Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA6574
2003-10-17 13:48:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

MFA PREPARED TO GO SLOW ON TROOPS AND LOAN PACKAGE

Tags:  MOPS EFIN MARR PREL TU IZ 
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S E C R E T ANKARA 006574 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPTION 1.6 X5 AND X6
TAGS: MOPS EFIN MARR PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: MFA PREPARED TO GO SLOW ON TROOPS AND LOAN PACKAGE

REF: A. JOINT STAFF WASHDC DTG 171348Z OCT 03

B. STATE 295374


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons: 1.5
(a),(b) and (d).


S E C R E T ANKARA 006574

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPTION 1.6 X5 AND X6
TAGS: MOPS EFIN MARR PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: MFA PREPARED TO GO SLOW ON TROOPS AND LOAN PACKAGE

REF: A. JOINT STAFF WASHDC DTG 171348Z OCT 03

B. STATE 295374


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons: 1.5
(a),(b) and (d).



1. (S) Following Cyprus Special Coordinator Weston's
meeting with MFA Under Secretary Ugur Ziyal on October 20,
the Ambassador went one-on-one with Ziyal to discuss both the
potential Turkish troop deployment to Iraq and the
conditionality in the $8.5 billion financial assistance
package. Regarding the troop contribution, the Ambassador
informed Ziyal that the Joint Staff had sent reftel message
to pass the message from Centcom on al Anbar vs. Salahadin
and said that it was being passed to TGS as well. Ziyal was
pleased to have gotten the info. He also took on board the
message that things would move at a measured pace. He said
that the PM was backpedalling because of the delay and this
could become a self-fulfilling situation in which the Turks
would not be able to provide troops down the road even if we
decided we wanted them. He was also still worried about the
void being filled by mischievous forces and was particularly
worried about managing the press should we get to the point
where the US preferred not to have a deployment. The
Ambassador mentioned that press reports that Turkey was
considering a force of upwards of 40-50,000 troops were not
helpful. Ziyal responded that such reports were ridiculous.
Turkey could not afford to sustain such a force and there was
"nothing in the budget for it." He said he would put out the
word in the press to that effect.



2. (C) The Ambassador also delivered the ref B points on
the financial agreement. Ziyal said he understood. He said
that President Sezer has a problem and won't sign the
agreement. He thought the best thing to do was to let it sit
and not talk about it in public for the time being. The
Ambassador said that was fine from his point of view, but
that members fo the Turkish government kept talking about it.
Ziyal agreed and said he would talk to Finance Minister
Babacan and get him to quiet down.
EDELMAN