or "declaration." 
 
6.  (C) The MFA has solicited legal opinions on how to craft 
the text to prevent the ROC from claiming that the protocol 
constitutes recognition.  An EU colleague here said EU 
countries are pressing the Turks to soften their language in 
order to keep the ROC from rallying support against the 
protocol.  For example, Bilman claims the UK suggests the 
Turkish non-recognition language be accompanied by a 
statement that Turkey still seeks permanent settlement.  No 
matter what the language, Bilman anticipates ROC opposition 
to the protocol. 
EDELMAN