Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA3121
2004-06-07 12:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

AFGHANISTAN: TURKEY MAY RECONSIDER WITHDRAWAL OF

Tags:  MOPS PREL TU AF 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003121 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, SA


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014
TAGS: MOPS PREL TU AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: TURKEY MAY RECONSIDER WITHDRAWAL OF
OFFER TO LEAD PRT


REF: ANKARA 2947 AND PREVIOUS


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons: 1.5
(B and D).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003121

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, SA


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014
TAGS: MOPS PREL TU AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: TURKEY MAY RECONSIDER WITHDRAWAL OF
OFFER TO LEAD PRT


REF: ANKARA 2947 AND PREVIOUS


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons: 1.5
(B and D).



1. (C) During a June 4 meeting that included UK Ambassador
Westmacott to discuss Cyprus (septel),Ambassador again
encouraged MFA U/S Ziyal to consider establishing a
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the west or the south
of Afghanistan. Ziyal was adamant that Turkey would not
establish a PRT in either location. He complained that
Representative Lantos had characterized Turkey's
contributions to Afghanistan thus far as "disgraceful,"
noting that Turkey had led ISAF II during a difficult
eight-month period in 2002-2003, had sent three helos to
Kabul to support ISAF operations, and was preparing to deploy
the Istanbul High Readiness Force (HRF) to Kabul in February
2005 to assume ISAF command if NATO so chooses. Ambassadors
urged Ziyal not to withdraw Turkey's offer and to consider
working out a compromise, as US Ambassador to NATO Burns
suggested earlier to Turkish PermRep Uzumcu. Ziyal agreed
that it would not look good for Turkey to "walk away" on the
eve of the NATO Summit and said he would "think about it."



2. (C) Earlier that day, MFA DDG for South Asian Affairs
Aydin Evirgen told deputy pol-mil counselor that Turkey had
withdrawn its PRT offer. Evirgen said Ankara's decision was
"final:" both FM Gul and PM Erdogan had approved the
decision, and the MFA had instructed its mission at NATO to
advise SHAPE and NATO accordingly. Evirgen said the GOT took
the decision because it was clear that Turkey's thinking on
PRTs was not consistent with SHAPE's. He argued the "final
straw" was a letter that the COS of SHAPE had sent recently
to the Turkish General Staff (TGS) "pressing" the Turks to
establish a PRT in the west or the south. Given SHAPE's
position, there was "no need to prolong the matter any
further," Evirgen concluded. When asked whether Ankara might
reconsider its position, Evirgen replied "No. I believe the
decision is final."



3. (C) Comment: Even if Ziyal decides to try to reverse the
decision to withdraw Turkey's PRT offer, we doubt Ankara will
agree to locate its first PRT in the west or the south. Our
choice will most likely be to either agree to a location in
the north or accept that the NATO Summit hosts will not
contribute a PRT to Afghanistan.
EDELMAN