NATO/IRAQ: TURKEY PATIENT FOR NOW BUT LOOKING FOR

S E C R E T ANKARA 000331

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2012
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ NATO
SUBJECT: NATO/IRAQ: TURKEY PATIENT FOR NOW BUT LOOKING FOR
NATO COVER


REF: STATE 9504


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



1. (S) Summary: MFA DG for International Security Affairs
Morali told DCM January 13 that NATO should move forward
prudently on Articles IV and V with respect to Iraq.
Nevertheless, the GOT hopes the package outlined in reftel
with evolve as necessary and discussion of Article IV will
not be deferred indefinitely. Morali noted that making
public the discussion of Iraq at NATO would ease the Turkish
public's anxiety over an Iraq operation and provide Turkey
international legitimacy to cooperate with the US. End
Summary.



2. (S) DCM delivered reftel points to MFA DG for
International Security Affairs Morali January 13, emphasizing
that discussion of Article IV and Iraq at NATO was premature
and that the US needed more time to prepare for the
discussion. Morali appreciated that the USG responded
quickly to the Turkish initiative, which was "moving in the
direction of concrete action." Morali noted the activity was
opening the way for NATO involvement in a potential
operation, which the GOT had been pursuing in order to gain
international legitimacy and allay public anxiety about an
operation. He added that the point of the initiative was not
to turn US plans into a NATO operation, but to get legitimacy
for Turkey's participation. The "political essence" of this
exercise was important for this reason and could facilitate a
political decision by the GOT. Therefore, while prudence was
important, the GOT did not want the discussion deferred
indefinitely. Morali said NATO solidarity should "come in a
timely way," preferably by January 27 when the Blix report
was due. Furthermore, the GOT needed its public to know that
its defense was being discussed at NATO in order to counter
public disapproval of a military operation and Turkey's
involvement in it. Morali assured the DCM that the
discussion of Article V was not urgent and would be taken up
if and when Iraq attacked Turkey.



3. (S) Morali observed that the addition of CBW defense
capabilities to the package presented to the NAC by Wolfowitz
was welcome. He hoped the package would evolve as additional
measures became necessary. Morali agreed that tasking the
NMAs as proposed by reftel was the normal way to proceed and
should not encounter any problems among other Allies.



4. (S) Comment: For now, the GOT is satisfied with the US
response to its request for Article IV and V discussions at
NATO. The process itself provides the new Turkish government
the cover it needs to convince the public its defense is
being carefully considered and that the operation has
international legitimacy. Providing the GOT this cover soon,
will facilitate its deliberations on Iraq policy.
PEARSON