Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA358
2005-01-22 14:39:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

CENTCOM COMMANDER DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST AND

Tags:  OVIP PTER TU 
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This 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 04 ANKARA 000358 

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO NEA/I, S/CT AND EU/SE DOUG SILLIMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2015
TAGS: OVIP PTER TU
SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST AND
CENTRAL ASIA WITH TURKISH NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL ALPOGAN


Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000358

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO NEA/I, S/CT AND EU/SE DOUG SILLIMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2015
TAGS: OVIP PTER TU
SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST AND
CENTRAL ASIA WITH TURKISH NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL ALPOGAN


Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) SUMMARY. General Abizaid held a wide-ranging
discussion with Turkey's National Security Council (NSC)
Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan on areas of mutual concern in

SIPDIS
the Middle East and Central Asia as well as Turkey's
challenges in Cyprus. Both shared the view that, despite
periodic disagreements, the two countries' historically close
bilateral relationship remained important and should be
nurtured through open dialogue. Alpogan called Turkey's
first priority in Iraq the fulfillment of the January 30
elections on schedule, adding that Turkey shares US concerns
about low Sunni participation but hopes Iraqi Shiites will
support the formation of a new Iraq and reach out to Sunnis
after the election. Alpogan acknowledged Syrian protection
of Former Regime Elements (FREs) and suggested Turkish
authorities could raise the issue with Syria. He noted that
Turkey will send up to 1,700 people to Afghanistan during its
command of ISAF VII and expressed confidence that security
would improve as the number of PRTs increased. He
acknowledged Turkey's suspicions about Iran's nuclear
development program but voiced support for the EU-3
negotiation process. Alpogan urged Turkey and the US to work
together against Russian designs in Turkmenistan and called a
Cyprus settlement Turkey's biggest challenge in the coming
year. General Abizaid explained that the US understood
Turkey's concerns about the PKK presence in northern Iraq,
agreed that the PKK was a terrorist organization, and assured
Alpogan that, in due course, measures would be taken against
the PKK threat. He also noted the importance to the US of a
logistics hub operation at Incirlik Air Base to serve the
OEF/OIF Areas of Responsibility and urged Turkey's positive
response. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On January 11, Commander Central Command General John
Abizaid met with Yigit Alpogan, Turkey's first civilian NSC
SecGen, to discuss areas of mutual cooperation in the Middle
East and Central Asia. Accompanying Alpogan were Special
Advisor Kennan Ipek, Acting External Security Department
Chief Gursel Demirok, Deputy SecGen MG Emin Unal and

Mobilization Department Chief BG Tayyar Elmas, and MFA
Americas Department Officers Meral Barlas and Lale Agusman.
General Abizaid was joined by Ambassador Edelman, CENTCOM
POLAD Ambassador Holzman, EUCOM Director of Strategy, Plans
and Assessments MG Scott Gration, Turkey Office of Defense
Cooperation Chief MG Peter Sutton, General Abizaid's
Executive Officer Col Joe Reynes, Turkey DATT Roman Hrycaj,
and DepPolMilCouns Maggie Nardi.

--------------
BILATERAL RELATIONS
--------------


3. (SBU) General Abizaid opened by thanking Turkey for its
support in the broader Middle East, despite periodic
differences between the US and Turkey. He looked forward to
continued good relations between the two countries under the
Turkish command of International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) VII in Afghanistan starting in February. SecGen
Alpogan responded that Turkey attached great importance to
its relationship with the US. In his view, there were two
primary pillars in Turkey's relationship with the West, the
US and the EU, which he saw as complementary, not
contradictory. Alpogan opined that the Turkish/US
relationship should not be limited to the military but should
encompass political, economic and social aspects.
Acknowledging recent bumps in the relationship, Alpogan said
that visits, such as the one by General Abizaid, as well as
those by Turkish officials to the US, helped to nurture that
relationship. He added that dialogue was the only way to
achieve a common understanding, suggesting that a lack of
sufficient dialogue may have contributed to recent
disagreements.

--------------
IRAQI ELECTIONS
--------------


4. (S) Saying that, if there is a fire next door to your
house, you can't remain aloof, SecGen Alpogan said Iraq was a
major concern for Turkey. He emphasized that Turkey shared
the US view that Iraqi elections must be held as scheduled on
January 30. In his view, ensuring this outcome would be
worth all of the current problems. If elections were held on
time, in a more or less orderly fashion, the process of
democratization would move forward. The election of a
representative government would ensure even greater success.
Alpogan agreed with the General that the elections were not
just for Shiites, Sunnis or Kurds, but for all Iraqis.
Turkey recognized the need for Sunni participation but the
situation was fluid and Alpogan could not predict the
outcome. Historically, Shiites didn't participate in the
formation of Iraq and were left out of the process. Alpogan
said he did not want to see the same happen with Sunnis.
While a Shiia-dominated parliament was inevitable since they
comprised 60 pct. of the population, Shiites living in Iraq
were adversaries of Ayatollah Khomeini and saw themselves
first and foremost as Iraqi Shiites. In Alpogan's view, they
support the creation of their own country and understand that
all Arabs are watching their actions. Under these
circumstances it will be difficult for them to follow the
Iranian model.


5. (S) General Abizaid said US and Turkish interests in Iraq
were convergent. Elections were the best weapon against
extremists and necessary to continue the political process.
He welcomed Turkey's efforts to convince Sunnis to
participate. The transition from a selected to an elected
government would provide a broader degree of stability and
legitimacy to the Iraqi authorities. Only through the
election of a government and drafting of a new constitution
could the goal of stability be achieved. The General
emphasized a well-trained and equipped Iraqi Security Force
was also critical to the achievement of that goal, adding
that Iraqis were fighting for their country every day and he
hoped that Turkey and other countries would assist in
training and advising the new Iraqi Security Forces.


6. (S) Kirkuk Provincial Elections: Alpogan underscored that
provincial elections in Kirkuk must be held at the same time
as the general elections. After all his government had done
for them, Alpogan said Turkey resented the approach of
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Talabani and
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Barzani to Iraq,
including their efforts to postpone the Kirkuk elections.
However, he added that Turkey was a big country and the Kurds
were relatives, so Turkey would tolerate them. General
Abizaid responded that, based on his conversations with
Barzani and Talabani, both were listening to Turkey and
recognized Turkey's power and its interests in Iraq. In the
General's view, both were trying to hold Iraq together, not
take it apart and create an independent Kurdistan. Alpogan
expressed appreciation for this feedback and reiterated
Turkey's interest in a single, united Iraq.


7. (S) Insurgency: Regarding insurgent activity, General
Abizaid said Zarqawi and others wanted to disturb the Persian
Gulf oil flow. They had dark ideas but no vision for the
future. In his view, their ideology was not gaining ground
but still the international community had to remain steadfast
and strong. He added that al Qaida was in Saudia Arabia and
spreading. He considered the Iraqi resolve against al Qaida
to be stronger than that of the Saudis but still in need of
confidence-building.

--------------
PKK - YOU KNOW OUR VIEWS
--------------


8. (S) Turning to the PKK, Alpogan said the US was aware of
Turkey's concerns. Noting the PKK trilateral talks going on
at the same time (septel),he said would not dwell on the
subject but hoped the discussion would be fruitful. General
Abizaid acknowledged US recognition of Turkey's concerns with
the PKK and our agreement that the PKK was a terrorist
organization. He underscored the US commitment to work in
conjunction with Turkey and Iraq against the PKK at the
appropriate moment but emphasized that the first and foremost
US objective was to deal with the current threats from the al
Zarqawi group and former Baathists.

--------------
SYRIAN SUPPORT OF FRES
--------------


9. (S) In the General's view, it was clear the Syrians were
allowing Baathists to operate from Damascus. Syria had also
permitted Baathist infiltration into Mosul and Fallujah to
fight coalition forces. The US had sent a sharp reminder to
Syria that it should work with the US. Alpogan responded
that Syria had made some positive gestures, including the
release of funds belonging to the former regime. He agreed,
however, that it was a fact that former regime elements
(FREs) were being treated well in Syria. Saying that Turkey
frequently visited Syria, Alpogan urged the General to raise
US concerns with FM Gul and ask for Turkey's assistance.

--------------
TURKISH COMMAND IN AFGHANISTAN
--------------


10. (S) ISAF VII: General Abizaid welcomed Turkish command of
ISAF VII beginning in February and looked forward to
continued good relations between our two countries in
Afghanistan under Turkish leadership. The US was looking for
a greater NATO role, particularly in the West. Alpogan said
that Turkey, particularly the military, fully backed the US
effort in Afghanistan. He viewed the security situation
there as stabilizing, and said he expected this to spread
further as the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams
(PRTs) increased. The official Turkish presence in
Afghanistan would increase from 242 people and three
helicopters to almost 1,700 people when Turkey took over in
February.


11. (S) Counter-Narcotics: The General noted widespread
concern among the Central Asian Republics about Afghanistan's
opium crop and emphasized that the countries in the region
must work together against this problem. Intel-sharing was
key.

--------------
CARGO HUB
--------------


12. (S) Noting logistical issues related to supplying
international operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, General
Abizaid reminded Alpogan of the US request to establish a
logistics hub at Incirlik Air Base to serve Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. For Iraq in
particular, a cargo hub could ease pressure on the Ground
Line of Communication (GLOC) at Habur Gate and assist Force
Protection efforts. After clarifying that the hub would
serve for the transport of cargo only, Alpogan said that, in
the end, this was a political decision. He offered to speak
with his counterparts but urged the US to talk with the other
involved government entities.

--------------
IRANIAN NUCLEAR AMBITIONS
--------------


13. (S) General Abizaid underscored that Iran's nuclear
ambitions were a bad idea. Alpogan agreed, opining that Iran
could not use "security needs" as an excuse to continue its
uranium enrichment and re-processing program because no
country had territorial designs on Iran. Given its large
natural gas supply, and its oil supply, neither could it
claim the excuse of "energy needs." Turkey recognized that
Iran might have ulterior motives but was awaiting the outcome
of the EU-3 discussions with Iran and hoping Iran would make
the right decision. Alpogan advised approaching the
situation cautiously.

--------------
OUR NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IS CYPRUS
--------------


14. (S) With the December 17 EU decision to give Turkey a
date to start accession negotiations behind Turkey, Alpogan
said getting a peace agreement on Cyprus was the government's
biggest problem, and Greek Cypriot President Papadopolous the
root of the problem. Alpogan said Turkey wanted to find a
solution and would look for help from the US and UK. We
could not allow the problem to drag on, or let one man hold
up the process. It was unfortunate that the Annan Plan was
rejected but the future of the island could not be at the
mercy of one person - Papadopolous. Alpogan said that the
groundwork for a solution could be laid before the February
20 elections in the north. After the elections, negotiations
could begin. According to Alpogan, no decision had been made
regarding PM Erdogan's travel to the Davos conference to
discuss this.

--------------
TURKISH ROLE IN MEPP?
--------------


15. (S) With the passing of Chairman Arafat, Alpogan said he
saw a window of opportunity for a solution to achieve peace
in the Middle East. FM Gul was pleased with his trip to
Israel and his meeting with the Palestinians, according to
Alpogan. If there was a role for Turkey, the government
would take it. General Abizaid acknowledged that a possible
Turkish role could be a positive factor.

--------------
BALANCING THE RUSSIANS IN TURKMENISTAN
--------------


16. (S) Noting that he had served as Turkey's Ambassador to
Turkmenistan for three years, Alpogan highlighted his
positive relationship with US officials there. While
pointing out that PM Erdogan was currently in Moscow meeting
with President Putin to strengthen those relations, he said
the US and Turkey must work together to balance the large and
influential Russian presence in Turkmenistan. Turkey had
linguistic and cultural ties there but this alone was not
enough.


17. (U) This cable was cleared by General Abizaid.


18. (U) Minimize considered.
EDELMAN