RESPONSE TO TURKEY ON UAE REQUEST FOR TURKISH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002909 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SE AND PM/RSAT E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2015 TAGS: MASS MARR PREL TU SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO TURKEY ON UAE REQUEST FOR TURKISH TRAINING ON F-16S Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) This is an action request. Ambassador has received inquiries from Defense Minister Gonul, MFA UnderSecretary Tuygan and MFA Deputy Director General for Americas Affairs Ilicak in recent weeks regarding the status of the UAE request for Turkish pilots to train UAE pilots on the F-16 Block 60s, which was submitted to the State Department in Fall 2004. U/S Tuygan informed Ambassador that Turkey's mission in Washington has learned from its UAE contacts that the request has been denied. He has asked for USG confirmation. ¶2. (C) Based on post inquiries, we understand that the decision has been made to deny the request. Given the repeated inquiries from our Turkish counterparts and their informal understanding that the decision has been made, post requests Department guidance on a response to the Turkish government regarding the status of this request. EDELMAN