HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW: JOINT COMBINED EXCHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007627 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/ISO, DRL, INR AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2013 TAGS: PHUM MASS MARR TU SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW: JOINT COMBINED EXCHANGE TRAINING (JCET) VETTING REQUEST REF: COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN 101403Z DEC 03 ¶1. (U) Classified by Political Military Counselor Timothy Betts. Reasons: 1.5b and d. ¶2. (U) This is an action requestion. See para 5. ¶3. (C) Reftel is a request for Embassy human rights vetting/certification for Turkish participation in this JCET, which is scheduled to take place in Turkey on February 10-March 2, 2004. The exercise, which is designed to enhance small infantry training and teaching skills, will improve US and Turkish capabilities in military combat operations and provide valuable training in mission essential tasks. ¶4. (C) The participating Turkish unit is the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne, 10SFG). Embassy has reviewed its files and can find no derogatory information on this unit. ¶5. (C) Action request: Post requests that the Department conduct required human rights vetting and provide a response to post (with an information copy to COMSOCEUR) by NLT XXX. If a response is received later than this date, SOCEUR advises the exercise will have to be canceled. The embassy regrets the short time frame involved in this request and appreciates any assistance the Department may be able to provide to respond in a timely manner. EDELMAN