TURKISH PRT PROPOSAL: HMG TELLS TURKS NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001318 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AFGHAN COORDINATOR TAYLOR E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2029 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU AF SUBJECT: TURKISH PRT PROPOSAL: HMG TELLS TURKS NO REF: A. ANKARA 1005 ¶B. ANKARA 1162 (NOTAL) (U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA DDG for South Asia Aydin Evergin informed PolMilCouns March 4 that the GOT had informed the UK of its intent to establish a PRT in Maimana, Afghanistan (reftels) on March 2. On March 4, HMG responded by informing the Turks that London intended to establish a PRT there and that Norway had already expressed a willingness to contribute to the effort. The UK Embassy here also informed MFA that SACEUR was satisfied that stage 1 of NATO's expansion effort was done. As a result, HMG encouraged the GOT to consider contributing Turkey's PRT to stage 2, which would require establishing it in the west or southwest of Afghanistan. Ankara responded that Turkey was only prepared to consider operating a PRT in the north. ¶2. (C) On March 3, Evergin continued, D/SACEUR sounded the Turks out on possibly establishing a PRT in Feyzabad (Badakhstan province in NE Afghanistan). After considering the idea, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) refused, responding that it would be too difficult there. Evergin told PolMilCouns that an alternative might be to set up the Turkish PRT in Takar province and cover the Badakhstan from there. Conditions were easier there and Turkey already funded some reconstruction projects in the province. However, he understood that the German PRT in Konduz already covered Takar. ¶3. (C) Comment: Ankara approached the British (and SACEUR) even without comments from us on its proposal because the Turks feared discussions about locations at NATO were progressing without their proposal being considered. They continue to insist that they are only interested in establishing a PRT in the north, but Evergin's comment about Takar indicates that they are more flexible about where in the north than he indicated to us last week (ref a). End comment. EDELMAN