TURKEY AND SOFA ARRANGEMENTS WITH QATAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000255 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE, NEA/ARP, PM E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPTION 1.6 X5, X6 TAGS: PREL MARR TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY AND SOFA ARRANGEMENTS WITH QATAR REF: A) STATE 4898 B) ANKARA 5 (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D). ¶1. (C) Deputy PMA Counselor informed MFA Americas Department Head Cihad Erginay on January 9 that the USG had not negotiated any SOFA arrangements with the Government of Qatar (GOQ) on behalf of U.S. allies. He added the USG would not approach the GOQ on Turkey's behalf and advised that the GOT engage the Qataris directly if Turkey is interested in sending an LNO to CENTCOM FWD in Doha. Erginay noted the response but offered no reaction. ¶2. (C) Separately, TGS Deputy J3 for Operations MG Kalyoncu told ODC Agreements/Operations Division Chief at a reception January 10 that he was prepared to "give up on" trying to send an Turkish LNO to Qatar. During the CENTCOM-EUCOM-TGS two-star talks in Ankara January 9, Kalyoncu did not raise the issue of sending an Turkish LNO to Qatar with CDR 4ID MG Odierno. ¶3. (C) Comment: It is clear from all of our discussions with MFA and TGS officials that, absent direct intervention by the USG, the GOT does not intend to pursue the issue of sending an LNO to CENTCOM FWD in Qatar. Given our decision not to approach the Qataris, we continue to believe we should consider elevating the Turks' access to CJTF-7 in Baghdad to the equivalent of a troop contributor (ref b). EDELMAN