US embassy cable - 05ANKARA2720

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002720 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, TU 
SUBJECT: EUR DAS KENNEDY'S MAY 3 MEETING WITH MFA U/S TUYGAN 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman, E.O. 12958, 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Calling on Turkish MFA U/S Tuygan May 3, EUR 
DAS Kennedy urged continued GOT focus on trafficking in 
persons and laid out a suggested plan for bilateral 
consultations through 2005.  Tuygan appeared frustrated with 
the EU.  Kennedy urged Turkey to stay positively engaged with 
the EU, take care in its public rhetoric, and not view the EU 
as an "enemy."  She stressed the importance of religious 
freedom, including for foreign missionaries.  Tuygan tried to 
assert that religious freedom and missionary activity are 
different; Ambassador Edelman warned Tuygan this approach is 
a mistake.  Kennedy and the Ambassador stressed the 
importance of religious freedom issues to bilateral 
relations.  Armenia and Cyprus discussion septel.  End 
Summary. 
 
Bilateral Issues 
---------------- 
 
2.  (C) DAS Kennedy opened the meeting by thanking Tuygan for 
the MFA's assistance on the U.S. Incirlik cargo hub request. 
She and Ambassador Edelman both urged Tuygan to make sure 
Turkey continues focusing on trafficking in persons issues, 
including passport inserts and the proposed victims' hotline. 
 Action now is vital, as the U.S. is finalizing its annual 
TIP report. 
 
3.  (C) Kennedy gave Tuygan a list of proposed U.S./Turkey 
consultations, welcoming any ideas or suggestions Tuygan 
might have.  She suggested that Ambassador Mann could consult 
with the Turks on Nagorno-Karabakh as well as energy issues, 
and said the U.S. would be interested in consulting with 
Turkey on BMENA.  Tuygan agreed and said he would let Kennedy 
know if he had any other proposals. 
 
Turkey/EU 
--------- 
 
4.  (C) Tuygan stressed the importance Turkey attaches to 
relations with the EU, but said EU demands are stirring 
negative public opinion.  Turkey will have to handle the 
relations carefully, he added.  Kennedy said the U.S. hopes 
Turkey stays actively engaged on the EU despite frustrations. 
 Tuygan asserted that reforms are moving forward; he 
professed not to understand why there is a perception Turkey 
had lost vigor in its EU efforts. 
 
5.  (C) Ambassador Edelman explained that his EU colleagues 
in Ankara are having difficulty explaining to their capitals 
1)  why the GOT has not yet named a lead EU negotiator and 2) 
anti-EU public statements by GOT officials.  Tuygan did not 
disagree with this assessment.  However, the upcoming 
referendum in France has put a damper on enthusiasm for the 
EU.  People told us to keep a low profile, he added. 
Moreover, Turkish officials have grounds for their 
statements, which Tuygan claimed reflect Turkish public 
opinion about the EU.  Tuygan expressed concern about how the 
ECHR's upcoming decision on the Abdullah Ocalan trial will be 
received in Turkey. 
 
6.  (C) Kennedy urged that the GOT keep its public rhetoric 
about the EU positive and avoid portraying the EU as an 
enemy, such as in recent GOT assertions that the EU is 
seeking with its minority rights policies to "divide" Turkey. 
 We do not consider the EU an enemy, Tuygan averred, but they 
need to show us that they see us as a partner and engage us 
in a positive way. 
 
Religious Freedom 
----------------- 
 
7.  (C) Kennedy told Tuygan that the U.S. and EU both feel 
strongly about religious freedom issues in Turkey, including 
the treatment of Protestants and missionaries, and Halki 
Seminary.  State Minister for Religious Affairs Aydin's 
recent statements depicting missionaries as troublemakers are 
worrisome and inconsistent with a tolerant state, and have 
received significant attention in Washington. 
 
8.  (C) Tuygan tried to assert that religious freedom and 
missionary work are different, or at least perceived 
differently in Turkish public opinion.  He said the GOT is 
"working on" opening Halki Seminary, but he linked Halki to 
the rights of the Turkish minority in western Thrace, saying 
"the public expects reciprocity on the other side of the 
Aegean." 
 
9.  (C) Kennedy urged Tuygan not to hold Halki hostage to the 
situation in western Thrace.  Ambassador Edelman warned 
Tuygan that it is mistake not to consider missionary activity 
a religious freedom issue.  Everyone is trying to convince 
the EU not to be a "Christian club," and an atmosphere of 
religious freedom and tolerance in Turkey is important.  EU 
colleagues and the U.S. Congress are concerned about these 
issues, including the March 11 sermon implying that 
Christians are polytheists.  This is dangerous language and 
could spark violence against Christians in Turkey, which 
would cause significant problems with the U.S. and EU. 
Kennedy mentioned the recent attack on a Protestant church 
and drew Tuygan's attention to Ambassador Edelman's 
suggestion that a senior government official visit the site. 
 
10.  (C) Tuygan tried to insist there is no problem with 
respect for other religions in Turkey and asserted such 
respect will continue.  However, he added that "active 
missionary work is a delicate question and should be handled 
with care at this point."  Kennedy told Tuygan Turkey needs 
make sure the public understands that all religions should be 
respected, and again stressed how important this issue is for 
the U.S. and EU. 
11.  (U) DAS Kennedy has cleared this message. 
EDELMAN