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