Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA3843
2005-07-01 15:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

APPROACHING TURKEY ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF F-16

Tags:  MASS TU PK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003843 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM/RSAT - TODD HUGHES, EUR/SE, SA/PB, SA/RA - BOB
WILKINSON/FRED MILLER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015
TAGS: MASS TU PK
SUBJECT: APPROACHING TURKEY ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF F-16
AIRCRAFT

REF: STATE 117933

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003843

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM/RSAT - TODD HUGHES, EUR/SE, SA/PB, SA/RA - BOB
WILKINSON/FRED MILLER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015
TAGS: MASS TU PK
SUBJECT: APPROACHING TURKEY ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF F-16
AIRCRAFT

REF: STATE 117933

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).


1. (C) Charge raised the issue of Turkey transferring F-16
aircraft to Pakistan (reftel) with Minister of Defense Vecdi
Gonul during their initial meeting on June 30. Gonul thought
the prospect was a good opportunity, noting the need to be
supportive of Pakistan in general.


2. (C) PolMilCouns and PolMilOff followed up with MFA Acting
Deputy Director General for South Asia Murat Ulku later June
30, and with TGS acting J5 MG Cengiz Arslan on July 1. They
added that some modification of Turkish F-16s might be
necessary if the Turkish models were more advanced than the
technology releasable to the Pakistanis. Neither had yet
received the report of the Charge's meeting with the
minister. Ulku asked who would pay for modifications if they
were necessary. PolMilCouns suggested that the cost would
need to be factored into whatever arrangements were made with
Pakistan. Ulku undertook to inform his superiors immediately
of our points. Arslan noted that Turkey does not often sell
equipment and he would need to determine who in TGS and
Turkish Air Force Command would need to work this issue.
Both were interested in the numbers of aircraft involved.
PolMilCouns opined that the numbers would be small.
MCELDOWNEY