Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA2821
2004-05-18 16:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
REDUCED AEGEAN AIR ACTIVITY: NEED WE JUMP IN?
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002821
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND PM/RSAT
SHAPE ALSO FOR MILAM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2029
TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU
SUBJECT: REDUCED AEGEAN AIR ACTIVITY: NEED WE JUMP IN?
REF: A. ATHENS 1805
B. ANKARA 2698
(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons: 1.4 (b)
and (d).
(C) We share Embassy Athens' desire that Turkey and Greece
avoid activity in the Aegean that could provoke an incident
during the NATO Summit in late June, the Olympics in August
and the Paralympics in September (ref A). While we would
like to see the two neighbors do more to that end, we worry
that we might derail the unilateral steps the Turks have
taken and the additional steps they are preparing to take
(ref B) if we were to push them to do more. The Turkish
General Staff indicated that Turkey was prepared to take
unilateral measures to prevent mishaps during the
Greek-hosted events. They would likely bristle over the
perceived outside pressure, particularly when they believe
that they are already acting responsibly to reduce tensions
during sensitive periods. We would recommend against
approaching the Turks on this issue.
EDELMAN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND PM/RSAT
SHAPE ALSO FOR MILAM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2029
TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU
SUBJECT: REDUCED AEGEAN AIR ACTIVITY: NEED WE JUMP IN?
REF: A. ATHENS 1805
B. ANKARA 2698
(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons: 1.4 (b)
and (d).
(C) We share Embassy Athens' desire that Turkey and Greece
avoid activity in the Aegean that could provoke an incident
during the NATO Summit in late June, the Olympics in August
and the Paralympics in September (ref A). While we would
like to see the two neighbors do more to that end, we worry
that we might derail the unilateral steps the Turks have
taken and the additional steps they are preparing to take
(ref B) if we were to push them to do more. The Turkish
General Staff indicated that Turkey was prepared to take
unilateral measures to prevent mishaps during the
Greek-hosted events. They would likely bristle over the
perceived outside pressure, particularly when they believe
that they are already acting responsibly to reduce tensions
during sensitive periods. We would recommend against
approaching the Turks on this issue.
EDELMAN