TURKS IN INITIAL STAGES OF PLANNING FOR SUMMIT

S E C R E T ANKARA 000415 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2014 TAGS: PREL ASEC MARR TU SUBJECT: TURKS IN INITIAL STAGES OF PLANNING FOR SUMMIT SECURITY REF: STATE 12009 (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.5, b/d. ¶1. (S) DCM spoke with MFA's Summit Task Force Head Ambassador Apaydin January 22 and relayed reftel request for a briefing on Summit security, emphasizing that this request was separate from other discussions we had had with the GOT about security for our own delegation. Apaydin said a High Level Security Committee had just been formed headed by Deputy PM/FM Gul. Also participating were the Ministry of Interior (also representing the Jandarma and Coast Guard),the Director General of the Turkish National Police, TNIO, and a senior TGS official. In addition, a Senior Working Group on Security held its first meeting last week at the Ministry of Interior. ¶2. (S) Apaydin understood the importance of planning for Summit security early and the US desire of NATO to provide any assistance to Turkey. However, he said the GOT would not be ready to brief the USG on the issue before early March. EDELMAN