US embassy cable - 05ANKARA5695

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005695 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPAO, KWMN, SCUL, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKS TO U/S HUGHES: DEEPER DIALOGUE WELCOME 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C)  U/S Hughes met September 28 with Turkish FonMin Gul 
and MFA U/S Tuygan.  Gul stressed Turkey's desire for 
stability on its borders, its concerns over developments in 
Iraq, and the need to maintain dialogue with Syria and Iran 
in order to change their behavior. On the PKK and terrorism, 
Gul said we needed concrete steps on the ground that would be 
crucial in restoring Turkish public support for the U.S.  Gul 
noted Turkish frustration with the EU over Cyprus and asked 
for U.S. help in ending the isolation of Northern Cyprus.  In 
a separate meeting, U/S Tuygan emphasized the Turkish 
public's broad sense of "humiliation" over the EU accession 
process.  He called for a "deepened and structured dialogue," 
emphasized our common goals in the region, and hoped the U.S. 
would share with Turkey its long-term game plan for Iraq. 
U/S Hughes noted her trip to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey 
was her first official visit in her new capacity and hoped 
that her presence, and the visit of APNSA Hadley a few days 
before, would be seen as a sign of strong U.S. support for 
Turkey in this difficult time.  Her approach to public 
diplomacy will emphasize "policies and people."  She 
undertook to see where U.S. - Turkey exchange programs could 
be further expanded.  She expressed appreciation for the 
frustrations being experienced by the Turkish people and 
undertook to convey these to the highest levels of the USG. 
The "strategic dialogue" would indeed be a genuine one, she 
promised.  End Summary 
 
 
FM Gul -- Small US Gesture Can Change Popular Attitudes 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
2. (C)  U/S Hughes, accompanied by D/US Powell, EUR AS Bryza 
and the Charge, had separate meetings September 28 with 
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and MFA U/S Ali Tuygan. 
 Gul assured Hughes the GOT considers relations with the U.S. 
the "main pillar" of its foreign policy; the relationship is 
based on shared values of democracy, free markets and freedom 
of expression.  Turkey is surrounded, he continued, by 
various non-democratic regimes which do not enjoy the support 
of their people.  Turkey maintains trade and other relations 
with those states, not because it approves of them, but to 
ensure stability on Turkey's borders.  Addressing each state 
in turn, Gul began with Iraq.  The situation in Iraq is of 
direct concern and there are growing popular fears of the 
effect of a divided Iraq on Turkey.  Moving on to Iran, Gul 
noted that the Turkey-Iran border had been stable since 1639; 
the GOT does not want instability there.  With Syria, the 
Turks have had bad experiences with Syrian support to PKK 
leader Ocalan as well as Syrian territorial claims.  Turkey 
has no sympathy for the Baathist regime in Syria, but at the 
same time does not want instability there.  U.S. policies 
that appear to threaten stability on Turkey's borders have 
created negative attitudes among the Turkish populace. 
 
3. (C)  Hughes replied that the U.S. and international 
community, as well as Syria's neighbors, need to be tough on 
Syria and Iran to get them to change their behaviors.  Gul 
reiterated that the GOT has no sympathy for the regimes there 
but at the same time cannot afford chaos on its borders. 
Turkey is trying to influence those states; 800,000 Iranian 
tourists, and many Syrians, have visited Antalya and 
experienced freedom in Turkey.  This is the best way to 
"threaten" those regimes.  Gul elaborated that Turkey is 
using its contacts to show Damascus the "right way."  Turkish 
and U.S. goals are the same, he said.  He assured Hughes the 
GOT has warned the Syrians in blunt terms about their 
behavior and has no intention of letting Syria "relax." 
 
4. (C)  Gul emphasized that the "ground is ready" in Turkey 
and even a small gesture or modest action by the U.S. to 
reassure Turkey of its support could change popular attitudes 
for the better "in an instant."  Expanding, Gul said the PKK 
threat in the southeast is getting dangerous again, and 
northern Iraq is a safe haven for Kurdish extremists.  Common 
people are asking "why can't the U.S., the world's only 
superpower, stop this?"  According to Turkish intelligence, 
the PKK feels "relaxed" and is able to move freely in 
northern Iraq. The PKK garners support from Kurdish leaders 
there; those same Kurdish leaders will be the PKK's next 
targets Gul opined, referring specifically to the "Barzani 
tribe."  Gul stressed the PKK must realize that there will be 
a cost to its terrorist activities and a U.S. warning to that 
effect would be useful.  Gul encouraged the following 
actions: arresting PKK leaders in northern Iraq, cutting off 
logistics support, closing front organizations and shutting 
down refugee camps, like Makhmour, dominated by the PKK.  DAS 
Bryza noted these must be done by the Iraqis themselves, with 
U.S. backing. 
 
5. (C)  Turning to Cyprus, Gul said the Turks and Turkish 
Cypriots feel cheated by the EU.  The Turkish side 
compromised and got little for it.  Gul recalled how 
President Bush asked Turkey to "show leadership" and to 
compromise on the Cyprus issue.  "We did so, and the other 
side was rewarded," he complained.  The U.S. can help the 
Greek Cypriot side understand that the support of its EU 
fellows is not always enough, while the U.S. can also help 
the Turkish side end its isolation.  Direct flights from 
northern Cyprus would be key to this process, Gul stressed, 
and would encourage the Greek Cypriots to compromise. 
 
6. (C)  On the positive side of the ledger, Gul reviewed 
Turkey's contribution to ISAF in Afghanistan over the past 
two years.  Overall transatlantic relations remain good, Gul 
said, and noted jokingly that his speeches at NATO sound just 
like the Secretary's.  These relations enjoy the support of 
the Turkish people. 
 
7. (C)  Hughes noted that her visits to Egypt, Saudi Arabia 
and Turkey were part of her first overseas trip and were 
focused on listening.  She expressed her appreciation for 
Gul's views and particularly valued the view of the Turkish 
"man in the street."  Gul stressed the need for "empathy" for 
Turkish popular perceptions.  Speaking of the Middle East in 
broad terms, Gul said there is a hunger for justice; people 
in the region are frustrated and need to believe the U.S. is 
committed to justice. 
 
MFA U/S Tuygan -- Turkey's "Humiliation" Must be Alleviated 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
8. (C)  In a separate call on MFA U/S Ali Tuygan, Hughes 
complimented Turkey's inspiring economic performance over the 
past four years.  Turkey's rapid rebuilding after the 
devastating 1999 earthquakes were a good example to the U.S. 
after hurricane Katrina.  Hughes thanked the GOT on behalf of 
the American people for the generous outpouring of aid, both 
official and from private citizens, for Katrina's victims. 
For his part, Tuygan lauded the "solid partnership" between 
the U.S. and Turkey and stated the GOT's readiness to move 
forward constructively.  He called for a "deepened and 
structured dialogue" between the U.S. and Turkey to improve 
each's understanding of the other.  The response to Katrina 
was a "genuine" response from the Turkish people, he said, 
coming from a country that finds itself at the meeting point 
of diverse civilizations and cultures. 
 
9. (C)  Hughes noted that, during his recent visit, APNSA 
Hadley had reinforced our desire to work with the GOT more 
closely on fighting PKK terrorism.  Tuygan observed that a 
deeper and structured dialogue on the PKK and other issues is 
necessary, especially with growing disappointment and 
uneasiness in Turkey as the October 3 date for EU accession 
negotiations approaches.  "There is much uncertainty in the 
air."  On Iraq, Tuygan stressed the need to leave the past 
behind and focus on the future.  However, he noted, prospects 
are uncertain and this is creating difficulties for Turkey. 
Turkey is trying to work with all parties in Iraq towards the 
same goal as the U.S. -- a unified, democratic, and federal 
Iraq -- but the realities on the ground are not reassuring. 
Turkey needs to understand the U.S. view of the "end game" in 
Iraq.  The possibility that Iraq might be dismembered is 
critical for Turkey. 
 
10. (C)  Turning to the EU, Tuygan expressed appreciation for 
U.S. support for Turkey's accession but strongly emphasized 
Turkey's disappointment with the way the EU is handling the 
pre-October 3 process.  The Turkish public is becoming 
pessimistic as the EU is seen imposing more conditions on 
Turkey.  "We try to reassure the public, but this is not 
sustainable." Tuygan said Turkey was feeling "humiliation," 
a particularly bitter feeling here.  The U.S. asks for 
Turkey's support but Ankara does not feel it is being clued 
in to ultimate U.S. plan for Iraq, the "end game." "Let's get 
October 3 behind us; it won't be much of a celebration in any 
case," Tuygan stated.  Then Turkey will focus on deepening 
and broadening the U.S. - Turkey dialogue. 
 
11. (C)  U/S Hughes responded she hoped her visit and that of 
APNSA Hadley had signaled strong U.S. support for Turkey at 
this difficult time.  She described her view of public 
diplomacy as about policies and their effects on people, not 
"spin."  She will participate in policymaking and promised 
our dialogue with Turkey would be "real" and in a spirit of 
true partnership.  Tuygan appreciated this commitment and, 
referring to the PKK and terrorism, said Turkey had not 
forgotten past U.S. support in the fight against terror. 
Whatever the U.S. can do in this regard, he said, will be 
greatly appreciated by the Turkish public. 
 
12. (C)  Elaborating on U.S. - Turkey exchange programs, U/S 
Hughes and DU/S Powell stressed the importance of 
people-to-people contacts and their intention to expand these 
for Turkey.  Turkey is currently the number one recipient of 
Fulbright grants.  The U.S. would also like to expand the 
International Visitors Program (IVP) between Turkey and the 
U.S. and ensure that it includes journalists, religious 
leaders, and entrepreneurs to allow the greatest reach into 
the private sector.  Hughes said the U.S. has made much 
progress alleviating the post 9/11 difficulties that many 
exchange visitors experienced getting to the U.S.  Noting 
that he was a high school exchange student in the U.S., 
Tuygan stressed the importance of including business leaders 
in exchanges.  He noted proudly that Turkey is in eighth 
place on U.S. campuses with 11,000 university and nearly 
10,000 secondary and high school exchange students in the 
U.S.  Charge McEldowney and Hughes stressed the need for 
Turkish journalists to better understand the U.S. as well. 
Tuygan agreed, noting at the same time that the non-Turkish 
press has a huge impact in Turkey.  He referred to recent 
U.S. articles that, he claimed, distorted Turkish reality. 
Hughes noted the broad assortment of print and TV journalists 
that were accompanying her on her trips. 
 
13. (C)  Returning to the "humiliation" point he had made 
earlier, Tuygan described it as an overall sense in the 
country, not based on any single issue.  Tuygan stressed that 
"nationalism" is not on the rise, but "frustration" is.  No 
violent outburst is expected, but it must be watched.  DAS 
Bryza expressed his appreciation for Tuygan's candor and 
choice of words, and re-stated APNSA Hadley's commitment to 
the strategic dialogue, finding a common frame of reference, 
and proceeding together in a transparent fashion. 
MCELDOWNEY