US embassy cable - 02ANKARA8535

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008535 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2007 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, SW, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POSSIBLE VISIT BY SWEDISH FM COULD BOOST 
AK'S HUMAN RIGHTS IMAGE 
 
Classified by Acting Political Counselor Nicholas S. Kass. 
Reason: 1.5(b)(d). 
 
 
1. (C) Anne Dismoor, Swedish Ambassador to Turkey, told 
poloff at a November 20 reception that she was hopeful 
Swedish FM Lindh would visit Turkey soon.  According to 
Dismoor, Lindh canceled her trip last year after GOT 
officials stated she would have to cancel a planned visit to 
Diyarbakir, a southeastern province under a state of 
emergency, due to the possibility of "bad press."  Dismoor 
commented that during a meeting last week AK Party Chairman 
Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed puzzlement over why Lindh felt 
forced to cancel her trip and stated she should be able to 
visit Diyarbakir.  Erdogan further indicated that Lindh would 
be given all accommodations should she choose to visit 
Turkey.  Dismoor said Erdogan was scheduled to go to Sweden 
next November 27 and implied plans for a visit to Turkey by 
Lindh may be discussed. 
 
 
2. (C) Comment: Sweden has at times been among the leading 
critics of Turkey's human rights record.  A visit to the 
troubled southeast by Lindh at this time would highlight the 
AK Party's efforts to portray itself as willing to break with 
the past on this issue.  After assuming office, Interior 
Minister Aksu immediately issued a message to all governors 
stressing the importance of combating torture, abduction, 
excessive force, and extrajudicial killing.  The AK party 
also elevated the status of human rights in the Cabinet by 
appointing a Deputy PM, Ertugrul Yalcinbayir, as Minister for 
Human Rights; the GOT had previously assigned a State 
Minister to this role. 
PEARSON