Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ANKARA8534
2002-11-22 10:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ARTICLE 98: GOT SAYS NEGOTIATIONS LIKELY EARLY IN

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM TU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008534 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2007
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM TU
SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98: GOT SAYS NEGOTIATIONS LIKELY EARLY IN
2003


REF: ANKARA 7591 AND PREVIOUS


Classified by Acting Polcouns Nicholas S. Kass. Reason:
1.5(b)(d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008534

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2007
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM TU
SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98: GOT SAYS NEGOTIATIONS LIKELY EARLY IN
2003


REF: ANKARA 7591 AND PREVIOUS


Classified by Acting Polcouns Nicholas S. Kass. Reason:
1.5(b)(d).



1. (C) Feza Ozturk, head of the MFA International Political
Organizations Department, told Poloff November 21 that the
GOT would likely be prepared to negotiate an Article 98
agreement with the USG following the December 12-13 EU Summit
in Copenhagen. Ozturk said the GOT is wary of raising the
profile of the issue while the EU considers Turkey's
membership application, emphasizing that the USG should
not/not make any public comments before the Summit about the
GOT's willingness to reach an agreement. Ozturk said the MFA
at the Undersecretary level had decided to support an Article
98 agreement, and had sent a letter to the Turkish General
Staff (TGS) seeking its support. Ozturk said he would inform
the Embassy of the TGS response, which he predicted would be
favorable.



2. (C) Poloff observed that an Article 98 agreement should
not affect Turkey's EU bid, particularly because the EU FMs
at the September 30 GAC had given a green light for EU
members to reach bilateral Article 98 agreements with the
U.S., under certain guidelines. Ozturk said the issue had
unfortunately been politicized by the press, which would
interpret a pre-Summit Article 98 agreement by the GOT as a
slight to the EU. He said he was confident an agreement
could be reached quickly after the Summit.
PEARSON