AFGHANISTAN: TURKS RELAXED ABOUT MAZAR REJECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000865 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2030 TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV TU AF UK SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: TURKS RELAXED ABOUT MAZAR REJECTION REF: A. ANKARA 356 ¶B. ANKARA 353 ¶C. ANKARA 504 Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The subject of Turkey's interest in replacing the UK at its PRT in Mazar-e Sharif (refs A and B) came up during a meeting on another subject between MFA DDG for South Asia Aydin Evirgen and polmilcouns. Evirgen understood that London was no longer interested in Turkey taking over the Mazar PRT and that others would be filling this role. He said the important thing was that the job get done -- whether by Turkey or someone else was not important. Given the great reluctance in Ankara for Turkey to do a PRT, Evirgen thought no one would be disappointed. When asked to expand on the GOT's reluctance to lead PRTs, Evirgen explained that the concept was relatively new and not well defined. How a joint civilian-military operation would be conducted was difficult for senior Turkish officials and politicians to grasp. Each time Turkey has explored leading a PRT, it has only been with the reluctant approval of decision-makers. ¶2. (C) Evirgen noted that ISAF stage 2 expansion seemed to be progressing well, with nations stepping up to take the lead in PRTs in the West. Polmilcouns observed that stage 3 was still to come; he encouraged Turkey to consider contributing to that effort. With the command of ISAF until August, Turkey's contribution is significant Evirgen responded. After that, Ankara would examine how Turkey could usefully further assist Afghanistan. Meanwhile MFA was continuing to encourage the Turkish military to contribute to the training of the Afghan National Army, focusing on the war college (ref C). The GOT was also planning some high-level visits: Foreign Minister Gul was supposed to attend the Feb. 13 ISAF change of command, but bad weather forced him to postpone to sometime in March. Prime Minister Erdogan is planning to visit Kabul in April. ¶3. (C) Comment: The Turks understand that their taking over the PRT in Mazar is not in the cards. The leadership's reluctance to embrace PRTs and the military's reluctance to take on a more robust combat role (the Turkish General Staff twice declined CENTCOM's requests in 2003 to contribute to OEF) suggest winning a Turkish contribution to ISAF's expansion into the south will not be easy. The Afghanis will need to tell Gul and Erdogan that they would prefer Turkey to contribute to ISAF's move south if we are to convince the GOT to do so. End comment. EDELMAN