US embassy cable - 05ANKARA2721

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2015 
TAGS: CY, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: EUR DAS KENNEDY DISCUSSES CYPRUS IN ANKARA, MAY 3 
 
REF: NICOSIA 0728 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman, E.O. 12958 reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  In May 3 meetings with Turkish MFA and NSC 
officials, Turkish parliamentarians, and press, DAS Kennedy 
emphasized that the Greek Cypriots need to lay out their 
objections to the Annan Plan with clarity and finality.  At 
the same time, Turkey must search for ways to promote overall 
Cyprus settlement.  MFA officials said restrictions on 
UNFICYP will soon be lifted, Ledra Street and Zodhia will be 
opened soon, but Strovilia will have to wait "for another 
day."  The GOT is concerned about Greek Cypriot court actions 
in property cases (reftel).  Kennedy urged that the Turkish 
Cypriots not reject EU aid if de-linked from trade, and 
consider opening Famagusta under some auspices if there were 
a carefully structured proposal.  NSC SecGen Alpogan said the 
NSC aims to recommend to the GOT that Turkey launch a 
proposal to get the parties back to the negotiating table. 
End Summary. 
 
Kennedy:  Lack of Settlement A Problem in the Long Run 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
2.  (C) U/S Tuygan told Kennedy Turkey is prepared to move 
forward on Cyprus if the Greek Cypriots spell out their 
objections to the Annan Plan.  Kennedy replied that the Greek 
Cypriot idea of expressing "areas of concern" does not appear 
capable of producing the clarity and finality the SYG 
requires.  Tuygan said an "extraneous issue like Cyprus" 
should not cloud Turkish/EU relations.  Kennedy agreed, but 
reminded Tuygan of the importance of signing the Ankara 
Agreement extension protocol before October 3 and that, in 
the long run, lack of a Cyprus settlement would sour 
Turkish/EU relations.  Kennedy and Ambassador Edelman both 
assessed as positive the possible role of EU Cyprus special 
advisor Blomberg as long as the UN kept the negotiating lead. 
 
UNFICYP, Demining, Missing Persons 
---------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) DAS Kennedy encouraged Deputy U/S Apakan to move 
ahead on proposed lifting of restrictions on UNFICYP and on 
returning Strovilia to the military status quo prior to 2000. 
 The U.S. will work in the UN to get Turkey the credit it 
deserves for these improvements.  Apakan replied Turkey is 
taking steps to remove the UNFICYP restrictions, including at 
the Dherinia crossing point.  In light of this, Turkey wants 
references to restrictions excised from the UNSCR text and 
hopes the report will reflect Turkey's positive moves. 
 
4.  (C) Apakan predicted that Ledra Street and the Zodhia 
crossing will be opened "in due time," but Strovilia is "a 
different case."  Acting DDG Bilman added that "Stoivilia 
will have to wait."  Kennedy told both Apakan and National 
Security Council Secretary General Alpogan she hoped Turkey 
will move soon on Strovilia.  Alpogan called Strovilia "a 
minor issue" and said the U.S. should not push on it, this 
only encouraged Greek Cypriot intransigence.  Kennedy pointed 
out the issue was of primary interest to UN, not the Greek 
Cypriots or the U.S.; in any event, it is in Turkey's and the 
Turkish Cypriots' interest to resolve it. 
 
5.  (C) Apakan also told Kennedy Turkey and the Turkish 
Cypriots are ready to sign the mine clearing protocol and 
have so informed UNFICYP.  The Turkish Cypriots will request 
that the final exchange of letters on the demining protocol 
refer to the prior letter exchange between Talat and the 
UNSYG.  Kennedy welcomed the news and said the U.S. would 
take this up with DPKO. 
 
6.  (C) On missing persons, Apakan complained the Greek 
Cypriots are trying to take the issue to the COE (NFI); 
Turkey hopes the UN role will be reinforced.  Bilman claimed 
this is the only forum where both Greek and Turkish Cypriot 
missing persons are discussed, and accused the Greek Cypriots 
of trying to "kill" the committee.  Kennedy undertook to look 
into the matter. 
 
Greek Cypriot Property Cases 
---------------------------- 
 
7.  (C) Apakan and National Security Council Secretary 
General Alpogan expressed concern over recent actions by 
Greek Cypriot courts against Turkish Cypriots living in Greek 
Cypriot homes.  Apakan said these measures threaten 
bizonality.  The MFA is seeking legal advice about to what 
extent the EU has authority in the north, where the EU aquis 
are suspended. 
 
EU Trade/Aid 
------------ 
 
8.  (C) Kennedy told both Apakan and Alpogan the U.S. will 
continue to press the EU on trade and aid for the north, but 
added she is not optimistic about the prospects.  The Turkish 
Cypriots may need to accept de-linking the two; EU Commission 
staff is running out of money and the aid package is the only 
potential source of funding.  Apakan said Turkey did not like 
the idea of de-linking; in the event the aid portion were 
approved, the EU would forget about direct trade. 
 
9.  (C) Kennedy suggested to both Apakan and Alpogan that a 
compromise involving opening the Famagusta port under some 
auspices might be a "first step" toward direct trade.  Apakan 
noted the Luxembourg Presidency proposed to open it under EU 
administration and this would leave it open to Greek Cypriot 
interference.  Kennedy granted that any such proposal must be 
carefully structured, but reiterated this could be a viable 
first step in trade.  Apakan expressed concern about the 
timing of the proposal; Alpogan merely said "we'll see." 
 
NSC Readying Proposal to Get Parties Back to the Table 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
10.  (C) Alpogan expressed deep skepticism that Papadopoulos 
would make the compromises necessary for overall settlement, 
and worried that the Greek Cypriot public is becoming more 
opposed to settlement.  Alpogan said he is putting the 
finishing touches on an "in-house" Cyprus study recommending 
that Turkey take actions to reaffirm "the moral high ground" 
it reached after the 2004 referendum.  Alpogan declared that 
Turkey needs "to come forward with ideas" for settlement 
within an Annan Plan framework and invite the parties back to 
the negotiating table.  Alpogan said this is an NSC project, 
not a joint project with the MFA, and expressed uncertainty 
that the MFA would agree with the approach. 
 
11.  (C) Kennedy said this is a wise approach that could help 
Turkey recapture momentum.  She said the U.S. is ready to 
coordinate with Turkey if Turkey can share specifics with us. 
 
12.  (C) Comment:  Alpogan's forward-leaning proposal will 
get a cold reception from the MFA and the military, who are 
still both mired in the "Turkey has already done its part" 
mentality.  End Comment. 
 
13.  (U) DAS Kennedy has cleared this message. 
EDELMAN