Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12613 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AS AM AR AMGT ASEC AFIN AL AORC AU AG AF APER ABLD ADCO ABUD AID AMED AJ AEMR AE ASUP AN AY AIT ADPM APEC ACOA ANET APECO ASIG AA ASEAN AGAO AADP AMCHAMS ARF AGR ATRN ALOW ACS APCS AFFAIRS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AROC AO AODE ACABQ AGMT AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC AUC ASEX AINF AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL ADM
BA BM BR BL BH BO BK BD BEXP BU BILAT BTIO BF BT BX BG BY BE BP BC BBSR BB BRUSSELS BIDEN BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CO CS CA CD CR CPAS CH CDG CI CU CE CBW CVIS CASC CDC CONS CMGT CV CY CIA CW CIDA CWC CG CJAN CODEL CT CM CAPC CTR CACS CLINTON CBSA CEUDA COM CF CARSON CN CIC COPUOS CONDOLEEZZA CICTE COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CFED CL CKGR CHR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CAC CNARC CROS CIS
DEAX DA DHS DAO DCM DJ DR DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DE DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE
ETTC EN ENRG EAGR EAID ECIN EFIN EINT EINV ETRD EUN ECON EAIR EWWT EG EPET EMIN EU EFIS ELTN ELAB EC EIND ECPS ENVR EZ ET ENERG EI ETRN EUREM EINVECONSENVCSJA ER EEPET EUNCH EFTA EXIM EK ES ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ESENV ENNP ENVI ESA ELN ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS EUMEM ENGR ERNG ELECTIONS ECA EPA ETRC EXTERNAL EINVEFIN EUR ETC EAP ENIV ECONOMY EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ECINECONCS EAIG ETRO EUC ERD
FR FI FTAA FJ FBI FO FM FDA FAO FAS FREEDOM FTA FISO FOR FARC FAC FINR FINANCE FOI FOREIGN FMLN
GG GV GM GH GT GR GA GE GY GANGS GTIP GAERC GOI GOV GTMO GL GF GCC GZ GAZA GLOBAL GERARD
HR HEBRON HSTC HA HUMOR HU HO HK HILLARY HI HURI HUMAN HYMPSK
IR IS IC IZ IAEA IN ICRC IT ID IDA IWC IO ICJ ICAO IV IAHRC IBRD IMF IQ INRA INRO ILC IGAD IMO ITRA ICTY ITU ILO ISLAMISTS ICTR IBET IRC IRAQI ITALY IPR ISRAELI IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INRB IL INR IZPREL IRAJ ITF IF ITPHUM ISRAEL IACI IEFIN INTELSAT INDO IDP
JA JO JM JP JUS JAMES JOHNNIE JOSEPH JOHN
KSCA KSUM KIPR KTEX KJUS KIDE KDEM KIRF KV KNNP KTIA KN KGHG KG KISL KTFN KUNR KCRM KPWR KPAL KTIP KFRD KWMN KOLY KPAO KMDR KCOR KPRP KU KZ KPKO KO KOMS KAWC KMCA KMPI KFLU KGIC KOMC KRVC KVRP KS KSEP KIRC KSPR KVPR KWBG KACT KFLO KFSC KHIV KHSA KMFO KCIP KENV KHLS KDRG KSAF KRAD KNSD KBCT KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCFE KE KSTC KCGC KR KPOA KPLS KICC KRIM KAWK KWMM KPRV KVIR KTDB KX KCRS KMOC KCRCM KBTS KSEO KHDP KFIN KSTH KOCI KGIT KNUP KTBT KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KWAC KERG KSCI KBIO KTLA KCSY KTRD KNAR KMRS KNPP KJUST KCMR KTER KRCM KNEI KCFC KSAC KCHG KGCC KREL KFTFN KCOM KLIG KDEMAF KAID KPAI KICA KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHUM KREC KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KMIG KDDG KRGY KIFR KID KWMNCS KPAK
LE LY LH LU LI LG LO LA LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MTCRE MNUC MARR MOPS MASS MX MK MO MCAP MIL MAS ML MR MEDIA MAR MC MD MG MI MY MU MTRE MA MQADHAFI MASC MW MARAD MPOS MRCRE MTCR MAPP MZ MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN
NL NZ NI NPT NATO NO NK NS NU NP NG NA NSG NT NW NE NSF NR NPA NAFTA NASA NSFO NDP NGO NORAD NSSP NATIONAL NIPP NZUS NH NC NEW NRR NAR NV NATOPREL NPG NSC
OREP OSCE OSCI OTRA OVIP OPDC OAS OIIP OPRC OPAD OBSP OEXC OECD OFDP OFFICIALS ODIP OPIC OHUM OES OPCW OVP OCS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OFDA OIC ON OCII
PARM PGOV PREL PTER PE PHUM PINR PINS PREF PM PK POL PBTS PNAT PHSA PAS PA PO PDOV PL PHUMPGOV PAK PGIV PAO PHUMPREL PCI PROP PP PTBS PINL POV PEL PG PREO PAHO PREFA PSI POLITICAL POLITICS PAIGH POSTS PMIL PRAM PALESTINIAN PARMS PROG PBIO PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PINF PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PSEPC POGOV POLICY PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PBT PGOC PY PLN PHUH PF PRL PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
QA
RS RU REGION REACTION REPORT RO RW RP RFE RM RCMP RSO ROBERT RICE RSP RF ROOD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RELATIONS
SNAR SENV SY SP SU SOCI SMIG SR SCUL SF SO SA SI SARS SZ SW SG SIPRS SEVN SNARCS SYR SN STEINBERG SH SAARC SC SCRS SYRIA SL SENVKGHG SAN ST SIPDIS SNARIZ SNARN SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SANC SWE SHI SEN SHUM SPCE
TSPA TU TBIO TD TT TS TRGY TINT TF TPHY TN TH TSPL TW TC TX TZ THPY TL TV TNGD TI TP TBID TK TERRORISM TIP TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UNESCO UK UNGA UN UNMIK UNHRC UP UNSC USTR US UNDC UY UNICEF UV UNDP UNAUS UNCSD USUN USOAS USNC UNEP UNHCR UNCND UNFCYP UNIDROIT UG UZ UNCHC UNCHR USEU USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS
VZ VT VE VI VM VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WHTI WTRO WTRQ WBG WHO WFP WI WS WMD WIPO WTO WHA WZ WB WWARD WITH WEU WMO WA
XR XS XA XV XH XF XL XG XM XT XK XD XI XE XW XB XQ XX XTAG XY XZ XU XC
YI YM YE YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZK ZO ZU ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 07ANKARA1288, TURKEY: ALEVI GROUPS WEIGHING ELECTION OPTIONS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07ANKARA1288.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07ANKARA1288 | 2007-05-25 13:21 | 2011-04-06 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Ankara

`

    VZCZCXRO6802
    PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
    DE RUEHAK #1288/01 1451321
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 251321Z MAY 07
    FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2282
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
    RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU//TCH//
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
    RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU
    RUEHAK/TSR ANKARA TU
    RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001288

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2017
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
    SUBJECT: TURKEY:  ALEVI GROUPS WEIGHING ELECTION OPTIONS

    Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4(b)(d)

    1.(C) Summary: Several leftist Alevi organizations failed to
    agree on an election strategy at a May 19-20 Istanbul
    conference.  Some attendees supported the recently concluded
    center-left alliance, while others insisted it was not nearly
    broad enough to represent their interests.  The conference
    reflected the eclectic nature of Alevis and their increasing
    frustration that no party advances their causes.  Our
    contacts believe that despite this disillusionment, most
    Alevis will stick to tradition and vote for a mainstream
    center-left party such as the Republican People's Party
    (CHP).  Overtures from other parties to run Alevi candidates
    and incorporate some of the issues Alevis support into a
    party platform are unlikely to do much to change the
    equation.  End summary.

    --------------------------------------------- ----------------
    Alevis Groups Attempt to Combine Forces, Strengthen Influence
    --------------------------------------------- ----------------

    2.(C) Several leading Alevi organizations, including the Pir
    Sultan Association, Haci Bektasi Association, and El-i-Beyt
    Foundation, met May 19-20 in Istanbul to formulate a strategy
    for the July 22 parliamentary elections.  Kazim Genc,
    President of the Pir Sultan Alevi Association, told us he
    organized the conference to strengthen the political
    influence of Turkey's large Alevi population.  Until now,
    according to Genc, Alevi influence has been
    disproportionately weak -- Alevis make up approximately 20-25
    percent of Turkey's population.  Genc described Alevis as
    independent-minded and unwilling to tie themselves to a
    specific political party.

    3.(C) Genc hoped that he could increase the influence of Pir
    Sultan's 25,000 members by joining with other Alevi groups.
    Alevis are disappointed with the current parties, none of
    which sufficiently address Alevi concerns, according to Genc.
     The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is, he
    claimed, interested in establishing sharia law and is
    corrupt.  CHP is now alarmingly close to the military and has
    failed to reward Alevis for their support during the 2002
    election.  By combining forces, Alevis could magnify their
    influence on parties' platforms, he explained.

    --------------------------------
    Fractured Groups Unable to Unite
    --------------------------------

    4.(C) Despite high hopes, Alevis were unable to forge
    consensus, and left the conference almost as divided as they
    came.  Attendees told us that prominent Alevi Veliyettin
    Ulusoy led a "moderate leftist" camp that declared it would
    support the CHP-DSP alliance.  The "hardcore leftists," such
    as Genc, rejected the CHP-Democratic Left Party (DSP)
    alliance unless it significantly broadened its tent.  Most
    individuals criticized Alevis who planned to run with AKP or
    the new Democrat Party (DP) -- the result of the Motherland
    Party (ANAVATAN) and True Path Party (DYP) merger.

    5.(C) Many participants signed a broad statement released at
    the conference's conclusion, with three main points:

    -- No political party had recognized in its platform the
    plight of Alevis.

    -- Political Islam, supported by the U.S.'s "moderate Islam
    project," had been trying to take full control of the
    government, as evidenced by AKP's attempts to control the
    Presidency, Speakership, and Prime Ministry.  This political
    Islam promotes racism, backwardness, and sharia.

    -- The best solution is a broad alliance of leftist parties,
    unions, and other groups.  The alliance of CHP and DSP is not
    sufficient because it excludes many leftist groups.

    --------------------------------------
    Alevi Groups Continue to Weigh Options
    --------------------------------------

    6.(C) Following the conference, most of our Alevi contacts
    remained unwilling to commit to a party and open to

    ANKARA 00001288  002 OF 002

    overtures.  While Genc continued to espouse a broad coalition
    of leftists parties, one of his Vice Presidents said he would
    consider supporting AKP or DP if they agreed to address Alevi
    concerns.

    7.(C) Alevi expert Dr. Aykan Erdemir of Middle East Technical
    University (METU) was not surprised by the lack of unity.
    "It is impossible to characterize Alevis as supporting one
    political line -- the community is quite heterogeneous," he
    told us.  Some at the conference largely discouraged the use
    of military intervention to solve Turkey's Kurdish problems
    in the southeast, but others pushed for such intervention.
    Some Alevis practice their religion devoutly, while many are
    purely secular.  Erdemir predicted most Alevis would unite
    around a common fear that AKP is trying to increase the
    influence of Sunni Islam in society by consolidating control
    of government institutions such as the Religious Affairs
    Directorate (Diyanet).  The unifying concern would lead them
    ultimately to vote for a mainstream leftist political party
    such as DP.

    8.(C) Comment:  As the conference showed, the Alevis'
    heterogeneity makes it difficult for them to form a cohesive
    bloc in support of one candidate or party.  Several parties,
    including AKP, are courting Alevi voters and seeking Alevis
    to run as candidates.  Center-right parties, however, are
    unlikely to meet their specific, long-standing demands, and
    AKP is clearly anathema to many Alevis.  In the end, most
    Alevis will probably stick to tradition and vote for a
    mainstream center-left party such as CHP.  End comment.

    Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

    WILSON

`