US embassy cable - 05ANKARA2100

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, SY, LE, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA DEFENDS GOT APPROACH TO SYRIA, 
EXPRESSES INTEREST IN OBSERVING LEBANESE ELECTIONS 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) DCM discussed Turkey's Syria policy April 12 with MFA 
Director General for the Middle East Oguz Celikkol.  Celikkol 
defended President Sezer's April 13-14 visit to Damascus, and 
asserted that Sezer will deliver the same message to the 
Syrians that the international community has agreed upon: 
Syrian troops must withdraw from Lebanon and the SARG must 
not interfere in Lebanese elections.  Celikkol's deputy, 
Safak Gokturk, said that Sezer's visit will "not only be 
niceties." 
 
2. (C) Celikkol and Gokturk explained that Turkey has tried 
hard to improve relations with Syria since coming to the 
brink of war in 1998, and declared that as a neighbor Turkey 
cannot just cut off ties completely until Syria complies with 
UNSCR 1559.  Turkey supports 1559 and will tell Syria just 
that.  Turkey's overarching priority is to continue building 
economic and political ties with Syria; the GOT believes this 
will draw Syria into the world community.  Turkey also 
engages with Syria so that the SARG will no longer shelter 
and support PKK terrorists as it did until 1999.  DCM noted 
that the international community prefers to limit 
communication with Damascus on Lebanon to the UN Envoy 
Roed-Larsen channel, and that there is a risk Syria will 
exploit any possible deviation from the precise message 
Roed-Larsen is pursuing with the Syrians.  Celikkol said 
Sezer would also raise other issues, e.g. Iraq and 
Palestinian terrorists, as well. 
 
3. (C) Celikkol said that Turkey is interested in 
participating in some way in observing the elections in 
Lebanon, but that the GOL has yet to approach the GOT on this 
issue.  He thought the UN might be an appropriate body to 
monitor the elections.  MFA Department Head for the Middle 
East Mehmet Kemal Bozay subsequently told Deputy PolCouns 
that Turkey is also monitoring the election observer issue in 
the EU and OSCE in case one of those bodies takes the lead. 
EDELMAN