WEAPONS DEPLOYMENT TRAINING (WTDS) AT KONYA: TGS

S E C R E T ANKARA 003482

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM A/S BLOOMFIELD, EUR/SE AND EUR/RPM; OSD FOR
DASD HOEHN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2014
TAGS: MOPS PREL TU AF
SUBJECT: WEAPONS DEPLOYMENT TRAINING (WTDS) AT KONYA: TGS
CONSIDERS ISSUE "OPEN," WILLING TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS

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


1. (S) During discussions with PM A/S Bloomfield's delegation
on Global Force Posture review June 17 (septel),Turkish
General Staff (TGS) DCHOD GEN Basbug said that TGS was
prepared to continue discussions on USAFE's proposed
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Weapons Deployment
Training (WTDs) at Konya if the US was still interested.
Basbug said there appeared to be some misunderstanding and
confusion surrounding this issue. In the beginning, TGS
found the issue to be complex and confusing. Now, it seems
more clear. Based on his understanding of the issue, Basbug
said USAFE's proposed MOU does not appear to be breaking "new
ground." Rather, it appears to take into consideration new
dimensions in training such as night flying, low-altitude
flying, use of live fire, and chaff and flares. Basbug said
that he considers these issues "military technical problems"
that can be discussed. While he made clear he could not
guarantee that all of USAFE's requests would be approved, TGS
considers the issue "open" and is willing to discuss it
further.


2. (S) Basbug said that if the US "insists on using Konya for
training," it can be discussed. However, if the US is
"looking to station aircraft there," that would have to be
discussed elsewhere, since that is "outside of the DECA."


3. (S) Comment: Basbug's decision to re-open the issue of
the use of Konya for WTDs is a positive one. Only last
month, after months of back-and-forth discussions between TGS
and USAFE on an MOU for the use of Konya, TGS rejected
USAFE's proposal on the grounds that the Defense and Economic
Agreement (DECA) of 1980 already provides for training
opportunities at Incirlik Air Base and therefore there was no
need to negotiate a separate MOU. TGS's decision came as a
surprise to us, since USAFE decided in part to pursue WTDs
using Konya range and operating out of both Incirlik and
Konya ABs in response to requests from Turkish Air Force
Commander GEN Firtina, who has encouraged USAFE and other US
military officials to fly out of both Konya and Incirlik ABs.
We understand that USAFE would generally prefer to operate
out of IAB, to take advantage of the existing infrastructure,
but would like to include Konya in the MOU/TA to both support
GEN Firtina and have at least one other base approved for
training operations should there be some reason that Incirlik
was not available (avoid Incirlik as "single point of
failure" for WTD planning).


4. (S) ODC Chief intends to follow up with TGS/J5 for
Agreements Major General Acar (who is currently TDY and did
not participate in the meeting) early next week to identify
TGS process to discuss the "military technical problems" and
gain approval for USAFE's MOU/TA requirements.
EDELMAN