US embassy cable - 05ISTANBUL1075

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001075 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2015 
TAGS: KDEM, PREL, TU, Istanbul 
SUBJECT: BMENAI: MFA BMENAI COORDINATOR AND NEA DAS CARPENTER DISCUSS 
DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE DIALOGUE AND FUTURE PLANS 
 
REF: ANKARA 0782 
 
Classified By: Consul General David Arnett for reasons 1.4 (b & d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  In a cordial June 21 meeting with NEA DAS 
Scott Carpenter in Istanbul, MFA Coordinator for the Broader 
Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMENAI) Ambassador 
Omur Orhun reiterated Turkey's strong support for the 
initiative and its determination to express that support 
through concrete contributions beyond its role in the 
Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD).  Orhun highlighted again 
GOT sensitivity about being an actor, not a target in this 
initiative, and expressed appreciation for public remarks to 
that effect in recent regional meetings.  He also expressed 
support for the Foundation for the Future concept, and for 
the idea of expanding BMENAI mechanisms to include such 
countries as Spain and Norway.  DAS Carpenter underlined the 
importance the POTUS attaches to the DAD.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) In a cordial June 21 meeting on the margins of a 
Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) event organized by TESEV 
(septel), NEA DAS Scott Carpenter met with Ambassador Omur 
Orhun, the Turkish MFA's Coordinator for the Broader Middle 
East and North Africa Initiative (BMENAI). Accompanied by 
Levent Gumrukcu and Reha Keskintepe of the MFA's Policy 
Planning Department, Ambassador Orhun began by seeking DAS 
Carpenter's read-out on the pace of developments and 
expectations for the future related to the DAD and other 
initiatives that came out of the June 2004 G-8 Summit at Sea 
Island. 
 
3.  (C) DAS Carpenter, highlighting the increased impetus of 
reform efforts since Secretary Rice came on board, outlined 
some of the bureaucratic changes that had taken placewithin 
the USG to mobilize and coordinate resoures to promote 
reform, and shared that we are bilterally developing country 
strategies while contnuing to compare notes with European 
allies on developments in the region.  The U.S. would like tosee the Fo 
m for 
the Future institutionalized, hesaid, 
adding that the November 2005 meeting in Bhrain would 
provide a good opportunity for creatng something like a "G-8 
Plus" mechanism that could perhaps bring in additional 
countries with an nterest in reform in the region, but no 
venue fo participating.  Spain and Norway were two countris 
discussed as possibilities. 
 
4.  (C) Of all he important initiatives emanating from Sea 
Island, DAS Carpenter stated that the DAD was of most 
importance to President Bush. The USG welcomes ideas on how 
to expand the initiative and illustrate that it is a 
priority, he said.  DAS Carpenter and Ambassador Orhun 
discussed concept papers circulating on two ideas related to 
the Forum for the Future:  the Foundation for the Future and 
the Fund for the Future. (Note:  Orhun had received copies of 
both concept papers from the Turkish Embassy in Washington 
and had reviewed them prior to the meeting with DAS 
Carpenter.  End note.)  Orhun stated that he needed to 
consult further with colleagues to fully understand the Fund 
idea, but that he thought the Foundation for the Future was a 
very good idea.  "The more [the USG] lessens its imprint, the 
more there will be a sense of ownership in the region," he 
said.   DAS Carpenter explained that before looking for 
concrete financial support for the ideas, the USG is engaging 
in dialogue in countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt and 
Morocco to seek ideas and buy-in to the concept, but would be 
interested in discussing the idea in more detail when Orhun 
visits Washington in ten days' time. 
 
5.  (C) Ambassador Orhun thanked DAS Carpenter for his views, 
and stated that Foreign Minister Gul's opening remarks at the 
TESEV conference clearly illustrate Turkey's support for the 
BMENAI.  Turkey supports the process not because the U.S. 
wants it to, he said, but because it is in Turkey's interest 
to secure a stable environment in the region.  He added that 
Turkey's support would not be limited to words nor to 
organizing activities within the DAD framework, but, with the 
limited means at its disposal, Turkey's support would extend 
to financial contributions and other initiatives. Orhun 
mentioned Turkey's sensitivity regarding being considered a 
partner and facilitator, rather than a target, of the BMENAI. 
He stated that the GOT had been pleased with public statements 
by U.S. officials to this effect, pointing specifically to 
the meeting of Education Ministers in Amman.  He underlined 
his support for the idea of reaching out to countries such as 
Norway and Spain for participation in BMENAI. 
 
6.  (C) Orhun stated that the June 20-21 TESEV-organized 
event was a "new model" for meetings, as it combined NGO and 
governmental participation.  This meeting, he said, is 
primarily an "NGO" meeting with government 
participation,whereas in the future the DAD could also 
organize "governmental" meetings with NGO participation. 
Within such a model, he said, "NGO meetings" could perhaps 
come up with platforms or specific appeals, which 
"governmental meetings" could then consider and address. 
7.  (C) He went on to outline several concrete ideas that he 
and his team had generated regarding where Turkey might make 
contributions or organize activities within the DAD 
framework.  Turkey's Chambers of Trade and Industry, for 
example, recently submitted a proposal to the OECD to conduct 
a study on Turkey's "democratic model" of Chambers of 
Commerce organization, and on the views of partners in the 
BMENA region as to its suitability for duplication there.  He 
also stated that Turkey could make contributions to education 
efforts in the region, especially regarding literacy. 
Finally, he mentioned specific areas for future 
concentration:  the media, the functioning of parliaments, 
and local government issues.  On the latter two issues he 
suggested trips by BMENA officials to Turkey to study 
Turkey's experience in these areas. Finally, Orhun suggested 
the establishment of a Democracy Scholarship, and pointed out 
that this idea might fit within the framework of the 
Foundation for the Future. 
 
8.  (C) Orhun also broached the idea of reaching out to the 
Turkish Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic 
Conferences (OIC) about the BMENAI.  He asserted that the OIC 
was in the process of reforming itself, and while he was 
unsure about how much progress it would make in a meeting in 
Yemen later this month, he could talk to his Turkish 
colleague about reform issues.  DAS Carpenter responded that 
while many feel that "the more the merrier," there are certain 
caveats, and that the unlimited integration of actors into 
the process could have drawbacks.  Orhun and Carpenter agreed 
to address this issue again at a later date. 
 
9.  (C) Comment:  Ambassador Orhun will be traveling to the 
U.S. at the end of June, which may be a good time to follow up 
with him on the Fund/Foundation concepts.  There were no 
surprises in the tone or content of the meeting, but it was a 
useful consultation and sets the stage for future meetings 
between Orhun and Department officials in the framework of 
our enhanced consultations with the MFA on the BMENAI and 
DAD.  End Comment. 
 
10. (U) This message has been cleared by DAS Carpenter in 
Istanbul. 
ARNETT