TURKEY PLANS TO PROVIDE STAFF AND MATERIALS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000504

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015
TAGS: MARR PREL EAID TU AF
SUBJECT: TURKEY PLANS TO PROVIDE STAFF AND MATERIALS FOR
AFGHAN WAR COLLEGE, MULLING TRAINING FOR ANA

Classified By: CDA Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) TGS/J3 LTG Yalcin told DCM and PolMilCouns on Jan. 26
that Turkey was planning to offer significant training and
support for the Afghan War College. PolMilOff followed up
Jan. 27 with Aydin Evirgen, MFA Deputy Director General for
South Asia. Evirgen said that the plan--which still required
final GOT approval, which he expected to receive in a matter
of a few weeks--was to provide 16 trainers "for up to several
years" at the War College. The trainers would fill needs
which the Afghans identified to the Turks. Turkey also plans
to supply clothing and other materials (office supplies,
etc.) to the War College's 60 staff and 120 students.


2. (C) Evirgen (please protect) also said that the GOT was
considering providing direct training to the Afghan National
Army, but added that this idea was still in the planning
stages; he implied it might meet more resistance in the
Turkish bureaucracy.


3. (C) Comment: The Turks are playing to their strengths in
providing trainers and materials for the Afghan War College.
(Yalcin cited similar significant assistance to war colleges
in Bosnia and Georgia.) This, along with their apparent
willingness to reconsider deploying a PRT, demonstrates that
they are not allowing their command of ISAF VII to be their
sole contribution to the future of Afghanistan. End comment.
EDELMAN