Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA3618
2004-06-25 17:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

AFGHANISTAN: GOT'S DECISION NOT TO ESTABLISH A

Tags:  PREL MOPS AF TU 
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This 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 003618 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SE, SA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS AF TU
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: GOT'S DECISION NOT TO ESTABLISH A
PRT REMAINS UNCHANGED

REF: A) ANKARA 3121 B) ANKARA 3511

Classified By: (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert S. Deut
sch. Reasons: 1.4 (B and D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003618

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SE, SA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS AF TU
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: GOT'S DECISION NOT TO ESTABLISH A
PRT REMAINS UNCHANGED

REF: A) ANKARA 3121 B) ANKARA 3511

Classified By: (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert S. Deut
sch. Reasons: 1.4 (B and D).


1. (C) Deputy pol-mil counselor contacted MFA DDG for South
Asian Affairs Aydin Evirgen June 25, following up on the
Ambassador's earlier conversation with MFA U/S Ziyal on
Turkish thinking on PRTs (ref a). Evirgen said that Turkey
had completely abandoned its proposal to establish a PRT in
Takhar. He noted that PM Erdogan recently had sent a letter
to NATO SYG advising of Turkey's decision to abandon its PRT
proposal, and added that the PM and other senior government
officials had reiterated that position during a meeting June

23. Evirgen noted that Turkish General Staff (TGS) CHOD GEN
Ozkok and SACEUR GEN Jones had discussed Afghanistan and PRTs
the night before (June 23),but he did not elaborate further.


2. (C) Evirgen said Turkey has shifted its focus in
Afghanistan to preparing to deploy the NATO Rapid Deployment
Corps-Turkey to Afghanistan in February 2005 if chosen by
NATO. Echoing TGS DCHOD GEN Basbug's earlier comment to the
Ambassador (ref b),Evirgen said there were two issues that
required clarification before the GOT could say "yes" to
assuming ISAF command: first, nailing down a rotation plan
with a commitment from whomever would follow the Turks; and
second, what percentage of the cost of the deployment would
be paid by NATO. On the former, Evirgen stressed that Turkey
wanted to avoid a repeat of its experience in commanding ISAF
II, when the Turks were required to remain on for an
additional two months while they waited for Germany and the
Netherlands to agree to assume command. On the latter, he
said the NATO budget committee was already considering what
the Alliance's policy should be.
EDELMAN