Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ANKARA8373
2002-11-18 13:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ISAF COMMANDER MG ZORLU'S VISIT TO THE US -

Tags:  MOPS MARR PREL TU UK AF 
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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 008373 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR P, EUR AND PM; JCS FOR VCJCS, J5 LTG CASEY AND
J3; OSD FOR ASD RODMAN AND ASD CROUCH; CENTCOM FOR POLAD
AND J5


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2012
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL TU UK AF
SUBJECT: ISAF COMMANDER MG ZORLU'S VISIT TO THE US -
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEETINGS WITH USG OFFICIALS

(U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch.
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008373

SIPDIS


STATE FOR P, EUR AND PM; JCS FOR VCJCS, J5 LTG CASEY AND
J3; OSD FOR ASD RODMAN AND ASD CROUCH; CENTCOM FOR POLAD
AND J5


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2012
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL TU UK AF
SUBJECT: ISAF COMMANDER MG ZORLU'S VISIT TO THE US -
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEETINGS WITH USG OFFICIALS

(U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch.
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).



1. (U) This is an action request. See para 5.



2. (C) MFA DDG for South Asian Affairs Aydin Evirgen recently
informed Deputy Pol-Mil Counselor that ISAF Commander MG
Zorlu would be traveling to the US November 20-26 to meet
with USG and UN officials and private organizations to
discuss Turkey's experience as ISAF lead nation and the
general security situation in Afghanistan. Zorlu is
scheduled to be in Washington November 21-22 and in New York
November 25-26. Evirgen said the visit was MG Zorlu's idea,
but stressed that it enjoyed widespread support within the
Turkish General Staff (TGS) and the MFA. (TGS Navy Captain
Sinani separately told Deputy Pol-Mil Counselor November 15
that the TGS leadership supported the visit as an opportunity
to increase awareness in the US of the role that Turkey is
playing in Afghanistan and in the larger global war on
terrorism.)



3. (C) Evirgen said the Turkish Embassy in Washington was
attempting to schedule meetings with senior USG officials and
asked that the Embassy support these efforts. According to
Evirgen, the Turkish Embassy initially requested appointments
with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, but has since learned the two will be in
Prague for the NATO Summit. The Turkish Embassy reportedly
is now trying to schedule meetings with the Deputy Secretary
of Defense and VCJCS Gen Pace. Evirgen also noted that the
MFA believed it would be a good idea for MG Zorlu to meet
with a senior State Department official and said he would ask
the Turkish Embassy in Washington to request a meeting with
U/S Grossman.



4. Comment: Given that MG Zorlu has been stationed in Kabul
since June and focusing his attention on ISAF-related issues,
we do not expect him to initiate discussion with USG
officials on Iraq, nor do we expect him to be intimately
familiar with the details of the discussions between US and
Turkish officials on Iraq.



5. (C) Action request: The Embassy strongly supports the
visit of MG Zorlu to the US and recommends that the
Department of Defense (OSD and JCS) and the State Department
receive MG Zorlu at the highest possible level. By all
accounts, MG Zorlu -- who was hand-picked by TGS CHOD Ozkok
-- has done an excellent job as ISAF commander since taking
over in June. By receiving Zorlu at an appropriately high
level, the USG can reinforce the importance we attach to the
strategic partnership and our appreciation for Turkey's
performance as ISAF lead nation.


PEARSON