C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003057

SIPDIS


STATE FOR SA, EUR/SE, AND PMAT; OSD FOR ISA AND ISP


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2013
TAGS: PREL PARM PTER PGOV MARR MASS MOPS AF TU
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: TURKS INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO
PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS; REQUEST FURTHER DETAILS
BEFORE PROVIDING OFFICIAL OFFER

REF: STATE 106694


(U) Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Scot
Marciel. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D).



1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4.



2. (C) MFA Coordinator for Iraq and Afghanistan
Reconstruction Ambassador Ahmet Okcun and DDG for South Asian
Affairs Aydin Evirgen told us May 9 the MFA was interested in
continuing Turkey's high-level participation in international
security and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Okcun
said the MFA wanted to contribute to Provincial
Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in Afghanistan, including possibly
leading one team. Okcun said in addition to the information
provided by the USG (reftel), the MFA had received a readout
from the Turkish Embassy in Kabul of an April 23 meeting
between EUR/ACE Ambassador Taylor and selected reps of local
embassies on PRTs. Okcun said the MFA also had received a
paper that detailed the lessons learned from the setting up
of the first PRT in Afghanistan.



3. (C) Okcun said the GOT required additional information on
PRTs before providing an official offer. He added the
answers to these questions would in part determine the size,
composition and duration of a Turkish contribution.
Furthermore, the answers might also help strengthen the hands
of those within the GOT who want Turkey to continue to play a
prominent role in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
Okcun said once the MFA received the addition information, it
would circulate to the Turkish General Staff and other
agencies a paper outlining possible Turkish contributions and
seek a consensus position to provide to the US.

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ACTION REQUEST
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4. (C) Embassy requests the Department provide responses to
questions raised by the MFA in para 5.


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QUESTIONS
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5. (C) Below are the questions raised by Ambassador Okcun:


--Are countries required to offer sufficient personnel to
staff an entire PRT (e.g. 50-60 persons), or can they offer a
more limited number?


--Has the US and/or the Afghan government identified specific
types of personnel that are needed for each team? If so,
what type of individuals/skills are needed?


--Are countries free to offer personnel for specific regions?
(Note: Okcun said that for practical reasons -- including
language and religion -- he would be interested in
contributing personnel to "Turkish-speaking regions in
Afghanistan." He mentioned the presence of the Turkish
Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif and the twice monthly Turkish
military flights there as examples of practical reasons for
deploying Turkish personnel to the north. End note.)


--What will be the status (e.g. diplomatic) of foreign
countries' personnel in Afghanistan? What if any immunities
will they enjoy?


--If the Turks are interested in leading a PRT, does the USG,
based on its experience, have a recommended breakdown of
personnel (e.g. civilian vs. military)? (Note: Okcun said
the Turks were looking to the US for advice to avoid having
to "reinvent the wheel." End note.)


--Who will fund the costs of the PRTs? Will each country be
responsible for financing the costs of deploying its
personnel and sustaining them in country? (Note: Okcun said
while he assumed each country would be responsible for costs
associated with deployment/re-deployment of personnel and
sustainment on the ground, he was less clear about such
issues as communications, ground transportation and housing.
End note.)


--Does the USG, based on its experience, have an idea of the
cost/month of running a PRT?
--If Turkey were to decide to finance a contribution out of
the GOT's pledge for Afghan reconstruction, would Turkey
"still get credit" for its pledge?


--What are the specific duties of the PRTs?


--What is the relationship between the PRTs and the US
military in Afghanistan? Between the PRTs and the Afghan
government? Whom will the individual PRTs work for and to
whom will they report?


--Are PRTs responsible for financing and implementing
projects, or simply supporting the projects funded by other
organizations? If the PRTs are expected to identify, fund
and implement their own projects, what will be the sources of
funding?
PEARSON