PSI: TURKEY COMMITTED TO EARNING CORE GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003117

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2029
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC TU
SUBJECT: PSI: TURKEY COMMITTED TO EARNING CORE GROUP
MEMBERSHIP

REF: A. MOSCOW 7566

B. ANKARA 2719


(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).



1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 7.



2. (C) Summary: The GOT is committed to earning membership
in the PSI and asks what it would take. They also ask how
Russia made the cut given Ankara's belief that Moscow has not
participated in PSI activities. MFA DG Morali expressed some
disappointment with the Warsaw PSI anniversary meeting. We
urge Washington to take advantage of Turkey's new-found
commitment to contributing to PSI. End Summary.


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A New-Found Commitment to Participate
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3. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Disarmament/Arms
Control Haluk Ilicak called in PolMilCouns June 3 to discuss
PSI. Ilicak said that he had attended an interagency meeting
on June 1 convened by Turkish General Staff (TGS) J5 LTG
Babaoglu and TGS J2 LTG Goksu on PSI. At that meeting, the
TGS briefer showed a slide indicating Turkey was a "core
member" of PSI. Ilicak said he noted the error, which lead
to a discussion and the decision for the meeting with the
Polmilcouns. He said Turkey wanted to become a member of the
core group and wanted to know what the criteria was to be
included. In response to a question, he confirmed that the
determination to qualify for core group membership was not
restricted to the military but was an official GOT position.
This was later confirmed by MFA International Security
Affairs Director General Morali in a June 4 discussion with
the DCM. Ilicak confided that TGS's enthusiasm would be key
to ensuring a robust Turkish participation, and a concrete
answer to the question of what it would take for Turkey to
gain core group membership (and, conversely, why Turkey
cannot be a core group member now) was important to
maintaining that enthusiasm. Ilicak accepted PolMilCouns
explanation that, to date, Turkey had not actively
participated in most PSI activities but merely observed, so
core group membership was not yet appropriate. He
nonetheless reiterated his request for core group membership
criteria.



4. (C) Ilicak said that his office was working to complete a
matrix of PSI-relevant domestic legislation and pertinent
international treaties and agreements to which Turkey is a
party. He expected this would be concluded this summer.
Then, the GOT would address what new legislation or
amendments might be necessary to be able to better contribute
to PSI activities.


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The Core Group and Russia
--------------



5. (C) The Turkish Embassy in Moscow had reported a GOR
announcement on May 31 that it was now a member of the PSI
core group. An Australian announcement welcoming Moscow's
membership was read in Ankara as confirmation of the Moscow
announcement, Ilicak said. Referring to his request for
criteria for core group membership, he commented that to the
best of Ankara's knowledge, Russia had not participated in
any PSI activities to date. Ilicak asked what criteria had
been applied for Russia's entry to the core group.


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Unhappy Warsaw Experience
--------------



6. (C) Morali told the DCM that he had been disappointed by
his experience at the Warsaw PSI anniversary meeting. First,
the invitation from the Poles was only for foreign ministry
officials. Morali thought Turkish Customs officials, among
others, would had benefited from participation. He also was
irritated that some officials in Washington evidently thought
Turkey was missing from the session. He had gone out of his
way to ensure Turkey had senior representation at the
meeting--himself. The DCM assured him that we appreciated
his attendance. (Ilicak had earlier explained that Morali
had had to attend the meeting alone as Turkish President
Sezer was visiting Poland at the same time and the Turkish
Embassy was entirely occupied with that visit.)


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Comment and Action Request: Maintaining Turkish Enthusiasm
-------------- --------------

7. (C) Since Turkey was invited to participate in PSI its
participation has been disappointing -- Embassy notetakers
attended expert group meetings and military observers watched
some exercises. NP PDAS Burk's May visit (ref b) cleared up
many of the misunderstandings the Turks had about what
constitutes PSI participation. They now understand that it
is not necessary to dispatch a squadron of naval vessels to
patrol the high seas; participation can be effective with
only a modest expenditure of resources. Nonetheless, the GOT
(particularly the TGS) see PSI as an activity where Turkey
can and should make a significant contribution, but it is
still a bit confused over what and how to do that. The
answer to the question on core group membership criteria will
help Ankara develop a road map to robust PSI participation.
We request Washington provide us with an answer with as much
specificity as possible. We also request guidance to answer
the question about Russia's accession to the core group.
EDELMAN