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Viewing cable 04ANKARA6209, AEGEAN: TURKEY MIFFED WITH GREEKS BUT WILL SHOW

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04ANKARA6209 2004-11-02 15:37 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Ankara
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006209 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014 
TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU CY
SUBJECT: AEGEAN: TURKEY MIFFED WITH GREEKS BUT WILL SHOW 
RESTRAINT 
 
REF: A. STATE 232521 
 
     B. ATHENS 4054 
     C. ANKARA 6134 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador discussed the possible increase in 
Greek-Turkish tensions over Aegean freedom of navigation 
issues Oct. 29 with TGS DCHOD General Ilker Basbug.  Basbug 
stated that the claim of Aegean tension was "completely 
contrived by the Greeks."  He said that the Greeks knew that 
Turkey had significantly reduced Aegean military flights in 
advance of the Cyprus referendum and for the summer months, 
including the Olympic Games.  He added that overall Turkish 
flights were well down this year compared with 2003. 
Nonetheless, Basbug took the point that Turkish restraint in 
light of the Dec. 17 EU decision on Turkish accession talks 
was the prudent course. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador followed up Nov. 2 with outgoing MFA 
Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, incoming Undersecretary Ali 
Tuygan, and Deputy Undersecretaries Baki Ilkin and Nabi 
Sensoy at a small farewell lunch for Ziyal.  These senior 
officials stressed that they understood our view and would 
work closely with TGS to avoid any provocation.  At the same 
time, they reiterated that--in the Turkish view--recent 
Turkish activity in the Aegean is nothing out of the 
ordinary, and professed not to understand why Greece was 
choosing to make an issue of it at this time.  Ilkin 
speculated that this was Athens' attempt to lock in the 
unusually low Turkish activity during the Olympics as a new 
norm. 
 
3. (C) We also made reftel points to Turkish MFA Cyprus 
Department Head Bilman November 2, stressing that Turkey do 
everything possible to avoid Aegean tensions in the run up to 
December 17. 
 
4. (C) Comment: Based on our own soundings as well as Embassy 
Athens reporting (ref b), it appears that both sides do not 
want the Aegean to interfere with Turkey's chances to get a 
date next month for EU accession talks.  That being said, 
Basbug's reaction matches what TGS told us last week, that 
the TGS was angry with the Greeks and MFA had to talk the 
brass down (ref c).  This episode will make the Turks 
skeptical about Greek good will and even less interested in 
making further concessions--for example, on Cyprus--before 
Dec. 17. 
EDELMAN