TURKEY DROPS OUT OF NEWPORT PSI EXERCISE; LIMITS

UNCLAS ANKARA 005380

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL ETTC TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY DROPS OUT OF NEWPORT PSI EXERCISE; LIMITS
PSI PARTICIPATION

REF: A. ANKARA 5015

B. STATE 188228

C. ANKARA 3740 AND PREVIOUS

(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) MFA Disarmament Department Head Bulent Meric contacted
EXBS Advisor on September 20 to inform him that the GOT had
decided to not send a delegation to the Newport, Rhode Island
PSI exercise next week. Meric explained that after
considering the negative US response to Turkey's request to
join the PSI Core Group (ref B),Ankara had decided to limit
its participation in PSI to Turkey's region (i.e.,
Mediterranean, Middle East, Caucasus, Balkans). This did not
diminish Turkey's commitment to PSI, he continued, and the
geographic limitation of Turkey's involvement could be
reconsidered if Turkey were admitted to the Core Group or if
that body ceased to exist.


2. (C) Comment: We had heard over a week ago that a decision
along these lines might be coming. We tried to convince the
Turks to refrain from taking any action until Washington had
had time to consider the GOT's reaction to our points on
Turkey and the Core Group (ref A). Unfortunately, they did
not wait. We expect MFA and perhaps TGS will explain this
decision further to visiting OSD/ISA DASD Brzezinski during
his meetings on September 22. End Comment.
EDELMAN