NTM-I: TURKEY CONSIDERS SENDING TRAINERS, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002058

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL TU IZ NATO
SUBJECT: NTM-I: TURKEY CONSIDERS SENDING TRAINERS, BUT
WANTS TO SEE IRAQIS COME HERE

REF: BAGHDAD 1289

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

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Turkey is mulling over whether to send trainers to
Iraq under NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I),but is clearly
disappointed that the Iraqis have so far resisted coming here
for training. End summary.


2. (C) On April 7, PolMilCouns discussed the current status
of Turkey's contributions to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq
(NTM-I) with MFA Deputy Director General for Security Affairs
Fatih Ceylan. Ceylan confirmed that Turkey currently has two
staff officers in place at NTM-I's HQ in Baghdad, and has
offered three more. He added that Turkey may be prepared to
send as many as five more staff personnel in the near future.


3. (C) Ceylan expressed disappointment that thus far the
Iraqis have been reluctant to attend courses in Turkey. He
noted that Turkey is Iraq's only neighbor that is also a NATO
member, and that the Iraqis do not need to come far for
first-rate training opportunities.


4. (C) PolMilCouns asked if Turkey would consider sending
trainers to Iraq. He responded that "some people here are
thinking about this idea." He promised to follow up with
colleagues both in MFA and TGS, but added that it might be
easier for Turkey to do this after Iraqis agree to come here.
(NOTE: MFA Department Head for Iraq Avni Botsali--whose
division at MFA would have a say in such a decision--took a
notably harder line on this issue with PolMilOff on April 6.
He said bluntly that Turkey was not interested in sending
trainers to Iraq, and that it was incumbent upon the Iraqis
to accept the Turks' offer to train in Turkey. END NOTE.)


5. (SBU) Turkey has offered the following courses to the
Iraqis:

--Internal Security (30 people, open-ended for 2005, minimum
of 45 days lead time needed for preparations)

--Crowd and Riot Control (30 people, open-ended for 2005,
minimum of 45 days lead time needed for preparations)

For these two courses, Turks were told "verbally" that the
Iraqis were not interested.

Turkey has also offered the Iraqis slots in PfP Training
Center courses that were already scheduled:

--Humanitarian Relief During Natural Disasters (for 125
people, 18-22 April 2005)

--Counter Terrorism and Fight Against Smuggling (15 people,
25 April-6 May 2005)

--Mine, Countermine, and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
(15 people, 17-28 April 2006)

The Turks have no word on Iraqi attendance at these courses.

In addition, Turkey had offered the Iraqis slots in two other
PfP courses that have passed:

--Border Security Control (21-25 Feb 2005)

--Refugee Control in PSOs (28 Feb-4 March)

According to the Turks, Iraq never responded to these
offerings.

The Turks' PfP Training Center will provide Arabic
interpreters as needed if the Iraqis need it. Furthermore,
both Ceylan and military sources have told us that Turkey is
willing to consider tailoring other courses to the Iraqis,
needs if they were requested to.


6. (C) Comment: We can think of few better ways to increase
the level of trust between these two militaries than through
NTM-I, but someone--the Turks or the Iraqis--will need to
move first, and sooner rather than later. We appreciate
Embassy Baghdad's efforts to bring the Iraqis along (reftel)
and will continue to push the issue here. For example, we
can encourage the Turks to discuss this with the Iraqis on
the margins of the April 18-19 neighbors meeting in Istanbul.
End comment.


7. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered.
EDELMAN