ASD FLORY AND MOD GONUL DISCUSS US-TU DEENSE

S E C R E T ANKARA 006805 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR MASS TU IZ SUBJECT: ASD FLORY AND MOD GONUL DISCUSS US-TU DEENSE RELATIONS Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary: Visiting ASD Flory thanked Defense Minister Gonul for his record of public support for the US-Turkey relationship when they met on November 10. In response to Gonul's complaint about US inaction against the PKK in northern Iraq, the ASD pointed out concrete steps the USG is taking against the terrorist group. He urged Turkey to play an even more positive role in Iraq, and asked Ankara to reassure Moscow that the USG's intentions in Central Asia are positive. Gonul expressed support for eventual Ukrainian membership in NATO. He and SSM Undersecretary Bayar made a pitch for greater Turkish work-share in the Joint Strike Fighter program. DSCA Director LtGen Kohler suggested that Turkey reengage the US on excess F-16s in six to eight months. End summary. -------------- Defending the Bilateral Relationship -------------- ¶2. (C) Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy Peter Flory told Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul during their November 10 meeting that the High Level Defense Group (HLDG) meeting that had concluded earlier in the day (septel) was "extremely successful," having addressed both strategic issues and practical matters. Mr. Flory noted that this had been his first HLDG meeting as well as his first bilateral defense talks as ASD, noting that he joined Advisor to the President for National Security Hadley and the Secretary in making Turkey one of their first stops after assuming office. Recalling that the President had made the US-Turkey relationship a priority, ASD Flory noted how important it had been to hold the HLDG as quickly as possible after its two-year hiatus. He expressed appreciation for Gonul's record of speaking out in support of our bilateral relations. -------------- Only Bilateral Problem -- the PKK -------------- ¶3. (C) Gonul averred that the US was "very important for the Turkish people," not just the government or the state. This was due to Turkey's entry into NATO and the Alliance's importance in defending the border with the USSR. Now, there was only one point of disagreement between Turkey and the US -- the "very urgent, critical and crucial" issue of the PKK. The Turkish public is growing impatient as the death toll rises. They believe that the US could take action against the PKK in northern Iraq if it wanted. Gonul agreed with ASD Flory that popular perceptions can differ from reality. ¶4. (S) Gonul recalled that Secretary Rumsfeld had assured him that he and others in Washington were well aware of the situation. ASD Flory recalled that the HLDG had discussed a broad agenda that included the PKK. EUCOM Chief of Staff LTG Broadwater and CENTCOM Deputy J5 BG Kimmit's attendance demonstrated that the US was ready to address the PKK issue seriously with the Turks even if we were not yet in a position to take all the actions the Ankara desired. Still, a number of steps are being taken: intelligence exchanges are producing results, and the US may be able to surge intelligence resources for a limited period again; intelligence and law enforcement officials have had productive trilateral discussions; and, we are pressing the Europeans to do more. Friends talk about difficult issues, which was why the US side had requested the PKK be on the HLDG agenda. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶5. (C) Gonul reiterated Turkish support for a stable, unified, and prosperous Iraq, but expressed concern about Kurdish aspirations in Iraq and the Iraqi Kurd's desire to keep the PKK in their region. ASD Flory argued strongly that, while Iraq was still a work in progress, the Iraqis were continuing to make progress. While acknowledging all Turkey has done to support the process in Iraq, he urged the GOT to be an even greater positive influence there. One possible area where Turkey could help, he said, was sharing with Iraq Turkey's industrial know-how, showing the Iraqis how to add value to products rather than simply exporting raw material. ¶6. (C) Mr. Flory reassured Gonul that the US would remain in Iraq until the job was done, observing that success in Iraq would benefit Turkey. Gonul accepted that the US road map in Iraq was the right one, and that Turkey and Iraq need each other. -------------- Russia and Central Asia -------------- ¶7. (C) ASD Flory asked Gonul for his view on Russia's approach to Central Asia where the Russians have been unhelpful (e.g., in Uzbekistan) and viewed the US with suspicion. Since Turkey and Russia enjoy good relations, he asked the GOT to reassure Moscow that the US plays a positive role in the region. Gonul responded that the good relations were only on trade. He saw a large part of Central Asia's problems due largely to the region's leaders. They were all educated in Russia; felt a sense of superiority when they were Soviet officials representing a superpower; and, are now trying to use nationalism. Gonul was confident that the region's prospects would improve and Russian influence wane with the next generation. Other factors included the detachment of leaders from their publics and the countries' conservative, Soviet-style bureaucracies. The latter point he compared to Syria, where Asad must contend with the bureaucracy he inherited from his father. With Syria, "we have to be patient," he said. ASD Flory noted that Syria's problems arose from the undemocratic nature of the regime, not the structure of the government. -------------- Ukraine and NATO -------------- ¶8. (C) ASD Flory inquired about Gonul's thoughts on how to encourage reform in Ukraine, opining that many Europeans view it the same as they view Turkey -- too big and too hard. Gonul said Turkey supports Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO. Compared to its neighbors, Ukraine was well advanced, although concerns about corruption persist. Mr. Flory agreed, noting that the concerns were serious but expressing optimism that problems would be resolved in time. -------------- Acquisition Issues: JSF, excess F-16s -------------- ¶9. (C) Gonul recalled that Turkey has a number of defense projects with the US: -- JSF: While Turkey is generally happy with the Joint Strike Fighter, he complained about Turkey's "insufficient" work-share in the program. After Turkey's successful work on F-16s, he was confident that Turkish industry -- which had improved since the time of the F-16 project -- could (and should) have a bigger role in the program. ASD Flory assured Gonul that Turkey's participation in JSF was still desired. Defense Security Cooperation Agency Director LtGen Jeffery Kohler recalled Turkey's relatively late participation in the JSF project and the program's principle of best value for the best price. He observed that Turkey was investing $175 million in the project and Turkish firms had already won $180 million in contracts. He nonetheless offered to discuss Turkey's concerns with Lockheed Martin, noting that significant work was still required before the aircraft would begin production. Gonul and Defense Industry (SSM) Undersecretary Murad Bayar believed the Turkish parliament would look closely at work-share when considering the budget for JSF next year. -- Peace Onyx: Gonul noted with approval the $1 billion-plus FMS F-16 upgrade program begun this year. -- Excess F-16s: Gonul asked about the status of Turkey's request for excess F-16s which he assumed would become available as a result of the BRAC process. General Kohler explained that force structure was addressed in the QDR, and that would not be ready for release until early next year. He suggested that in 6-8 months the USAF might have a better idea of what excess aircraft it might have. -------------- Participants -------------- ¶10. (C) ASD Flory and LtGen Kohler were accompanied by the Charge, OSD/ISP DASD Dan Fata, ODC-Turkey Chief MajGen Peter Sutton, DATT Col Roman Hrycaj, OSD/ISP Turkey Director LtCol Joe Collins and POLMILCOUNS. In addition to Minister Gonul and U/S Bayar, MND Policy Director RADM(L) Serdar Dulger participated in the meeting. MCELDOWNEY