US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3195

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 003195 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE AND H 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015 
TAGS: MARR, MASS, PGOV, PREL, OVIP, TU 
SUBJECT: SENATOR HAGEL REINFORCES IMPORTANCE OF BILATERAL 
RELATIONSHIP WITH TURKEY 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs James R. Moore, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: During his May 30-31 visit to Ankara, Senator 
Chuck Hagel met with Prime Minister Erdogan, Energy Minister 
Guler, Agriculture Minister Guclu and MFA Deputy Under 
Secretary Sensoy and exchanged views on the state of the 
 
SIPDIS 
bilateral relationship, Cyprus, Armenia, the PKK terrorist 
organization, Iranian nuclear ambitions, energy development 
and irrigation technology.  He underscored the positive value 
of the bilateral relationship; welcomed Turkey's support for 
the Global War on Terrorism, particularly its contributions 
to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; lauded the start of 
the Baku/Tbilisi/Ceyan (BTC) pipeline operation but 
highlighted the importance of pipeline security; and invited 
the Agriculture Minister to visit Nebraska to learn more 
about US irrigation technology.  The Senator used a TV 
interview to publicly underscore the importance of the 
bilateral relationship and laid a wreath at the mausoleum of 
Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Prime Minister Reinforces Shared Priorities 
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2. (C) Attempting to dismiss those who want to take Turkey 
away from close relations with the US as "marginal groups", 
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted that we have a strategic 
partnership and that Turkey and the US share common views on 
regional issues and on the fight against terrorism.  He went 
on at length regarding the efforts of the Armenian diaspora 
to have genocide resolutions passed in various fora. 
Regarding Cyprus, he complained that, although the Turkish 
Cypriots had accepted the Annan Plan, they are still held in 
isolation, whereas the Greek Cypriots rejected the plan but 
are in the EU.  He welcomed the May 30 visit of the US 
Congressional Study Group to the north, but hoped that the US 
and others would launch more comprehensive initiatives. 
Turkey's relations with Iraq are also important; meetings 
with visiting Iraqi PM Ja'afari were positive and Turkey will 
give all possible support for Iraq's democratization and for 
police and military training. 
 
3. (C) Underscoring his respect for Ataturk, Senator Hagel 
noted that US-Turkish relations are founded on exceptionally 
important dynamics.  The US strongly supports Turkey's EU 
accession.  Regarding the Armenia issue, Hagel recalled that 
the Bush administration and most members of Congress agree 
the issue is best dealt with openly, transparently, and 
without fear of the results.  At the Senator's urging, EUCOM 
Deputy Commander General Wald added his views.  Complimenting 
the work of Ambassador Edelman, Wald emphasized the solid 
nature of mil-mil relations.  From EUCOM's perspective, 
relations couldn't be any better than they are with Generals 
Ozkok and Basbug at the helm of the Turkish General Staff 
(TGS).  EUCOM considers the Turkish military one of its most 
strategically important partners.  Erdogan visibly tensed at 
this US show of support for the Turkish military. 
 
4.(C)  Senator Hagel asked Erdogan for his assessment of (1) 
Iran's energy and nuclear policies; (2) prospects for the 
Iranian Presidential elections; and (3) US policy.  Erdogan, 
seeming unsure of himself, provided a vague response. 
Praising Turco-Iranian intel sharing against the PKK, he 
stated generally that Turkey has a common view with the US on 
Iranian nukes, and noted that the elections are delicate 
given the unresolved relationship between elected political 
authority and the power structures of the mollahs outside the 
normal political arena.  In this regard, Erdogan could not 
see which side would benefit more from a victory by apparent 
front-runner Rafsanjani. 
 
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Meeting with CHOD General Hilmi Ozkok 
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5. (C) US-Turkey Relations and the Modern World: TGS Chief 
General Hilmi Ozkok welcomed Senator Hagel and EUCOM DCDR 
General Wald, noting that he did not see any big problems in 
US-Turkey relations.  Despite the media's attempt to create 
tensions, Turkey and the US had a history of successfully 
overcoming their differences.  Even though Turkey sought to 
join the EU, its alliance with the US would remain important. 
 Senator Hagel observed that Prime Minister Erdogan's planned 
meeting with the President on June 8 would be a timely and 
important opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations as 
the two leaders would be able to frame the challenges we face 
in the Middle East, security arena and elsewhere in a way 
that emphasizes our common objectives. 
 
6. (C) Ozkok observed that regional peace and stability were 
important and he appreciated that the US was not indifferent 
to the problems in Africa, Iran and Uzbekistan.  Senator 
Hagel stated that now was much like the immediate post-World 
War II period when the international system was redefined. 
New alliances were forming based on economic, geo-strategic 
energy, and other interests.  The US was grappling with the 
idea that our interests no longer fit in the compartments of 
the past but were "everywhere."  He predicted that the 
process would produce a better system, although he cautioned 
that care would be needed in recalibrating and adjusting 
alliances of continuing value, such as the US-Turkey 
relationship. 
 
7. (C) Turkey "Cautious" towards Iran: The Senator asked 
Ozkok for his assessment of developments in Iran.  Ozkok said 
Iran's "obvious aspirations" for nuclear weapons was a "big 
concern" for Ankara which has "cautious relations" with 
Tehran.  He noted that Iran already had means of delivery. 
He said other countries needed to develop deterrence 
mechanisms.   Turkey supported the EU-3's attempt to solve 
the problem in a peaceful way. 
 
8. (C) Iraq: PKK, Insurgency and PR: Senator Hagel then asked 
Ozkok for his view of Iraq.  According to Ozkok, there was a 
long way to go before achieving the aims shared by the US and 
Turkey of a united, secure, stable, and prosperous Iraq that 
was free of terrorism.  The suicide bombings were very 
discouraging.  Overcoming them would require the cooperation 
of the Iraqi people who do not support these attacks, which 
appear to be carried out mainly by foreigners.  Ozkok 
declared that he was sure the US would be victorious in Iraq, 
and pledged to provide whatever help Turkey could as "your 
success is our security."  Regarding the PKK in northern 
Iraq, Ozkok said he understood that Turkey needed to be 
patient, and recalled that there are various fora for the US 
and Turkey to discuss this problem. 
 
9. (C) Ozkok turned to TGS/J2 LTG Guner to answer Senator 
Hagel's question about former regime elements' role in the 
insurgency in Iraq.  Guner said that information was hard to 
come by, but his assessment was that there were a large 
number of Baathists and other former regime elements in the 
insurgency, but that they were "very well organized" by 
foreigners.  He recalled that some observers claim that the 
country supplying the foreigners to the fight views the 
conflict as a means of fighting its own war with the US.  TGS 
Deputy Chief GEN Basbug added that he had read a think tank 
report recently that asserted there were 200,000 supporters 
of the insurgency in Iraq, although USG sources place the 
number of fighters somewhere between 15-20,000.  Senator 
Hagel, referring to the Turks' offer to Iraqi Transitional PM 
Ja'afari to train police and military in Turkey, asked where 
this might occur.  Ozkok responded that no decisions had yet 
been made, but somewhere close to the Iraqi border (e.g., 
Diyarbakir or Silopi) might make the most sense. 
 
10. (C) Ozkok disagreed with Senator Hagel's assertion that 
the US's low standing with the Turkish public was due to the 
USG's Iraq policy.  He dismissed polls as being too easily 
manipulated by the wording of their questions.  He thought 
there had been a downturn in public perception of the US as a 
result of some statements made by USG officials before and 
immediately after the March 1 vote.  Turks are "very 
sensitive" and "these statements effected them a lot," he 
said.  While he allowed that the Turkish public had questions 
about US intentions in the Middle East and that "sympathy for 
the US is down," he believed leaders could heal this problem. 
 
11. (C) Mil-Mil Relations Good: Senator Hagel observed that 
the Ambassador would be departing soon and had been nominated 
to a position in the Pentagon where his Foreign experience 
would serve him well.  This led to a general discussion of 
the bilateral military-to-military relationship, which all 
agreed was excellent at the senior levels.  The Ambassador 
observed that both sides should build on this by increasing 
unit-to-unit exchanges, such as those discussed between CDR 
USAREUR GEN Bell and Turkish Land Forces Commander GEN 
Buyukanit, or as we recently had with the USS Carney's ship 
visit to Marmaras.  He also said that, if confirmed, he would 
work to ensure the bilateral High Level Defense Group 
structure worked more smoothly. 
 
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Energy Cooperation Important 
---------------------------- 
 
12. (SBU) In May 31 small and large group meetings with 
Turkey Minister of Energy Hilmi Guler and his team, Senator 
Hagel's delegation discussed a range of regional and domestic 
energy issues, including BTC security, East-West energy 
corridor, and investment opportunities. 
 
13. (SBU) BTC Security:  Just one week after the "First Oil" 
ceremony at Baku, Senator Hagel asked about the issue of 
security and three-country coordination for the BTC oil 
pipeline.  General Wald inquired about coordination and 
communication at the country borders, as well as about 
Turkish Gendarme technical training for its neighbors. 
Minister Guler and MFA DDG Mithat Rende stated that the GOT 
was ready to cooperate, but admitted that there might be 
security issues in Georgia.  (Note: GOT has told us 
separately that Georgia has not given enough importance to 
advancing the Inter-Government Agreement and Commission on 
security, so far failing to even designate a point person. 
End Note.)  Moreover, they noted in the meeting that trained 
people in Georgia were being shifted to other positions. 
Minister Guler stated that the Turkish General Command of the 
Gendarmerie, reporting to the Ministry of the Interior, had 
responsibility for pipeline security in Turkey; MFA is to 
coordinate security with the other countries.  Guler said 
that the Gendarmerie had trained its own special forces, as 
well as security personnel in Azerbaijan and Georgia.  Note: 
Embassy will follow up with the MFA to gain more details on 
status of coordination, communication, and training.  End 
Note. 
 
14. (SBU) East-West Energy Corridor and energy linkages: 
Minister Guler stressed the importance of transferring 
natural gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey and on to Europe, 
particularly as an alternative to Iranian gas.  He described 
Turkey,s vision for expanding Ceyhan as a regional hub for 
both oil and natural gas transit and processing.  In response 
to Senator Hagel,s question on levels of investment required 
and linkages between energy and economic growth, Minister 
Guler stated that immense amounts of investment in a 
liberalized market would be required to assure adequate 
production (including nuclear) and sufficient linkages 
(electricity and hydrocarbons) with Iraq and Europe.   The 
Turkish representatives emphasized the danger of increasing 
oil transport in the Turkish Straits, bringing attention to 
the need for one or several Bosphorus bypass pipelines.  They 
stressed environmental problems associated with trans-Thrace 
and Burgos-Alexandropolos (the seeming market front-runner) 
projects, and argued in favor of a Samsun-Ceyhan route (the 
long GOT favorite).  Finally, Minister Guler lamented the 
challenge of dealing with old power deals on the books 
(BOT,s signed by the previous government), but noted the 
need to maintain a positive investment environment to attract 
foreign investors. 
 
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Agriculture Minister Highlights South-East Development Needs 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
15. (U) Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu highlighted strong 
bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector but noted 
that they were some trade issues that would take time and 
open communication to resolve.  Guclu specifically noted 
bilateral cooperation in scientific research, animal 
husbandry, seed research and development, and scientific 
exchanges. 
 
16. (U) In response to the Senator's question about areas for 
potential improvement in bilateral trade, Minister Guclu 
noted the Southeast Anatolia (GAP) Irrigation Project and the 
related opportunity for private investment and development of 
an export-driven free processing center in that 
underdeveloped region.  Senator Hagel indicated that several 
Nebraska-based companies had developed high-tech expertise to 
provide irrigation solutions that have successfully brought 
thousands of hectares into cultivation.  The Senator invited 
Guclu to visit Nebraska with the US Agriculture Secretary to 
meet with irrigation experts.  He also stressed that the 
University of Nebraska has one of the largest livestock 
research centers in the world. 
 
17. (U) Guclu noted that Agriculture Under Secretary Cagil 
would be in the United States for the June 6-8 American 
Turkish Council Conference and that he would have them call 
on Senator Hagel's staff. (Comment: Two days after his 
meeting with Senator Hagel, Guclu was removed from his 
position as Minister of Agriculture as part of a cabinet 
re-shuffle.  Although his replacement was not unexpected, its 
timing was a surprise.  End Comment.) 
 
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Public Reaffirmation of the Importance of the Relationship 
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18. (U) During an interview with one of Turkey's most 
respected journalists, NTV Television's Murat Akgun, Senator 
Hagel discussed the issues foremost on the minds of Turkey's 
citizens - the bilateral relationship, Turkey's EU candidacy, 
the PKK terrorist group and Cyprus.  The Senator publicly 
reaffirmed the importance and mutual benefit of the bilateral 
relationship, a positive and striking contrast to the public 
comments by his Turkish counterparts, and something we 
continually press the Turkish government to do. 
 
19. (U) This cable was cleared by Senator Hagel and General 
Wald. 
MOORE