TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION IN PSI OEG MEETINGS- MARCH

UNCLAS ANKARA 000905 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PARM TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION IN PSI OEG MEETINGS- MARCH 21-22, 2005 REF: 04 ANKARA 4806 (NOTAL) ¶1. This is an action request- see para 5. ¶2. MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Head of Department Sabri Ergen on February 16 informed EXBS Advisor that MFA had received a copy of an OSD invitation to Turkey to participate in the next PSI Operational Experts Group meeting to be held in Omaha, Nebraska in March. The invitation was forwarded to them by the Turkish General Staff. Ergen stated while this was not the preferred way that the GOT would like to receive invitations, due to the general time frame and the desire of GOT to actively participate in PSI activities, it will be viewed as an "official notification". Ergen said the GOT will be providing a team of experts to participate in the PSI OEG meeting. ¶3. The following individuals will comprise the Turkish delegation: ¶A. Brigade General Haldun Solmazturk, Department of Disarmament and International Security, Turkish Ground Forces Head Quarters, General Staff, Head of the Turkish Delegation. ¶B. Colonel Celal Pulat, Department of Disarmament and International Security, Turkish Ground Forces Head Quarters, General Staff ¶C. Captain Mustafa Iptes, Department of Plans and Policies, Chief Agreements and Standardization, Turkish Navy Headquarters, General Staff ¶D. Sabri Ergen, Head of Department, Disarmament and Arms Control Department, MFA ¶E. Major Abdullah Kaya, Legal Advisor, Turkish General Staff ¶4. Comment: Turkey is again increasing its participation in PSI activities after several high level USG visitors have informed the GOT that there is no plan to reconvene the PSI Core Group. The GOT would like either to join the Core Group or see it abolished. End comment. ¶5. Action Request: The GOT interagency process is cumbersome at best. On PSI, we have been told repeatedly that MFA has the lead on the Turkish side. A more active Turkish participation in PSI requires our ensuring all the relevant agencies are engaged. We therefore repeat our request reftel that future invitations be sent through the Embassy to allow us to deliver them via diplomatic note and to facilitate GOT interagency coordination. EDELMAN