Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA5897
2003-09-18 06:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY OPEN TO CANCELING FALL MILITARY EXERCISES

Tags:  MOPS PREL TU GR CY 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005897 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL TU GR CY
SUBJECT: TURKEY OPEN TO CANCELING FALL MILITARY EXERCISES
ON CYPRUS

REF: A. STATE 257142

B. ATHENS 3133

C. NICOSIA 1827

D. ATHENS 2619


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


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005897

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL TU GR CY
SUBJECT: TURKEY OPEN TO CANCELING FALL MILITARY EXERCISES
ON CYPRUS

REF: A. STATE 257142

B. ATHENS 3133

C. NICOSIA 1827

D. ATHENS 2619


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



1. (C) Summary: In receiving Ref A demarche, GOT
interlocutors from MFA and TGS did not push back on canceling
this year's Toros/Barbaros exercise and expressed openness to
following past practice of mirroring the Greek activities.
However, they were characteristically unwilling to commit to
doing so prior to knowing what Athens' plans were. End
Summary.



2. (C) In a September 11 meeting with MFA DG for Eastern Med
Affairs Necip Eguz, Pol-Mil Counselor urged the GOT to follow
the precedent established over the last two years of
mirroring the Toxotis/Nikiforos activities of Greece and
Cyprus. Pol-Mil Counselor noted we were delivering the same
message of restraint in Athens and Nicosia. He told Eguz it
would be helpful if the Greeks knew before they conducted
their exercise what Turkish intentions were. Eguz laughed
and said "They will never know." He did commit to staffing
the request and remarked that he "did not see any reason why
we can't repeat the past two years' practice." On Sept. 16,
the new TGS/J-5 for Greek and Cypriot Affairs RADM (LH)
Mucahit Sislioglu told Pol-Mil Counselor that the issue would
have to be referred to the J-3 and the rest of J-5, but that
personally he believed canceling the exercise would be
prudent so as not to complicate matters prior to the December
elections in northern Cyprus.



3. (C) On the new CSBMs announced by SYG Robertson (Ref D),
Eguz said the GOT is always looking for new initiatives, big
and small, on which the GOT and GOG can work together. He
agreed that the fact that these new CSBMs were in mil-mil
channels was a particularly encouraging development, as the
other channels were already working well. Eguz added as
evidence that he expected the negotiations on a double
taxation treaty to be concluded soon. Sislioglu noted that
the CSBMs announced by Robertson were "slow but continuing."
He added that there are many such papers, and one of his
major goals is to accelerate implementation.



4. (C) Comment: Neither Eguz nor Sislioglu were surprised to
hear our points, and both were more open about speculating
that Turkey would probably mirror Greece than Sislioglu's
predecessor and Eguz were last year prior to the exercises.
While last year, MFA and TGS seemed intent on keeping the
Greeks guessing, this year both were relatively nonchalant
about the issue. We do not expect the Turks to upset the
current balance by changing the policy of mirroring the
Greeks, but neither do we expect they will take the high road
of announcing their cancellation before they witness what the
Greeks do during their exercise.
EDELMAN