US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6883

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006883 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, TU, SY, UN 
SUBJECT: TURKS CONCERNED WITH LACK OF AGREED VENUE FOR 
MEHLIS INTERROGATIONS 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 6771 
 
     B. ANKARA 6706 
 
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 1. (C)  Turkish MFA DG for Middle East Oguz Celikkol 
informed Charge November 22 that Detlev Mehlis had not 
accepted UNDOF as a proposed site for interrogations. 
Celikkol had learned this from Syrian D/FM Muallem at the 
opening session of the OIC Cairo conference on Iraq.  Mehlis, 
Muallem told Celikkol, has offered Geneva or Vienna.  FM Gul 
may, Celikkol stated, phone UNSYG Annan to propose Ankara (UN 
offices) as a possible compromise.  This would follow up on 
an idea UK Foreign Secretary Straw reportedly floated with 
Gul during an earlier conversation.  In response to the 
Charge's expression of concern about the Turkish proposal of 
Ankara, Celikkol reasoned that the Syrians might be more 
comfortable having interrogations take place in their own 
region; the Turks, if necessary, could keep it under wraps, 
he stated. 
 
2. (C)  Charge pointed out that Syria needs to respond to 
Mehlis now; the clock is ticking.  Both Geneva and Vienna are 
well-respected "UN" cities and neutral sites.  Neither would 
cross the red lines Syrian President Asad had outlined to Gul 
during their Nov. 16 meeting in Damascus (i.e., not in 
Lebanon, not humiliating).  The U.S. will follow Mehlis' 
lead; the Turks will only be able to claim Gul's trip to 
Damascus was a success once Syria ponies up on a venue. 
Presenting the Syrians with more options now would not be 
useful. 
MCELDOWNEY