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FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
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INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7957
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RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000804
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV KCRM TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY PLANS ITS BSEC SUMMIT BIRTHDAY PARTY
A) STATE 40938
B) ANKARA 367
C) ANKARA 58
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Turkish MFA held a meeting with Embassies
April 4 to describe its planning for the June 25 BSEC (Black Sea
Economic Cooperation) Summit meeting of heads of state and
government. Turkey aims to use its chairmanship to revitalize BSEC
as it commemorates its 15th anniversary at the Istanbul Summit.
Embassy recommends that the Department send a senior official to
represent Secretary Rice, who has regretted. Both BSEC and Turkey
support a U.S. proposal for a symposium on environmental protection,
targeted for September or July, as a way to contribute as a new
observer. End Summary.
-----------------------------
Turkey's BSEC Summit Roll-Out
-----------------------------
2. (SBU) Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director
General Multilateral Affairs Ahmet Asim Arar and BSEC Summit
Coordinator Cetiner Karahan presented MFA's plans for the June 25
BSEC Summit in Istanbul to Ankara based representatives of members
and observers. They noted that this will be one of the flagship
activities under the Turkish BSEC Chairmanship that begins May 1.
BSEC Deputy Secretary General Murat Sungar also attended the April 4
meeting. Here is the scenario under planning for events in
Istanbul:
-June 23-24:
Committee of Senior Officials meetings - Conrad Hotel
-June 25:
Morning - Special meeting of Foreign Ministers - Ciragan Palace
Luncheon for Ministers and Heads of State hosted by the GOT PM -
Ciragan Palace
Afternoon - Summit Conference - Ciragan
Evening - Summit Dinner hosted by the GOT President - Dolmabahce
Palace, followed by Bosphorus cruise
-June 26:
Separate CERA-TEMA organized "East Meets West" Energy Conference
3. (SBU) Turkey has invited heads of state from members and
foreign ministers from observers. Embassy recommends that the
Department send a senior official to represent Secretary Rice in
recognition of the USG's new observer status and our interest in
using that status to contribute to revitalizing BSEC during Turkey's
Chairmanship. This would boost this organization aimed at fostering
economic linkages and cooperation in this challenging region. By
helping Turkey build common ground during its chairmanship, we can
help pull BSEC more together and towards the Atlantic. (Note: We
have conveyed Secretary Rice's regrets with intention to send a
senior State Department official per Ref A.) Observers' Ministers
or his/her representative can attend all the events on June 25. The
expenses of the Minister or representative will be covered by BSEC.
--------------------------------------------- ---
U.S. Proposed Environment Symposium - Next Steps
--------------------------------------------- ---
4. (SBU) DDG Arar and BSEC Deputy Sungar confirmed that the U.S.
proposed Environmental Protection for Economic Growth Symposium was
favorably received by the Environment Working Group in March in
Belgrade, noting that it was now being circulated for comments.
They agreed with the U.S. proposal that the symposium be scheduled
before or after a meeting of the Environment Working Group to save
travel expenses. While the next scheduled working group meeting is
in September, they said that it might be possible to schedule a
ANKARA 00000804 002 OF 002
special session in July, potentially facilitating early realization
of the symposium. Arar said that the GOT would be holding meetings
on planning for its chairmanship which would include scheduling.
The next steps for the U.S. proposed environment symposium are to
firm up the funding and date and to identify speakers.
Wilson