TURKEY WILL NOT SEND PRT TO AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004485

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU AF
SUBJECT: TURKEY WILL NOT SEND PRT TO AFGHANISTAN

REF: ANKARA 3950 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Following up on mid-July reports that the GOT was
reconsidering its decision not to send a Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) to Afghanistan (reftel),
PolMilCouns and PolMilOff consulted both MFA and TGS sources,
who denied that Turkey was reconsidering its June decision
not to send a PRT. However, on Aug. 9, MFA Deputy Director
General Aydin Evirgen told PolMilCouns that indeed the GOT
had reevaluated its negative position, but unfortunately has
not changed its view. Evirgen said that since the Istanbul
High Readiness Force will deploy in February to take over
ISAF command (pending final NATO decision),the Turkish
military has indicated it would prefer to concentrate on this
mission.


2. (U) Kabul minimize considered.
EDELMAN