US embassy cable - 02ANKARA8126

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008126 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TU, AM, AJ 
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA STICKING TO ITS GUNS ON ARMENIA 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch.  Reasons: 1.5 (b,d) 
 
 
1. (C)  In separate meetings last week with EUR/SE Director 
Hengel, MFA officials reiterated standard Turkish concerns in 
relations with Armenia. 
 
 
2. (C) Deputy Director General for the Caucasus and Central 
Asia Ertan Tezgor told us Turkey will not move to normalize 
relations with Armenia until Yerevan recognizes current 
borders.  "How can Turkey," he asked, "carry out good 
neighborly relations when Armenia occupies 20% of Azeri 
territory?"  Director General for Bilateral Political Affairs 
Ahmet Banguoglu said that the best way for USG to contribute 
positively to Armenian-Turkish relations would be to "control 
the Armenian lobby."  Tezgor echoed Banguoglu, calling 
Armenian American behavior on this issue "childish."  He also 
urged USG to "do something;" otherwise Armenia would fall 
entirely under Russian influence.  Banguoglu added that the 
unresolved situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is a concern to the 
GOT, but of a lesser order given immediate Turkish interest 
in border and "lobby" issues. 
 
 
3. (C) Comment: These views reflect an MFA in its 
default-mode defensiveness, a condition exacerbated by the 
current, though temporary, uncertainty as to who will be the 
AK Party's choice for foreign minister in the next 
government.  We have heard Tezgor try to be more imaginative 
in the past regarding a possible comprehensive 
Turkey-Armenia-Azerbaijan solution; he may have an incentive 
to return to this fresher mode of thinking once the new 
government is in place.  End comment. 
 
 
4. (C) EUR/SE Director Hengel did not have the opportunity to 
clear this cable. 
PEARSON