NEW TGS J-5 STRATEGY DIVISION CHIEF READY TO ENGAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005248

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2015
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PARM PINR TU
SUBJECT: NEW TGS J-5 STRATEGY DIVISION CHIEF READY TO ENGAGE

REF: ANKARA 4862

Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. 7.


2. (C) SUMMARY: During a Sept. 8 introductory call by
PolMilCouns and Deputy PolMilCouns, new TGS J-5 Strategy
Division Chief MG Savas confirmed TGS interest in holding
Caucasus Working Group and HLDG meetings this fall. Savas
listed his priorities for the Strategy Division as NATO
cooperation, Force Planning and strengthening mil-mil
relations with Turkey's neighbors and strategic partners.
TGS is continuing its discussions with the French MOD the
operational modalities of a proposed joint Turkey/France
command of the ISAF Central Region. Savas noted TGS dismay
that a misunderstood line about Turkish-Iranian relations
contained in a briefing provided to an ATC-sponsored STAFFDEL
had found its way into the Turkish press the next day.
During the same meeting, MG Erinmezler, TGS J-5 Security
Division Chief, outlined Turkey's preparation for its 2006
PSI exercise and noted that the US had not confirmed its
participation. PolMilCouns expressed USG appreciation for
Turkey's efforts to develop a comprehensive PSI exercise, and
confirmed that the US would participate. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) Major General (MG) Serdar Savas was promoted during
the August 2005 Supreme Military Council and reassigned from
the Turkish Land Forces Command, where he served as Policy
Planning Chief (reftel). He does not appear to share the easy
confidence and excellent English-language skills of his
predecessor MG Cengiz Arslan, but seems comfortable in the
headquarters environment and well-briefed on his portfolio.
Savas previously worked in TGS several times, including as a
Project Officer in the J-5 Strategy Division. He is familiar
with the US, having spent a year at the US Army War College
and as a participant in a subsequent NATO officers tour of
the US. Also participating in this meeting was BG Tuncer
Erinmezler, who succeeded Brigadier General Haldun Solmazturk
as TGS J-5 Disarmament and Security Affairs Division Chief;
he arrived from the 3rd Army Command in Erzincan, where he
served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.


4. (C) Savas characterized his policy priorities as NATO
participation, military force planning in accord with NATO
recommendations and the changing security environment, and
development of Turkey's relations with its neighbors and
strategic partners. In response to PolMilCouns comments on
US concerns with several of Turkey's neighbors, particularly
Iran's nuclear program, Savas said TGS was surprised to read
in the press on Aug. 24, points on Iran it presented at an
Aug. 23 briefing to an American-Turkish Council
(ATC)-sponsored STAFFDEL. He defended the briefing point,
which stated that TGS is "cautiously optimistic" about the
positive trend in Turkey's relations with Iran. According to
Savas, Turkey is not trying to improve its relations with
Iran. Rather, Iran is working to improve its relations with
Turkey. PolMilCouns underscored that no Embassy official
commented publicly on the TGS briefing, and reminded Savas
that the briefing was unclassified and the STAFFDEL had
included private sector representatives from the ATC and
defense industries. He suggested that both sides might
remind the ATC that such briefings, while unclassified, are
sensitive and should not be shared.


5. (C) Agreeing with PolMilCouns on the importance of
holding a High Level Defense Group (HLDG) in 2005, Savas
added that a Caucasus Working Group (CWG) meeting should be
scheduled before then to allow the CWG meeting results to be
incorporated into HLDG discussions. According to Savas,
DCHOD Kosaner's schedule was fairly full for November.
However, given US scheduling constraints for December, TGS
will review the DCHOD's schedule for the Nov. 1-11 time frame
suggested by OSD. (Note: The October 19-20 time frame also
suggested by OSD falls during Ramazan. End Note.)


6. (C) TGS J-3 is engaged with the French military at the 06
level to discuss the modalities of a possible shared command
of ISAF Central Region Command in Kabul during the second
half of 2006, said Savas. Discussion topics include a
possible rotation between Turkish and French Commanders and
Deputy Commanders. Savas expects the operational modalities
to be discussed at the general officer level during the
November NATO Military Committee meeting in Paris, and
finalized by the December holidays.


7. (C) Erinmezler, whose office handles TGS participation in
the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) asked whether the
US planned to participate in the air, land and sea exercise
Turkey would host in 2006. Turkey had not received an
official US response. Turkey intends to incorporate lessons
learned from recent exercises and add new elements to address
training requirements identified by Turkey and other
countries. According to Erinmezler, the general scenario has
been defined and the details are being worked. Turkey will
brief the scenario at the November regional experts meeting
in Hamburg. PolMilCouns emphasized US enthusiasm for the
comprehensive exercise Turkey was planning, which will add a
greater level of complexity to previous exercises, and noted
US appreciation for Turkey's organization and advance
planning for this exercise. He believed that the US will
participate in the 2006 exercise and promised to work for a
formal response with some specificity on the parameters of US
participation. Action Request: Post requests Washington
provide us with a formal response to Turkey regarding US
participation plans for the 2006 PSI exercise. End Action
Request.
MCELDOWNEY