KFOR UPDATE: TURKS LIFT VIRTUALLY ALL CAVEATS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004321 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2029 TAGS: MOPS PREL TU YI SUBJECT: KFOR UPDATE: TURKS LIFT VIRTUALLY ALL CAVEATS REF: A. ANKARA 4269 ¶B. STATE 162868 Classified By: CDA Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 3, Alper Coskun, MFA Director for NATO and Euro-Atlantic Defense and Security Affairs, notified PolMilOff that Turkey has lifted all/all national caveats on its forces operating in both KFOR and SFOR save one: National (i.e., parliamentary) approval would be required to act outside the PSO's AOR. That is, Turkish KFOR troops can only operate in Kosovo, SFOR troops in Bosnia. ¶2. (C) Comment: This decision clearly originated with the Turkish military (see ref a). At the next opportunity, SACEUR Gen. Jones and/or AF South ADM Johnson might express appreciation to CHOD Gen. Ozkok and/or DCHOD Gen. Basbug. End comment. DEUTSCH