TURKEY INVITES US MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003156 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY INVITES US MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN NORTHERN CYPRUS SAR EXERCISE Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission James Moore, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Defense Attache Office (DAO) on May 31 received from the Turkish General Staff (TGS) Chief of Operations Lieutenant General Metin Yavuz Yalcin a letter of invitation for one US Flag Officer and one additional US officer to attend the Distinguished Visitors' Days of the Joint Live Search and Rescue (SAR) Exercise Martyr Second Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli 2005 in northern Cyprus from June 21-23, 2005. The event will include tours of local historic sites and a briefing on the exercise on June 21, and observance of the actual exercise on June 22. Round trip transportation from the airport to the Officer's Club and room and board will be provided free of charge. ¶2. (C) Action Request: We defer to Embassy Nicosia on any potential ramifications of a USG presence at this event and request Department guidance on whether the USG would like to nominate a General Officer to participate in the exercise. MOORE