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Cablegate: Turkish Mfa On Bsec and Environmental Protection

Published: Fri 3 Aug 2007 12:45 PM
VZCZCXRO0585
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #2003/01 2151245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031245Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3277
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 8269
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1528
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 1023
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0479
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 0028
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 1180
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 3125
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 1299
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2197
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3117
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002003
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN SENV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA ON BSEC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
SYMPOSIUM
REF: A. SECSTATE 91451
B. ISTANBUL 000565
This cable was coordinated with Congen Istanbul.
1. (SBU) Summary: Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
held on July 10 an after action review of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) 15th Anniversary Summit in
Istanbul on June 25. Deputy Director General for
Multilateral Affairs Ahmet Asim Arar chaired the meeting, and
representatives from the Embassies of BSEC member and
observer countries noted the Summit's success, under Turkey's
chairmanship, in increasing BSEC's profile with the
participation of 11 heads of state or government and in
moving BSEC to a project-based orientation. We called
attention to the September 12-13 symposium, "Environmental
Protection for Economic Growth Best Practices," and invited
BSEC members and observers to fully participate. There were
discussions on preliminary plans for the next BSEC
ministerial to be held in Turkey on 25 October 2007, during
which Turkey will transfer chairmanship to Ukraine. End
summary.
2. (SBU) Turkey's DDG for Multilateral Affairs Ahmet Asim
Arar opened the meeting by offering thanks to member
countries and observers for their support in making the
Istanbul Summit a success. In particular, the participation
of eleven heads of state or government (Armenia was
represented by FM Oskanian) boosted BSEC's profile in member
countries and in the media. Arar stressed the success of the
Turkish chairmanship in extending observer status to
the EU, moving forward on BSEC reform, and transitioning BSEC
to a more project-based focus, most notably with the Black
Sea Ring Highway and the Motorway of the Seas. Arar also
noted BSEC's potential to take on a greater political role in
the region,especially in resolving the Frozen Conflicts.
3. (SBU) There was consensus among speakers (Germany, Serbia,
the UN, Georgia, Italy, the U.S., and Greece) about the
success of the Summit under Turkey's chairmanship and the
importance of BSEC's new project-based focus. The Serbian
and Georgian representatives brought up a few of the Summit's
logistical problems, which ultimately did not affect the
Summit's substance. The German representative raised the
issue of better communication of administrative issues to
observer countries. The UN representative expressed hope
that BSEC's new project-based orientation will allow greater
cooperation within BSEC and will produce bigger results. The
Serbian representative also echoed Arar's statement regarding
BSEC's capacity to address political issues like the Frozen
Conflicts.
4. (SBU) Turkey's MFA looks forward to the next ministerial
summit in October, during which Turkey will transfer
chairmanship of BSEC to Ukraine. Arar raised the issue of
financial resources, and he explained the location of the
summit, originally planned for Ankara, may shift to the more
affordable and touristic Turkish city of Bodrum.
5. (SBU) We congratulated Turkey and BSEC for a successful
Anniversary Summit. Referring to Ambassador Wilson's remarks
at BSEC, we said the U.S. welcomes the opportunity to invite
participants from all member and observer countries to the
September 12-13 symposium, "Environmental Protection for
Economic Growth Best Practices." We added that it is our hope
for active participation from all member and observer
countries and for a successful sharing of best practices in
environmental practices.
6. (SBU) In a follow-up visit with MFA Department of
Multilateral Affairs Head Hatun Demirer, the MFA confirmed
receiving the BSEC Symposium Draft Agenda and Proposal on
June 23. We provided her with
a more up to date draft agenda listing several confirmed
speakers as well as recommended speakers. Demirer explained
that she will be making written requests to the Turkish
Environment and Forestry Ministry calling attention to the
draft Symposium agenda and requesting participants from the
Ministry. We discussed the program which includes Turkish
speakers from the Government, private sector, civil society,
and academia. We commented that the Symposium will be an
ANKARA 00002003 002 OF 002
important opportunity to highlight Turkey's regional
leadership in environmental protection and will be attended
by a senior USG representative. Demirer was pleased with the
agenda. We stressed the urgency of receiving Turkish input so
that invitations can be sent and the agenda finalized.
Demirer agreed to move forward quickly and provide guidance
to Embassy Ankara regarding the agenda and the names of
participating GOT officials.
7. (SBU) On July 17 BSEC circulated to BSEC member states and
observers a GOT diplomatic note dated July 13 conveying our
draft program of events for the symposium. We will continue
to work with both GOT officials and the BSEC Secretariat on
the organization of this conference.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY
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