Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA6826
2005-11-18 16:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, TURKS SAY CYPRUS EXERCISES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #6826 3221612 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181612Z NOV 05 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1318 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006826
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU CY
SUBJECT: PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, TURKS SAY CYPRUS EXERCISES
GOING AHEAD
REF: A. ANKARA 6710 AND PREVIOUS
B. 7 NOV 2005 SILLIMAN-BETTS EMAIL
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006826
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU CY
SUBJECT: PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, TURKS SAY CYPRUS EXERCISES
GOING AHEAD
REF: A. ANKARA 6710 AND PREVIOUS
B. 7 NOV 2005 SILLIMAN-BETTS EMAIL
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Following up on our efforts to turn off Turkish
exercises -- named "Toros" -- in northern Cyprus, Charge
reinforced ref b points to MFA Undersecretary Ali Tuygan on
Nov. 16, urging he raise the matter with TGS. Tuygan
acknowledged our points and agreed to raise the issue with
the military. Charge also met with Deputy CHOD GEN Isik
Kosaner on Nov. 18 to urge Turkey not to proceed with these
exercises. Kosaner responded that the decision to have
Turkish troops already in Cyprus participate in Toros was
final (i.e., no troops based in Turkey will take part).
2. (C) Public comments by Turkish officials also indicate
that the exercises are going ahead. On Nov. 15, Land Forces
Commander GEN Yasar Buyukanit told the press that Toros would
go ahead in northern Cyprus, and that Turkish troops already
on the island would participate. (COMMENT: Buukanit, who
will become the CHOD this summer, likely went public in order
to thwart any efforts within the GOT to turn off the
exercises. END COMMENT.) On Nov. 16, MFA Spokesman Namik
Tan confirmed that planning for Toros was ongoing, but added
that the question of whether Turkish troops (as opposed to
only "TRNC" forces) would participate should be referred to
the military.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Turkish decision to go ahead with the
exercise is a hollow victory of the Cyprus hardliners over
the moderates; once again, they simply could not resist
taking the bait. Very few in the EU and elsewhere will pay
much attention to the Turks' assertion that the ROC's
military outnumbers the "TRNC's" by 10:1. All they will
focus on is that the Turks exercised on Cyprus even though
the Greeks did not, and that Turkish troops are an "illegal
occupation" force on the island. END COMMENT.
MCELDOWNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU CY
SUBJECT: PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, TURKS SAY CYPRUS EXERCISES
GOING AHEAD
REF: A. ANKARA 6710 AND PREVIOUS
B. 7 NOV 2005 SILLIMAN-BETTS EMAIL
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Following up on our efforts to turn off Turkish
exercises -- named "Toros" -- in northern Cyprus, Charge
reinforced ref b points to MFA Undersecretary Ali Tuygan on
Nov. 16, urging he raise the matter with TGS. Tuygan
acknowledged our points and agreed to raise the issue with
the military. Charge also met with Deputy CHOD GEN Isik
Kosaner on Nov. 18 to urge Turkey not to proceed with these
exercises. Kosaner responded that the decision to have
Turkish troops already in Cyprus participate in Toros was
final (i.e., no troops based in Turkey will take part).
2. (C) Public comments by Turkish officials also indicate
that the exercises are going ahead. On Nov. 15, Land Forces
Commander GEN Yasar Buyukanit told the press that Toros would
go ahead in northern Cyprus, and that Turkish troops already
on the island would participate. (COMMENT: Buukanit, who
will become the CHOD this summer, likely went public in order
to thwart any efforts within the GOT to turn off the
exercises. END COMMENT.) On Nov. 16, MFA Spokesman Namik
Tan confirmed that planning for Toros was ongoing, but added
that the question of whether Turkish troops (as opposed to
only "TRNC" forces) would participate should be referred to
the military.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Turkish decision to go ahead with the
exercise is a hollow victory of the Cyprus hardliners over
the moderates; once again, they simply could not resist
taking the bait. Very few in the EU and elsewhere will pay
much attention to the Turks' assertion that the ROC's
military outnumbers the "TRNC's" by 10:1. All they will
focus on is that the Turks exercised on Cyprus even though
the Greeks did not, and that Turkish troops are an "illegal
occupation" force on the island. END COMMENT.
MCELDOWNEY