GOT TERMINATES OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001832 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2008 TAGS: IZ MOPS PARM TU SUBJECT: GOT TERMINATES OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). (C) On March 22, MFA Director General for the Americas Amb. Banguoglu called in DCM to deliver formal notification that the GOT has decided to terminate Operation Northern Watch. Banguoglu requested that all civilian and military personnel, forces and assets connected with the operation be redeployed in a reasonable period of time in close coordination with the Turkish General Staff. Banguoglu stated that MFA had informed TGS of the content of the diplomatic note notifying us of the GOT's decision. ¶2. Begin text MFA note: 2003/ALGY/111929 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents its compliments to the Embassies of the United Kingdom and the United States of America and with reference to paragraph (j) of the Exchange of Letters between Turkey and the USA dated December 25, 1996 and the Ministry's Note of March 31, 1997, has the honor to inform the esteemed Embassies that the Government of Turkey has decided to terminate Operation Northern Watch as of March 21, 2003, upon the commencement of hostilities toward Iraq. It is kindly requested that all military and civilian forces and assets participating in Operation Northern Watch activities be duly redeployed out of Turkey in close coordination with the Turkish General Staff. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassies of the United Kingdom and the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Ankara, March 21, 2003 End text MFA note. PEARSON