IRAQ: OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH AND CIVILIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 009135

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR NEA/NGA AND EUR/SE
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH
PARIS FOR O'FRIEL


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2012
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: IRAQ: OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH AND CIVILIAN
OVERFLIGHTS OF THE ROZ -- GOT REFUSES TO RE-ROUTE

REF: A. (A) ANKARA 4444

B. (B) ANKARA 2904


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, reasons 1.5, b/d.



1. (C) MFA DG/Americas Banguoglu called in the DCM
(accompanied by the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Chief
and Pol-Mil Counselor) 12/24 to respond to our 11/29 dipnote
urging the MFA to end the practice of routing civilian
passenger flights over the ONW Resticted Operating Zone (ROZ)
in southeast Turkey during operations. Our note had stressed
that any solution that failed to keep the ROZ free of
civilian flights during ONW missions placed civilian
passenger planes at an unacceptable level of risk. We also
had warned that if the practice were not changed, the embassy
would have to consider advising American travelers to avoid
airlines using that corridor (VG-8). Our note followed a
near-collision in March 2002, several ODC/Embassy meetings
the Turkish General Staff (TGS) and Turkish Air Force (TUAF),
the Ambassador's June meeting with the former Transportation
Minister specifically to address this problem, and several
subsequent meetings with the TGS and Turkish Air Force. In
July, TGS wrote ODC that an alternate air route was being
developed, and in October, the Turkish ONW Chief of Staff
wrote the US COS indicating that the new route, which skirted
the ROZ to the north, would be implemented by 10/15.
However, just prior to that date, the Turkish COS notified
the US COS that implementation was on hold. Since the ONW US
Co-Commander still felt that the reduced altitude block
allocated to ONW was not large enough to perform the mission
safely, especially during winter weather, we sent the 11/29
dipnote.



2. (C) Banguoglu reviewed the MFA's dipnote reply before
handing it over (text in para 6). Sitting in was the MFA's
advisor for aviation affairs, a retired TUAF colonel, who
also spoke at some length. Banguoglu's main point was that
the GOT, including TGS and MFA, considered the US claims of
danger "exaggerated" ("There is no tremendous danger," he
said). The ROZ was not an "active combat zone," but rather
only a NOTAM'd restricted zone. If evasive maneuvers by ONW
aircraft necessitated their flying above 28 thousand feet,
they could simply notify the relevant air traffic controllers
(ATC). The GOT felt five thousand feet of separation below
the 33 thousand-foot civilian floor was more than sufficient.
That was more than Turkey allowed for NATO exercises.
Banguoglu also said the GOT regarded as "most unnessary" our
warning that we would recommend US travelers avoid airlines
using the ROZ corridor.



3. (C) The DCM and ODC Chief pushed back. If MiG-25's come
out of northern Iraq, that is not an exercise. The ROZ is an
integral part of a real-world combat operation. Pol-Mil
Counselor stressed that warning ATC of evasive maneuvers at
high speeds could well be insufficient to avoid a
catastrophe. ODC Chief also noted that civilian airliners
had flown below 33 thousand feet and promised to follow up
with documentation.



4. (C) The DCM concluded to Banguoglu that Turkey and the US
have differing perceptions of what constitutes acceptable
risk. We would continue to pursue this issue, probably in
the military consultations on Iraq, once they resumed.



5. (C) Comment: Indeed, once the mil-mil talks resume, we
will hit the Turks again with this issue.



6. (U) Begin text of Turkish 12/24 dipnote:


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Replublic of Turkey
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America and with reference to the Latter's Note numbered
1338, dated November 29, 2002, has the honour to inform the
Embassy that the issue of safety of civilian passenger
flights in the airspace over the Operation Northern Watch's
(ONW) Restricted Operating Zone (ROZ) has been re-examined
with the participation of all relevant Turkish aurthorities.
There appears to be certain conceptual differences in the
views of the Turkish and USA authorities. The considered
opinion of the Turkish side is the following:
Based on mutual agreement between the Turkish and the US
military, ROZ is not an "active combat zone", but is a
NOTAMed "Restricted Airspace" within the sovereign airspace
of Turkey. The upper limit of ROZ is 28,000 feet. Upon a
request made by the relevant US authorities, as an
exceptional practice, an additional 5,000 feet zone above the
29,000 feet is not allocated to civilian air traffic. As a
result of this, at the VG-8 air corridor which passes
east-west over ROZ, civilian aircrafts are permitted to fly
only over 33,000 feet. VG-8 has been operational not since
March 2002, but since after the Gulf War under the conditions
explained herebefore. As long as the ONW operations are
conducted within the NOTAMed limits of the ROZ area which
they are required to in line with the international norms and
practices, as well as Turkish national regulations, there
will not be any risk left for the safety of the civilian
aircrafts over flying the ROZ. Turkish military authorities
are of the opinion that a ROZ level of 28,000 feet is enough
to meet the current needs of the ONW flights. In exceptional
cases when a technical or emergency requirement necessitates
an ONW operated aircraft to fly above the NOTAMed area (which
is up to 28,000 feet),in line with the international norms,
it is the sole responsibility of that aircraft to inform
immediately the relevant ATC or controlling military units,
in order to ensure that necessary flight safety precautions
are taken.


As far as the requirements of the civilian air traffic is
concerned, there is a continued need for the services of the
VG-8 air corridor, in addition to the services of the newly
opened UT-36 to the north of VG-8. Within this context and
in the light of the close cooperation between Turkey and the
United States, the phrase "....recommend advising all
American travelers that they avoid airlines using VG-8" is
considered to be unnecessary.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
avails itself of this opportunity to renew the Embassy of the
United States of America the assurances of its highest
consideration.


Ankara, December 24, 2002.


End text.
PEARSON