NATO/IRAQ: GOT ACTION ON ARTICLE IV IS AT NATO

S E C R E T ANKARA 001002 SIPDIS STATE FOR P, EUR/RPM EUR/SE. OSD FOR ISA, ISP AND LEGAL; JCS FOR J3 AND J5; EUCOM FOR J3, J4, J5, POLAD; CENTCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2013 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU NATO SUBJECT: NATO/IRAQ: GOT ACTION ON ARTICLE IV IS AT NATO REF: STATE 35416 (u) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D) ¶1. (S) Pol-Mil Counselor spoke with MFA Nato Department Fatih Celan February 8 regarding reftel request instructing Embassy and USNATO to coordinate with the GOT a formal Turkish request for Article IV consultations on February 10. Celan said he did not know whether the GOT intended to submit a formal request for Article IV consultations on February 10. He added the MFA recently had authorized the Turkish mission at NATO to handle the Article IV issue, and suggested that USG contact the TU mission at NATO to inquire about Turkey's intentions for February 10. ¶2. (S) Comment: This information tracks closely with what we have heard from other MFA officials regarding the lead role that the TU mission at NATO (vice the MFA) is playing on Article IV consultations. MFA DG for International Security Morali earlier told the DCM that the MFA had given the Turkish mission "a free hand" at NATO to proceed on Article IV matters. PEARSON