US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6229

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, TU, OSCE, EU Accession 
SUBJECT: REHN OFFERS TURKEY FRESH START, URGES CONTINUED 
REFORM 
 
Classified by Deputy Polcouns Charles O. Blaha; reasons 1.4 b 
and d. 
 
1. (U) Summary: During his October 5-8 visit to Turkey, EU 
Enlargement Commissioner Rehn offered a fresh start in 
Turkey's EU bid and called on the GOT to continue the reform 
process that enabled Turkey to open accession negotiations. 
Rehn pressed PM Erdogan, FM Gul and other GOT leaders to make 
further progress on freedom of speech and religion.  He also 
stressed that the Turkish Parliament should adopt the Ankara 
Agreement extension protocol as soon as possible.  GOT 
leaders assured Rehn they would continue reforms.  They also 
said Parliament will approve the protocol, though they did 
not offer a timeline.  End Summary. 
 
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Rehn Raises Freedom of Speech, Religion 
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2. (U) Martin Dawson, head of the Political Section at the 
European Commission Representation to Turkey, told us Rehn 
came to Turkey to celebrate the successful opening of 
Turkey's EU accession talks and to encourage a fresh start 
between the two parties after the tense diplomatic wrangling 
that preceded the EU's historic decision.  During meetings in 
Ankara and Istanbul with PM Erdogan, FM Gul, lead EU 
negotiator Babacan, opposition Republican People's Party 
(CHP) leader Baykal, and MPs, Rehn averred that the EU 
fulfilled its commitment to Turkey by agreeing to open 
negotiations, and Turkey must do its part by continuing 
reforms.  Rehn stressed that the EU has determined that 
Turkey has made sufficient progress toward meeting the 
Copenhagen Criteria on human rights in order to begin 
negotiations, but will have to fully meet the criteria before 
becoming a member. 
 
3. (C) Dawson, who traveled with Rehn throughout the visit, 
said Rehn did not discuss the details of specific reforms the 
GOT will need to enact.  Both publicly and privately, 
however, he emphasized that Turkey needs to make further 
progress on freedom of expression and freedom of religion. 
Dawson said these will be highlighted as weak areas in the 
Commission's upcoming progress report on Turkey, due for 
release November 9. 
 
4. (C) Erdogan and Gul assured Rehn they would continue 
reforms, but did not offer details on specific initiatives. 
Erdogan said he understands Rehn's interest in free speech, 
noting that he served time in prison for reading a poem 
deemed illegal by a Turkish court.  But he said it will take 
more than legal reform to address the problem.  The PM said 
many elements of the judiciary oppose reform, and even the 
best free speech laws can be undermined by an authoritarian 
judiciary. 
 
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Extension Protocol a Priority 
----------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Rehn told Erdogan and Gul that the Turkish Parliament 
should ratify the Ankara Agreement extension protocol as soon 
as possible.  If the Turkish Parliament approves the protocol 
before the European Parliament (EP), he argued, it would 
undercut any attempts by Turkey-skeptics in the EP to lobby 
against the protocol.  Erdogan and Gul said Turkey will 
ratify the protocol, but did not provide a timetable. 
 
------------------------------------- 
CHP Offers "No Positive Contribution" 
------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Rehn asked CHP Chairman Baykal to support the 
protocol.  Baykal smiled and took notes, but said nothing. 
Onur Oymen, a leading CHP MP who also attended the meeting, 
went through the EU's Negotiations Framework for Turkey and 
raised a long series of "niggling questions" based on 
perceived hidden traps in the text, Dawson said.  "It was 
typical CHP -- there was no positive contribution."  On the 
other hand, Oymen did offer that CHP is "the only real 
European party in Turkey," Dawson said. 
 
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Erdogan Ambiguous on Pamuk Case 
------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) To emphasize his commitment to free speech, Rehn held 
a long, well publicized meeting in Istanbul with the novelist 
Orhan Pamuk, a personal friend.  He also discussed the court 
case against Pamuk with Erdogan and Gul.  Gul was supportive, 
asking Rehn to send Pamuk his best regards.  Erdogan, though, 
was more ambiguous, telling Rehn that Pamuk "should 
concentrate on writing novels."  Dawson said Rehn remains 
disappointed with the PM's lack of response on the issue -- 
he wanted Erdogan to make a strong, public statement against 
the prosecution. 
------------------------ 
GOT Raises Headscarf Ban 
------------------------ 
8. (C) During Rehn's joint meeting with Erdogan and Babacan, 
both GOT officials raised the issue of Turkey's ban on the 
wearing of Islamic headscarves at universities and by civil 
servants in public buildings.  Most Turks, Erdogan and 
Babacan averred, find the ban unacceptable and out of line 
with EU standards.  Though the European Court of Human Rights 
ruled in 2004 that the ban is not illegal (Note: The ruling 
is under appeal.  End Note), no EU country has such a 
broad-based ban on religious clothing, they said. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
An "Eye-Opening" Confrontation with Nationalism 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
9. (C) In addition to Ankara and Istanbul, Rehn also visited 
the conservative, Anatolian town of Kayseri, where he had an 
"eye opening" confrontation with Turkish nationalism.  While 
addressing an audience at Kayseri's Erciyes University, Rehn 
took a question from a student who launched a diatribe on the 
fictitious "paragraph 23" of the Negotiations Framework. 
Under this paragraph, a creation of anti-EU Turkish 
nationalists, southeastern Turkey would be separated and 
attached to "Kurdistan," which would apply for EU accession 
as a sovereign state.  Many audience members applauded the 
"question."  After the event, Dawson said Rehn told him he 
was "shocked" that a university audience would believe in 
such an outrageous conspiracy theory, which Rehn had never 
heard before. 
 
------------------------------ 
Comment: Real Test Yet to Come 
------------------------------ 
 
10. (C) Rehn's visit, focused on atmospherics rather than 
details, went smoothly.  He came at an opportune time -- the 
EU's decision to open talks with Turkey was a shot in the arm 
for pro-EU sentiment.  Erdogan and other leaders have lately 
been bolder in facing down anti-EU critics.  But the upcoming 
launch of the EU screening process in Brussels will provide 
the first indication of whether the GOT is prepared for the 
accession negotiations.  Our contacts believe the GOT 
bureaucracy will get off to a slow start.  Moreover, 
Erdogan's weak response on the Pamuk case and the 
nationalistic reaction to Rehn's Kayseri appearance indicate 
that political controversy will continue to haunt Turkey's 
accession process. 
MCELDOWNEY