TURKEY WAITING FOR IMPROVED DONOR COORDINATION

UNCLAS ANKARA 000955

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE


STATE FOR EUR/SE, NEA/IR-RAPHEL, NEA/FO-TAYLOR
NSC FOR BRYZA AND MCKIBBEN
TREASURY FOR OASIA JLEICHTER AND MMILLS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AF EAID EFIN IZ PGOV PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY WAITING FOR IMPROVED DONOR COORDINATION
BEFORE DISBURSING ITS USD 50 MILLION PLEDGE FOR IRAQ
RECONSTRUCTION

REF: STATE 031782


Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkey's Coordinator for Afghan and Iraq
Assistance Ambassador Okcun said Turkey is ready to start
disbursing its USD 50 million pledge for Iraq Reconstruction,
but is waiting for better coordination among donors. Okcun
will participate in the preparatory meeting for the
International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI)
in Dubai, but Turkey will make only a small contribution to
the facility to show solidarity. Turkey is preparing new
projects in Afghanistan as part of its additional USD 5
million pledge. End Summary.



2. (SBU) Econoff met with Ambassador Ahmet Okcun, Turkey's
Coordinator for Assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan, to
discuss Turkey's Madrid Pledge, as requesteed reftel. Okcun
said Turkey has drawn up a list of projects that it would
like to undertake; however, the projects will not go forward
until there is effective coordination among donors. Okcun
said Turkey does not know enough about the details of U.S.
funded projects, much less the plans of the other donor
countries, and is concerned that without full coordination,
it might duplicate or interfere with projects undertaken by
other donors.



3. (U) Okcun was pleased to receive the information about
the Iraqi donor coordination mechanism, the Iraqi Strategic
Review Board, and the name and e-mail for points of contacts
in the Ministry for Planning and National Development and
CPA. Okcun will travel to Baghdad February 24-25 and plans
to contact those officials to discuss Turkey's projects.



4. (SBU) Okcun was aware of the meeting in Dubai, February
28-29, and planned to attend if he received an invitation.
He said Turkey would make only a symbolic contribution to the
IRFFI to show its solidarity for the work undertaken by the
UN and World Bank. He explained that Turkey prefers to
directly control the projects under its USD 50 million
pledge. He said the government is proud of its successful
projects in Afghanistan and wants to duplicate that success
in Iraq. Okcun asked whether those donors countries unable
to contribute USD 10 milllion to the facility will be
represented on the IRFFI donors committee, as is the case for
the Afghanistan Trust Fund. He also asked for more
information about the Dubai meetings -- whether they will
focus on the IRFFI only or will discuss broader donor
coordination.



5. (U) Turning to Afghanistan, Okcun noted that Turkey
increased its pledge for Afghanistan from USD 5 million to
USD 10 million and will start a number of new projects next
month with the added money. He was glad to hear that
Ambassador Taylor was considering a visit to Ankara March 12
and asked that he have an opportunity to meet with Ambassador
Taylor early in his schedule because he must leave the
afternoon of March 12 to to attend the Afghanistan
Development Forum in Kabul, March 16-17.



6. (U) Baghdad and Kabul minimize considered.
EDELMAN