NAC COMMUNIQUE/MOLDOVA: TURKS SUPPORT "EITHER"

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007061 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015 TAGS: NATO PARM PREL KCFE TU SUBJECT: NAC COMMUNIQUE/MOLDOVA: TURKS SUPPORT "EITHER" LANGUAGE, CLAIM TO BE SEEKING CONSENSUS REF: STATE 217326 (NOTAL) Classified By: Counselor for Political-Military Affairs Timothy A. Bett s for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolMilOff discussed reftel demarche with Gulin Dinc, MFA Chief of Section for NATO Political Affairs, early Dec. ¶1. Dinc explained that Turkey has no problem with the International Staff's text (she added that "personally" she preferred it),but Turkey is joining with the UK to seek consensus in the face of serious opposition from some Allies to the I.S.'s proposed language on Russia's Istanbul commitments in Moldova. She said that the GOT would fully support the I.S. version as drafted if there were consensus on it, but given the opposition in Brussels the Turkish delegation had already been instructed to accept a version of the "either" language, especially since -- in Ankara's view -- the alternative language still achieves the aim of reaffirming support for the CFE Treaty and for the need for Russia to fulfill the Istanbul commitments. Dinc emphasized that Turkey's long-standing policy on the importance of the Istanbul commitments remains unchanged. ¶2. (C) Dinc read the text of the "either" version that the Turkish delegation has been instructed to support: BEGIN TEXT Given the lack of progress in 2005, we reiterate our expectation that the remaining Russian military forces will be completely withdrawn from the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible. END TEXT MCELDOWNEY