INITIAL TURKISH RESPONSE ON APPOINTMENT OF

S E C R E T ANKARA 006217

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR PINR PGOV BU TU
SUBJECT: INITIAL TURKISH RESPONSE ON APPOINTMENT OF
ASPARUKHOV: NO OFFICIAL GOT POSITION YET


REF: A) STATE 269610 B) STATE 273864 C) USNATO 994 D)
USNATO 968


(U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch.
Reasons: 1.5 (B and D).





1. (S) Deputy pol-mil counselor delivered ref a and b points
to MFA NATO Department Head Atila Gunay October 2. Gunay
said he was aware of the issue, having received a recent
cable from the Turkish mission at NATO. Gunay explained he
had held off on receiving deputy pol-mil counselor until now
to try to obtain an official MFA position on the issue.
However, he was unable to do so in time for today's meeting,
in large part because the Ministry -- and the MFA's senior
point man on Asparukhov, Deputy U/S Sensoy in particular --
has been focused on preparing for S/CT Black's visit to
Ankara today (October 2) for discussions on the PKK/Kadek.
Gunay offered to get back to the Embassy after he had an
opportunity to discuss the matter with Deputy U/S Sensoy.



2. (S) Speaking personally, Gunay told deputy pol-mil
counselor that the USG position made "perfect sense" and
added the GOB should be given a strong message that Bulgaria
stands to be cut off from NATO classified information if it
goes ahead with the appointment. Looking ahead, Gunay said
one area where the US and Turkey might differ is how to
convey this message to the GOB. Where the GOT likely can be
expected to support "NATO initiatives" to caution Bulgaria,
some within the GOT -- including the governing AK party --
might view bilateral approaches to the GOB as Turkey
"meddling" in Bulgaria's internal affairs. Deputy pol-mil
counselor responded that the US and Turkey share the goal of
making sure Bulgaria does everything it can to prepare itself
for NATO membership -- not jeopardize it -- and urged the GOT
to approach the GOB to reverse the appointment.



3. (S) DCM discussed the issue later that same day with
Sensoy and MFA DG for Intelligence Tezcan on the margins of
CT meetings in Ankara (septel). Tezcan briefed Sensoy on the
issue and they agree that this nomination represented a
problem for Bulgaria and that Turkey should take appropriate
action per Lord Robertson's request.
EDELMAN