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