TGS J-5 STRATEGY CHIEF ACCEPTS APRIL JOINT STAFF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001096 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SE. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS OVIP TU SUBJECT: TGS J-5 STRATEGY CHIEF ACCEPTS APRIL JOINT STAFF TALKS AND OSD MEETINGS REF: A. DASD BRZEZINSKI OCT '04 LETTER TO MG ARSLAN ¶B. RADM LOREN'S JAN. 3 '05 LETTER TO MG ARSLAN ¶1. Turkish General Staff J-5 Strategy and Force Planning Department Chief MG Cengiz Arslan submitted to post on Feb. 29 official responses to the Oct. 2004 letter from Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) Brzezinski inviting the general to visit Washington and to bring officers in his department for expert-level talks on the Department of Defense's capabilities-based planning program, and to the Jan. 3, 2005 letter from JCS Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs Rear Admiral Loren extending an invitation to hold Joint Staff Talks in mid-April '05. The letters of response confirm MG Arslan's agreement to hold Joint Staff Talks on April 12-13 and to hold meetings with DASD Brzezinski on the margins of those talks. Additionally, General Arslan requests an opportunity to visit the US Joint Forces Command and the NATO Allied Command Transformation headquarters in Norfolk, VA. Text of the letters are below. Originals will follow by mail. ¶2. Begin Text of letter to RADM Loren: Donald P. LOREN Rear Admiral, USN Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs Europe, NATO, Russia, Africa Dear Admiral LOREN, Thank you for your letter dated 3 January 2005. Considering the developments that have taken place in January 2005 which included numerous high-level visits of the US officials, I was of the opinion that it was the right time to schedule a high-level meeting rather than Joint Staff Talks. As you will remember, we previously suggested to schedule HLDG in April and JST later. Our intention was to promote Turkish-US consultations. I still believe this approach had a valid rationale regarding the urgency of some very crucial issues that needed to be discussed among us in the light of very important developments that were and still are taking place in our region, and effecting vital interest of both parties. Now that the JST is scheduled to take place on 12-13 April 2005, I also replied to Mr. BRZEZINSKI's October 2004 letter, availing myself for an extended program in the US to include exchange of information on "capabilities-based" approach and a visit to US JFC and NATO ACT HQs. I am looking forward to seeing you in Washington D.C. on the occasion of JST and discussing with you pertaining issues in detail as they deserve close attention. Sincerely, ¶M. Cengiz ARSLAN Major General Head of TGS J-5 Strategy and Force Planning Department End Text. ¶3. Begin Text of letter to DASD Brzezinski: Ian BRZEZINSKI Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy Dear Mr. BRZEZINSKI, Thank you very much for your comprehensive proposals covered in your October letter. My answer to your kind letter was not easy since the broad nature of your comprehensive proposals needed staffing and a broad consideration, besides an event-driven busy schedule I had in the meantime. Since then, developments ended up in a mutually agreed Joint Staff Talks, as you well know. From the exchange of letter between my staff and the US Embassy in Ankara, I understand that your proposals might still be valid in the context of Joint Staff Talks (JST) to be held in Washington D.C. 12-13 April 2005. If my understanding is right and if you are available, I will be delighted to discuss opportunities of extending my program in the US to find out more about Secretary of Defense's "capabilities-based" approach to military planning and his methodology for providing top-down strategic directive to DoD components for security cooperation. I believe, taking the opportunity, I could also accommodate a visit to Norfolk/Virginia to observe activities at US JFC and NATO's ACT. I am open to discuss scheduling these additional activities in both ends of the JST. Once again, please accept my apologies for a late response and I am looking forward to hearing from you as a follow-up to your kind proposals in your October letter. Sincerely, ¶M. Cengiz ARSLAN Major General Head of TGS J-5 Strategy and Force Planning Department End Text. EDELMAN