TURKEY'S NSC SECGEN TAKES CONSERVATIVE APPROACH ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005964

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2013
TAGS: CY IZ MARR PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S NSC SECGEN TAKES CONSERVATIVE APPROACH ON
IRAQ/CYPRUS WITH AMBASSADOR

(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric A. Edelman. Reason: 1.5
(b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary: During their initial meeting on the eve of
the September 19 NSC meeting that would consider a troop
contribution to the stabilization force in Iraq, new NSC
Secretary General General Sukru Sariisik revealed little to

SIPDIS
the Ambassador of what would occur at the meeting. He noted
that the decision on a contribution was the National
Assembly's to make, and that there would be no decision
before that body reconvened. The Ambassador refuted
Sariisik's statement that the USG had done little to address
Turkey's PKK/KADEK problem, eliciting the general's
acknowledgment that our forces in Iraq were busy and "must do
many things." Regarding Cyprus, Sariisik, a former commander
of Turkish forces on the island, alleged Athens and Nicosia
were attempting to influence the northern Cypriot elections
in December. Finally, Sariisik asserted that the NSC's
functions need not change to comply with EU requirements, all
NSC activities were already governed by domestic laws and
regulations and were "consistent with the EU." End summary.


Iraq: No Quick Decisions
--------------



2. (C) The Ambassador paid an initial call on NSC Secretary
General Sukru Sariisik on September 18. (Note: This was a
day before the September NSC meeting where possible troop
contribution to the Iraq Stabilization Force was a major
agenda item. End note.)



3. (C) Sariisik noted that the NSC was prepared to support
all forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on
principles established by the Turkish General Staff, and
would discuss Iraq the following day.



4. (C) Sariisik sidestepped the Ambassador's question about
the timeline for a GOT decision on a troop contribution to
Iraq. He said that the Turkish Grand National Assembly
(TGNA) would make the decision, and it would reconvene soon
(Sept 29). There was no reason to decide before then, he
said. He confirmed that the PKK/KADEK presence was "of great
importance," and suggested that this could be an obstacle for
greater Turkish involvement in Iraq. "This is a primary
issue for us." He hoped that this problem would be
eliminated as quickly as possible. (The Ambassador outlined
our past cooperation, US policy and the process we have
launched for responding to PKK/KADEK presence in Iraq.)
Still, he accepted the Ambassador's argument that Iraq's
future was important for Turkey. Although Ankara continued
to have concerns about the role of Barzani and Talibani in a
future government, Sariisik said "Turkey is ready to shoulder
its responsibility as an ally", while reiterating the
decision was the TGNA's to make.


Other Issues
--------------



5. (C) Cyprus: The Ambassador expressed our hope for a
solution in Cyprus and recalled our recent demarches that
both sides avoid the annual fall exercises this year.
Sariisik, a former commander of Turkish forces in Cyprus,
provided a fairly standard recitation of the history of
Cyprus since 1974. He alleged that Athens, Nicosia and the
EU were attempting to influence the outcome of northern
Cyprus' December elections. Nonetheless, he called for all
parties to control their emotions and for the elections to
occur "naturally."



6. (C) NSC Reform: In response to a question, Sariisik
denied that the NSC was being reformed to accord with EU
harmonization requirements. "All of our activities are
limited by law and regulation, which is consistent with the
EU."


Comment: Only the Party Line
--------------



7. (C) Comment: Sariisik, although not speaking from
notes, revealed nothing new or different during this meeting.
His refrain on the PKK/KADEK presence in northern Iraq is
consistent with other interlocutors' and underscores once
again how this issue is entwined with Turkish thinking on
Iraq and its relations with the US. End comment.
EDELMAN