VZCZCXRO8977
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMOS RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #1957/01 1010756
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 110756Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4716
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY
RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001957 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF EAID BMENA SU XA XW TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/SUDAN: PM ERDOGAN TO ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT AND 
TURKISH AID TO DARFUR 
 
REF: ANKARA 1570 
 
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) In a first for Turkey, PM Erdogan was invited to 
address the March 28-29 Arab League Summit in Khartoum on the 
Alliance of Civilizations.  The GOT sees greater cooperation 
with the AL as a useful tool for helping to mediate regional 
disputes and increasing trade.  Erdogan discussed increased 
Turkish economic and development support for Sudan with 
Sudanese leaders, including First Vice President Kiir, and 
personally delivered a planeload of humanitarian supplies to 
a South Darfur camp.  Five more Turkish C-130s with 
humanitarian aid left for Nyala on April 7.  Turkey also 
seeks a higher profile in Africa to enhance its bid for a 
2009-2019 seat on the UN Security Council. End Summary 
 
-------------------------- 
Turkey and the Arab League 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) MFA Middle East Department Head Sedat Onal told us 
April 5 that Erdogan was the first Turkish head of government 
to be invited to an Arab League Summit.  Following in the 
footsteps of Alliance of Civilizations co-founder Spanish PM 
Moratinos, who addressed the 2005 AL summit in Algiers, 
Erdogan traveled to Khartoum March 29 to speak on Turkey's 
vision for avoiding a "clash of civilizations."  Erdogan met 
briefly with Syrian President Bashar Assad as well as 
Lebanese leaders Siniora and Lahoud on the margins of the 
summit, but discussed little of substance, according to Onal. 
 Erdogan discussed the urgent need for formation of an Iraqi 
government with UN officials attending the summit and met 
briefly with PA President Abbas, whom he invited to visit 
Turkey in late April. 
 
¶3. (C) Onal explained that no formal mechanism exists to give 
Turkey observer status in the AL.  However, the Turkish 
Foreign Ministry has signed an MOU with the AL Secretary 
General to promote more regular contact.  This MOU will be 
reviewed shortly the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Onal 
said, adding that Russian and China have similar arrangements 
with the AL.  Onal acknowledged the AL's limitations, but 
said Turkey sees greater contact as potentially useful on 
specific issues, to include encouraging more Arab support to 
Iraq, facilitating Turkey's desire to help mediate regional 
disputes, and increasing trade. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Turkey and Sudan:  Trade and Aid 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) MFA Africa Department Head Raif Karaca told us April 7 
that Erdogan's trip to Sudan was originally focused on the 
Arab League summit, but gradually took on a bilateral 
character.  While in Khartoum, the Prime Minister met 
separately with President al Bashir as well as First VP Kiir 
and VP Taha.  In discussion of the Sudanese conflict, 
Erdogan stressed that Turkey wants a solution acceptable to 
both sides which respects Sudanese territorial integrity.  In 
this context, Karaca noted that Turkey complies with UN and 
more restrictive EU policies limiting arms transfers to 
Sudan, and recently blocked a shipment of handguns from 
Turkey that appeared destined for Sudan through shady 
middlemen. 
 
¶5.  (C) Economic issues were reportedly at the forefront, 
with Sudan expressing dissatisfaction with Chinese, Indian 
and Malaysian investment in Sudan's energy sector.  Sudanese 
leaders urged greater Turkish involvement there and in 
infrastructure (especially water and irrigation) projects. 
While in Khartoum, Erdogan signed an agreement to open an 
office of Turkey's Foreign Development Agency (TIKA) in 
Sudan.  Karaca reported that, with some 2700 Turkish 
nationals currently working in Sudan, Turkey is also 
considering expanding its modest diplomatic presence in 
 
ANKARA 00001957  002 OF 002 
 
 
Khartoum. 
 
¶6. (U) Karaca explained that Turkish interest in Africa stems 
from GOT initiatives begun in the context of the GOT's "Year 
of Africa" in 2005.  That year PM Erdogan visited Ethiopia 
and South Africa, and Turkey gained observer status in the 
African Union.  Turkish Airlines inaugurated flights to Addis 
Ababa and Khartoum in 2005 as well.  The GOT is looking to 
open TIKA offices elsewhere in Africa. 
 
¶7. (C) Karaca admitted another motive behind Turkey's growing 
involvement in Africa -- the GOT hopes to drum up support for 
its bid for a UNSC seat in 2009-2010 by playing a higher 
profile role on the continent. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Erdogan Visits Darfur with Aid, More on the Way 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Karaca said that Erdogan visited a refugee camp in 
South Darfur, near Nyala, and oversaw the distribution of a 
planeload of Turkish humanitarian supplies.  Seeing a need 
for additional aid at the Red Crescent-run tent city he 
visited, Erdogan immediately called on TIKA to prepare 
additional planeloads of humanitarian supplies.  Karaca 
informed us that, as of April 7, Turkey had dispatched five 
additional Turkish C-130s to Nyala with additional medical 
supplies and baby food.  Karaca explained that Sudanese 
authorities had prevailed upon Erdogan to limit his visit to 
a pro-government camp near Nyala by insisting that visiting a 
camp in West Darfur would be too dangerous. 
 
-------------------- 
Mixed Press Coverage 
-------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Press coverage of the visit was mixed, with several 
editorials criticizing Erdogan for going to the AL Summit 
while relations with the EU and U.S. remained unsteady.  One 
influential columnist questioned Erdogan's alleged assertion 
that there had been no genocide or ethnic assimilation in 
Darfur.  Other news outlets reported positively on Erdogan's 
visit to Darfur and the distribution of Turkish humanitarian 
supplies there. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10. (C) We see the bilateral portion of this visit as 
positive.  We had urged Erdogan's staff to ensure that he met 
with First VP Kiir and visited Darfur while in Sudan 
(reftel).  Turkish humanitarian aid is also welcome, even if 
it appears destined exclusively for pro-government camps in 
South Darfur.  Erdogan's Arab Leage appearance reflects his 
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government's desire to 
reach out more to the Muslim world.  End Comment. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
WILSON