Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA3177
2005-06-07 12:08:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH MFA AND MILITARY ON SYRIAN MISSILE LAUNCH
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003177
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PINS PBTS SY TU SYRIA
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA AND MILITARY ON SYRIAN MISSILE LAUNCH
(U) Classified by Polcounselor John Kunstadter; reasons: E.O.
12958, 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003177
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PINS PBTS SY TU SYRIA
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA AND MILITARY ON SYRIAN MISSILE LAUNCH
(U) Classified by Polcounselor John Kunstadter; reasons: E.O.
12958, 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Despite a blase official statement and
light media coverage, Turkish MFA official says privately
that the MFA considers as "serious" Syria's May 27 missile
launch that resulted in one missile going astray over Turkey
and scattering debris. MFA is not satisfied with the Syrian
explanation of the incident and is awaiting a report from the
Turkish military before deciding what further reaction to
recommend to FM Gul. End Summary.
MFA Calls in Syrian Ambassador, Issues Blase Statement
-------------- --------------
2. (U) The Turkish MFA called in the Syrian Ambassador on
May 27 and again on May 30 regarding Syria's May 27 missile
launch that scattered debris in Turkey. The MFA issued a
blase statement on May 28 noting that debris had fallen on
Turkish territory, and the Syrian Embassy attributed the
incident to an "individual mistake" occurring during a
"training exercise" and apologized.
3. (C) However, according to MFA Middle East Department Head
Bozay, the Syrian Embassy's first response to the MFA was to
deny Syria had anything to do with the missile. Their second
response was that only one missile was launched. The third
time, the Syrians came clean, admitted to three launches, and
apologized. Turkey is keeping open its right to claim
compensation for the incident, although Bozay doubts there
will be any compensable damage.
4. (U) Coverage of the incident in the Turkish media, much
of which is intimidated by or beholden to the AKP government,
has been light. There was no op-ed commentary on the
incident until June 7, when mass circulation daily "Sabah"
columnist Erdal Safak remarked how odd it was that Turkey
calmly accepted the Syrian apology. He noted that this would
not have been the reaction had the incident involved Greece.
Safak, normally writing with an anti-American edge, concluded
his column with an unusually sympathetic assessment of the
U.S. stance: "The U.S. is certainly not wrong to be wary of
Ankara's relations with Damascus."
MFA "Not Satisfied" with Syrian Explanation
--------------
5. (C) According to Bozay, the MFA is "not satisfied" with
the Syrian explanation. The MFA is awaiting a Turkish
military investigation into technical details of the launch,
including the type of missile involved and its exact flight
path over Turkey. Asked what the political consequences of
the incident will be, Bozay said the MFA recommendation to FM
Gul will depend on the results of the military's
investigation. However, Bozay several times characterized
the event as "serious" and said it damaged Turkish
"confidence" in the SARG.
Military Reaction
--------------
6. (S) TGS/J5 Strategy Chief MG Cengiz Arslan told
PolMilCouns on June 2 that, while he does not have direct
responsibility for the incident (Turkish military
intelligence has the lead),he understood the Syrians had
made a mistake. That said, the headquarters was buzzing with
activity the afternoon of the launch. Several explanations
were examined and rejected a deliberate provocation, the
beginning of a military coups, etc. Arslan said TGS
concluded it was an accident. No one they approached in
Damascus initially knew of the incident because, he said, the
unit that had fired the missile was afraid to report that
they made a mistake. When PolMilCouns pressed how such a
significant mistake could occur, Arslan said he had had an
artillery unit under his command that had ended up aiming in
the wrong direction because someone forgot to add 180 degrees
to the formula used in calculating trajectories. He surmised
that a Syrian unit could make the same mistake, intending to
fire southeast instead of northwest.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) PM Erdogan, FonMin Gul, and the AKP government's chief
foreign policy advisor Davutoglu firmly defended the AKP
government's pro-Assad line to a series of Codels the week of
May 30. However, the Syrian missile incident has given room
to some who question the wisdom of AKP's policy to break
through the wall against criticism that AKP has tried to
build in front of the Turkish media.
MOORE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PINS PBTS SY TU SYRIA
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA AND MILITARY ON SYRIAN MISSILE LAUNCH
(U) Classified by Polcounselor John Kunstadter; reasons: E.O.
12958, 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Despite a blase official statement and
light media coverage, Turkish MFA official says privately
that the MFA considers as "serious" Syria's May 27 missile
launch that resulted in one missile going astray over Turkey
and scattering debris. MFA is not satisfied with the Syrian
explanation of the incident and is awaiting a report from the
Turkish military before deciding what further reaction to
recommend to FM Gul. End Summary.
MFA Calls in Syrian Ambassador, Issues Blase Statement
-------------- --------------
2. (U) The Turkish MFA called in the Syrian Ambassador on
May 27 and again on May 30 regarding Syria's May 27 missile
launch that scattered debris in Turkey. The MFA issued a
blase statement on May 28 noting that debris had fallen on
Turkish territory, and the Syrian Embassy attributed the
incident to an "individual mistake" occurring during a
"training exercise" and apologized.
3. (C) However, according to MFA Middle East Department Head
Bozay, the Syrian Embassy's first response to the MFA was to
deny Syria had anything to do with the missile. Their second
response was that only one missile was launched. The third
time, the Syrians came clean, admitted to three launches, and
apologized. Turkey is keeping open its right to claim
compensation for the incident, although Bozay doubts there
will be any compensable damage.
4. (U) Coverage of the incident in the Turkish media, much
of which is intimidated by or beholden to the AKP government,
has been light. There was no op-ed commentary on the
incident until June 7, when mass circulation daily "Sabah"
columnist Erdal Safak remarked how odd it was that Turkey
calmly accepted the Syrian apology. He noted that this would
not have been the reaction had the incident involved Greece.
Safak, normally writing with an anti-American edge, concluded
his column with an unusually sympathetic assessment of the
U.S. stance: "The U.S. is certainly not wrong to be wary of
Ankara's relations with Damascus."
MFA "Not Satisfied" with Syrian Explanation
--------------
5. (C) According to Bozay, the MFA is "not satisfied" with
the Syrian explanation. The MFA is awaiting a Turkish
military investigation into technical details of the launch,
including the type of missile involved and its exact flight
path over Turkey. Asked what the political consequences of
the incident will be, Bozay said the MFA recommendation to FM
Gul will depend on the results of the military's
investigation. However, Bozay several times characterized
the event as "serious" and said it damaged Turkish
"confidence" in the SARG.
Military Reaction
--------------
6. (S) TGS/J5 Strategy Chief MG Cengiz Arslan told
PolMilCouns on June 2 that, while he does not have direct
responsibility for the incident (Turkish military
intelligence has the lead),he understood the Syrians had
made a mistake. That said, the headquarters was buzzing with
activity the afternoon of the launch. Several explanations
were examined and rejected a deliberate provocation, the
beginning of a military coups, etc. Arslan said TGS
concluded it was an accident. No one they approached in
Damascus initially knew of the incident because, he said, the
unit that had fired the missile was afraid to report that
they made a mistake. When PolMilCouns pressed how such a
significant mistake could occur, Arslan said he had had an
artillery unit under his command that had ended up aiming in
the wrong direction because someone forgot to add 180 degrees
to the formula used in calculating trajectories. He surmised
that a Syrian unit could make the same mistake, intending to
fire southeast instead of northwest.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) PM Erdogan, FonMin Gul, and the AKP government's chief
foreign policy advisor Davutoglu firmly defended the AKP
government's pro-Assad line to a series of Codels the week of
May 30. However, the Syrian missile incident has given room
to some who question the wisdom of AKP's policy to break
through the wall against criticism that AKP has tried to
build in front of the Turkish media.
MOORE