TURKEY SUPPORTS PSI AND WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN

UNCLAS ANKARA 007443

SIPDIS


FOR NP, T, AND EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SUPPORTS PSI AND WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
DECEMBER MEETING IN WASHINGTON


REF: A. ANKARA 6112

B. STATE 272470

C. ANKARA 5681

D. STATE 254587



1. This is an urgent action request. MFA Disarmament Head of
Department Bulent Meric told PolMilOff December 4 that after
much consideration the GOT had decided to support the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Nevertheless, it
still had many questions about what partnership entailed.
Meric said the GOT expected to be invited to the Dec. 16-17
meeting in Washington to learn more about it.



2. Later December 4, the Embassy received the following dip
note:


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
presents it compliments to the Embassies of the Federal
Republic of Germany, Italy, France, Spain, the United
Kingdom, and the United States of America and with reference
to the joint initiative of the Embassies of the Federal
Republic of Germany, Italy, the Republic of France, Spain and
the United Kingdom dated September 23, 2003 and the US
Embassy's fax message dated September 26, 2003 concerning the
Proliferation Security Initiative, has the honor to inform
the esteemed Embassies that the Government of Turkey has
decided to support, in principle, the abovementioned
initiative.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be most pleased to
receive further information on the modalities of
participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative as
well as an invitation to the forthcoming Experts Meeting,
which is envisaged to be held in December 2003, in the United
States of America.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassies
of the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the Republic of
France, Spain, the United kingdom and the United States of
America the assurances of its highest consideration.



2. Action Request: Please advise whether the GOT can be
invited to the Dec. 16-17 meeting and if so, issue an
invitation letter.
EDELMAN