IRAQ: TURKEY WELL-SITUATED TO SUPPORT COALITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007006

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/SE, PMRSAT AND NEA/NGA


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ PTER
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKEY WELL-SITUATED TO SUPPORT COALITION
EFFORTS TO TRAIN IRAQIS


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric. S. Edelman. Reasons: 1.5
(B and D).



1. (C) Given Turkey's desire to rehabilitate its relations
with us through cooperation in Iraq and the decision not to
use Turkish troops as part of the stabilization force, we
need to identify areas where Turkey -- and the Turkish
military in particular )- can play a constructive and
meaningful role in stabilization and reconstruction efforts
in Iraq. If not, we run the risk of alienating an important
NATO ally whose cooperation in Iraq will be important for
years to come, and at the same time, strengthening the hands
of those hard-line elements in Turkey who believe Turkey
should pursue a "go-it alone policy" in Iraq to protects its
national interests.



2. (C) One area where Turkey is qualified and prepared to
play a constructive role in Iraq is training. Given Turkey's
breadth of experience and quality of instruction, Turkey is
well positioned to support the Coalition's efforts to train
Iraqis, including members of the national army, Jandarma,
border guards and police (an offer the Turks have already
made).



3. (C) Turkey possesses the capability to dispatch training
teams abroad. Turkey's positive contributions to our Georgia
train and equip program are well known and have received high
marks from American and Georgian officials. In Afghanistan,
UK officers were pleased with the contributions the Turkish
military made to the UK-led initial training efforts of
600-plus Afghanis in early 2002. During the past 10 years,
the military, Gendarmerie and National Police also have sent
mobile training teams to Albania, Azerbaijan,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel, Mongolia, Spain and Uzbekistan;



4. (C) Turkey also possesses the capability to conduct a wide
variety of training at its (or her) top-notch training
facilities, many which have been modeled after those in the
U.S The Turkish military's Partnership for Peace (PFP)
training center in Ankara is one of the premier training
facilities in the region, having trained over 3,600 military
personnel from 49 countries during the last five years. The
PFP center offers 147 different courses and four seminars
that address topics such as combating terrorism, stemming
illegal trafficking and border control/security. The Turkish
Army Training and Doctorine Command in Ankara is modeled on
the US Army Training Command (TRADOC) and is well organized
and staffed. Turkey also has a number of quality Jandarma
training facilities that have received high marks from the
Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The more than 30
Afghan diplomats who participated in a two-month long
training program conducted by the Foreign Ministry spoke
highly of their trainers and of the program's content.



5. (c) Turkey clearly has the experience, capacity and
quality of trainers to make a siginficant contribution to our
training efforts in Iraq. It has a proven track record in a
number of countries where it might appear that Turks were not
wanted. Furthermore, it is part of our objectives in Iraq to
ensure Iraq enjoys positive relations with its neighbors when
we are gone. As we have seen with programs like IMET,
training is a powerful tool in building bonds of trust and
cooperation. It is in our interest to ensure that the newly
created Iraqi army and other organizations have good working
relationships with their democractic counterparts in Turkey.



6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN