VZCZCXRO7127
PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #0275 0441517
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131517Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5227
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000275 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE JOSHUA BLACK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018 
TAGS: PREL UNAUS UNMIK PROV YI EU OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/KOSOVO: TURKEY TO FOLLOW CLOSE ON OUR HEELS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 14284 
     ¶B. ANKARA 236 
     ¶C. SECSTATE 12026 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (U) This message contains an action request at para 5. 
 
¶2. (C) Ambassador emphasized our hope that countries would 
recognize Kosovo soon after it declares independence, and 
reviewed with MFA U/S Apakan the request that Turkey become a 
member of the Kosovo International Steering Group (ISG) (refs 
b and c).  Apakan confirmed Turkey would recognize as soon as 
possible after the Quint and the US.  He said Turkey was 
eager to become an ISG member.  He sought assurance that 
Turkey would participate as a full ISG member, not as an 
observer.  Turkey's 30,000 citizens of Albanian origin are 
lobbying hard for Turkey to take a lead role.  Ambassador 
affirmed that we welcome Turkey taking a strong, visible role 
as a full ISG member.  Apakan noted he had earlier directed 
his people to start working with Turkish industry and 
entrepreneurs to come up with a menu of areas where Turkey 
could invest and contribute to Kosovo's socio-economic 
development.  Turkey also plans to help develop institutions 
of higher learning in Kosovo. 
 
¶3. (C) Apakan requested that we keep in close touch in the 
run-up to the declaration of independence to ensure that 
Turkey can follow close on our heels.  He asked if we could 
share in advance the substance of the text the USG plans to 
release.  This would help the GOT formulate its own text, 
ensure it is on the same track, and speed its internal 
process.  Apakan also queried at what point the USG planned 
to upgrade its representation in Pristina. 
 
¶4. (C) Ambassador also noted that the Serbs and Russians are 
lobbying to invoke the OSCE's Berlin Mechanism immediately 
after the Kosovar declaration of independence (ref a).  We do 
not support this and it is not the right venue; Kosovo has 
been dealt with in the UN, under UNSCR 1244.  Apakan 
indicated his understanding and agreement. 
 
¶5. (C) Action request:  If we are able to share in advance 
the outline of the text the USG plans to release, we believe 
this would be useful in just the way Apakan described. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey 
 
WILSON