US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3998

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003998 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PREF, PREL, TU, ICRC 
SUBJECT: MAGEN DAVID ADOM (MDA) DEMARCHE: TURKEY 
 
REF: A. STATE 118394 
 
     B. 8 JULY 2005 DANIES/BLAHA E-MAIL 
 
(U) Classified by CDA Nancy McEldowney, E.O. 12958, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) We delivered ref A demarche June 24 to Turkish MFA 
Middle East Department Head Botsali, who handles OIC matters 
and was leaving to attend the OIC meeting in Sanaa.  He 
called the subject a technical matter and doubted it would be 
on the meeting agenda. 
 
2.  (C) Botsali called us back July 5 when he returned from 
Sanaa.  He claimed the Turkish delegation was surprised by a 
Palestinian resolution opposing convening a conference on the 
Additional Third Protocol, written in Arabic, circulated at 
the last minute.  He claimed Turkey argued against it, but 
the OIC adopted a resolution to the effect that the time is 
not ripe to permit MDA entry into ICRC. 
 
3.  (C) The Israeli Embassy here is skeptical about Turkey's 
intentions at the Sanaa meeting.  Israeli DCM Nashon is 
convinced the Turks failed to push as hard as they could have 
in Sanaa so as not to upset Arab countries, while trying to 
reassure the Israelis here that they favor MDA entry into the 
ICRC. 
 
4.  (C) We followed up with Botsali again July 7.  He noted 
the Sanaa meeting draft final communique included no item 
related to MDA or the Additional Third Protocol.  He told us 
Turkey itself does not oppose convening a conference on the 
Additional Third Protocol. 
 
5.  (C) We asked Botsali, MFA International Organizations 
Department official Tutku, and the Israeli Embassy here 
whether Turkey has written a letter expressing support for 
convening the conference.  None is unaware of any letter of 
support.  Per ref B, the only letter of which we are aware is 
a letter from Turkey to the Swiss approximately one month ago 
stating Turkish adherence to the OIC line, even if Turkey 
itself is not objecting to the conference. 
MCELDOWNEY