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