US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3889

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003889 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, TU, IR, SY 
SUBJECT: FM GUL EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS, 
CLAIMS TURKEY DELIVERING RIGHT MESSAGES ON IRAN AND SYRIA 
 
 
(U) Classified by CDA Nancy McEldowney, E.O. 12958, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  In Charge's introductory call with FM Gul, 
both agreed on the importance of frank private bilateral 
dialogue and conveying to our publics the priority we place 
on our partnership.  Gul acknowledged Iran's presidential 
election was "not perfect" but blamed reformists' failure to 
deliver on promises for Ahmadinejad's victory.  Gul assured 
Charge Turkey has and will continue to oppose Iranian pursuit 
of nuclear arms.  Gul said he has also urged Syria to control 
its Iraqi border and remove remaining intelligence units from 
Lebanon; the Syrians claim they are doing all they can.  Gul 
says Turkey is prepared to do more on Syria if it understands 
U.S. plans for it.  End Summary. 
 
Bilateral Relations 
------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Charge affirmed the importance of close bilateral 
relations.  Each country should convey this officially and in 
public channels.  Charge thanked FM Gul for his and PM 
Erdogan's recent public statements of support for strong 
bilateral relations.  She stressed the importance of 
completely open private dialogue and not using the media to 
convey negative messages. 
 
3.  (C) FM Gul said U.S./Turkish friendship is based on 
shared values and both sides should strengthen relations and 
reiterate their common vision.  Gul agreed on the importance 
of frank private dialogue, calling the media sensationalistic 
and provocative. 
 
Reform 
------ 
 
4.  (C) Charge asked Gul's thoughts on his recent attendance 
at the Sanaa OIC meeting and his speech calling for reform. 
Regarding the OIC, Gul said the key is whether the 
organization is willing to reform itself.  The OIC will 
announce proposed reforms at the Summit at the end of the 
year in Saudi Arabia.  Regionally, Turkey is "generating 
stability"; Arab countries and Iran are learning from Turkey, 
Gul asserted. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
5.  (C) Charge expressed U.S. concern over Iran's nuclear 
program, lack of democracy in recent presidential elections, 
and Ahmadinejad's post-election statements.  Gul acknowledged 
that many Iranians were not happy with the election procedure 
and the election was "not perfect," but added "a majority 
voted for this man" because reformists failed to deliver on 
their promises.  Gul said outside pressure would unite 
Iranians against it; left to itself, Iran will inevitably 
change. 
 
6.  (C) Charge reiterated the immediate U.S. concern is 
Iran's nuclear program.  The best way to move forward is for 
Iran to hear a strong message from the EU, the U.S. and 
Turkey.  Gul claimed Turkey has made clear, both officially 
and personally, Turkey's opposition to Iran's developing 
nuclear weapons and the need to cooperate with the EU-3. 
Charge urged Gul to continue to convey that message to Iran. 
 
Syria 
----- 
 
7.  (C) Charge conveyed our increasing concern with 
assistance to Iraqi insurgents flowing across the Syrian 
border and with Syria's failure to remove intelligence 
personnel out of Lebanon.  Gul said he saw Syrian FM al-Shara 
at the OIC meeting in Sanaa and urged him to take steps in 
these areas.  Al-Shara responded Syria is "doing its best" 
but did not have "enough equipment" (NFI). 
 
8.  (C) Gul told Charge Turkey "can do more to change them or 
force them or monitor them," but first wants to know what the 
U.S. plan for Syria is.  Ambassador Koruturk, currently 
visiting Washington, is prepared to discuss the matter. 
 
9.  (C) Gul insisted Turkey has no sympathy for the Syrian 
regime:  "we hate this regime."  Turkey remembers how the 
SARG has repressed its own people, and how it harbored PKK 
leader Ocalan and lied about it.  "The credibility of the 
regime is known to us," he added.  However, "our goal is to 
improve them."  He predicted Syria would change if the regime 
can be convinced to order it.  Charge acknowledged that 
internal Syrian reform will take time; however, 
counterproductive Syrian behavior in Iraq and in 
Israel/Palestine issues can and should be stopped in 
immediately. 
 
10.  (C) Gul acknowledged violence in Iraq fosters separatism 
and internal conflict, contrary to both Turkish and Syrian 
interests.  Gul said he has made this point to the Syrians, 
who respond they are doing their best to control their border 
with Iraq.  Again Gul offered that, if it understands U.S. 
thinking and goals on Syria, Turkey can "monitor" or 
"establish a mechanism" with Syria. 
 
Israel/Palestine 
---------------- 
 
11.  (C) Gul said he had seen Palestinian FM Shaath in Sanaa 
and Shaath is frustrated and disappointed over the most 
recent meeting between PM Sharon and Abu Mazen.  Gul said he 
touted Secretary Rice's "speech at NATO" (sic) as proof of 
U.S. commitment to a "correct" policy in the region. 
Turkey/EU 
--------- 
 
12.  (C) Gul thanked Charge for continuing U.S. support for 
Turkey's EU candidacy and encouraged the U.S. to continue 
expressions of support.   He assessed that the Commission's 
draft Negotiation Framework is "almost the same" as the 
December EU Summit language on Turkey.  Charge stressed the 
importance of Turkey continuing to move forward on reforms 
and signing the Ankara Agreement extension protocol.  Gul 
replied Turkey will "continue in our direction."  He said he 
had warned "the Greeks" (NFI) about trying to change the 
Framework; "small things could be the last straw." 
 
13.  (C) Gul claimed there are no problems with the protocol 
or with Turkey's planned statement that signing the protocol 
does not constitute recognition of the Republic of Cyprus. 
"The methodology is agreed," he claimed, saying that Turkey 
is working with the European Commission on this 
non-recognition issue.  (Comment:  We are hearing the 
opposite from the MFA Cyprus experts, the UK and the 
Commission - septel.  End Comment.) 
 
Azerbaijan 
---------- 
 
14.  (C) Gul said he spoke with Azeri FM Mammadyarov in Sanaa 
and has spoken to President Aliyev previously.  Gul, who 
knows Aliyev from the Council of Europe, is optimistic Aliyev 
understands how democracy works.  Gul said the U.S. and 
Turkey should push for more democracy in Azerbaijan; he said 
he has on several occasions told the Azeri press about the 
importance of "fulfilling democratic standards."  Turkey is 
"disturbed" by the lack of democracy in Turkic republics, 
which hold them back.  Gul called the November elections "a 
test" for Azerbaijan, noting that he and the Turkish 
Ambassador in Baku have met with the Azeri opposition. 
MCELDOWNEY