Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA1069
2006-03-03 05:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH PRESS DOUBTS U.S. INTENTIONS IN BLACK SEA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001069
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2021
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO MOPS TU US
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESS DOUBTS U.S. INTENTIONS IN BLACK SEA
REF: A. BRYZA-WILSON EMAIL 3/1/06 (NOTAL)
B. ANKARA 1043 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001069
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2021
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO MOPS TU US
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESS DOUBTS U.S. INTENTIONS IN BLACK SEA
REF: A. BRYZA-WILSON EMAIL 3/1/06 (NOTAL)
B. ANKARA 1043 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The Turkish press on March 1 and 2 has been full of
speculation that the U.S. has an aggressive policy to gain
dominance over the Black Sea. When asked, we are explaining
to the media and the diplomatic community that U.S.-Turkish
cooperation and dialogue on potential threats in the Black
Sea are ongoing. But even our more rational interlocutors in
the GOT and the military may fear that we are moving too far,
too fast in the Black Sea. END SUMMARY.
"U.S. Trying to Take Over Black Sea"
--------------
2. (U) The Turkish press on March 1 and 2 used remarks by EUR
PDAS Volker to suggest that -- in the words of one columnist
-- the U.S. was planning to use NATO as a Trojan horse to
penetrate the Black Sea region. The press repeated common
themes we have heard before: that the U.S. wants to scrap the
Montreux Convention, open bases all over the Black Sea coast
(including in Turkey),and maintain a huge naval presence
there. More extreme speculation has the U.S. taking over the
Blue Stream natural gas pipeline and suggests recent
Turkish-Russian naval exercises were muscle flexing against
ill U.S. intentions.
Do They Understand the Issue?
--------------
3. (C) The distorted reactions underscore doubts here about
U.S. intentions, and also reveal the important role of
Turkish "pride of place" as the leader of Black Sea maritime
security. The press reaction also reveals ignorance about
the entire issue: one television station asked us to explain
just what OAE and the Turkish Operation BLACK SEA HARMONY
(OBSH) are, and why this is such a big deal.
4. (C) While we have received inquiries from the Turkish
press and the diplomatic community, neither the GOT or the
military has contacted us. It may be helpful that EUR has
already been in touch with the Turkish embassy in Washington.
It is noteworthy that personnel of the Turkish military,
which has been the most stiff-backed on the issue, will
participate in a DIA-hosted March 9-10 symposium on Black Sea
and Caspian Sea security in Washington. USG participants
should be prepared to describe the U.S. position.
What We Are Saying
--------------
5. (SBU) For press inquiries, we are emphasizing that:
--Turkey and the U.S. have a good dialogue on issues related
to the Black Sea.
--The U.S. and Turkey share common interests in the Black
Sea, including economic matters such as energy, and security
matters such as preventing the use of the Black Sea for
trafficking in terrorists, WMD, persons, drugs, and other
illicit purposes.
--The most important consideration is what is effective. We
want to work with all littorals to ensure that the Black Sea
is secure.
6. (C) Off the record, we are telling people that we welcome
the ongoing coordination between the Turks' OBSH and OAE and
would like to see it develop further. Since last summer,
Turkey has provided information it gathers under OBSH and
feeds it to NATO. We understand that the Alliance is
satisfied with this cooperation, and uses the data to support
OAE.
Comment
--------------
ANKARA 00001069 002 OF 002
7. (C) The timing of the issue unfortunately coincides with
our request to Turkey for CFE entitlements to allow us to
train in Romania and Bulgaria (ref b),and may make this a
harder sell. We expect, however, that the press cycle will
quickly die down. Some in Turkey have always suspected that
we are seeking hegemony in the Black Sea and will not be
convinced otherwise. Most Turkish policymakers and military
leaders do not take such a paranoid view. However, going on
the record at this time as pushing OAE's expansion into the
Black Sea will lead even reasonable Turkish officials to
chide us for moving too far, too fast.
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2021
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO MOPS TU US
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESS DOUBTS U.S. INTENTIONS IN BLACK SEA
REF: A. BRYZA-WILSON EMAIL 3/1/06 (NOTAL)
B. ANKARA 1043 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The Turkish press on March 1 and 2 has been full of
speculation that the U.S. has an aggressive policy to gain
dominance over the Black Sea. When asked, we are explaining
to the media and the diplomatic community that U.S.-Turkish
cooperation and dialogue on potential threats in the Black
Sea are ongoing. But even our more rational interlocutors in
the GOT and the military may fear that we are moving too far,
too fast in the Black Sea. END SUMMARY.
"U.S. Trying to Take Over Black Sea"
--------------
2. (U) The Turkish press on March 1 and 2 used remarks by EUR
PDAS Volker to suggest that -- in the words of one columnist
-- the U.S. was planning to use NATO as a Trojan horse to
penetrate the Black Sea region. The press repeated common
themes we have heard before: that the U.S. wants to scrap the
Montreux Convention, open bases all over the Black Sea coast
(including in Turkey),and maintain a huge naval presence
there. More extreme speculation has the U.S. taking over the
Blue Stream natural gas pipeline and suggests recent
Turkish-Russian naval exercises were muscle flexing against
ill U.S. intentions.
Do They Understand the Issue?
--------------
3. (C) The distorted reactions underscore doubts here about
U.S. intentions, and also reveal the important role of
Turkish "pride of place" as the leader of Black Sea maritime
security. The press reaction also reveals ignorance about
the entire issue: one television station asked us to explain
just what OAE and the Turkish Operation BLACK SEA HARMONY
(OBSH) are, and why this is such a big deal.
4. (C) While we have received inquiries from the Turkish
press and the diplomatic community, neither the GOT or the
military has contacted us. It may be helpful that EUR has
already been in touch with the Turkish embassy in Washington.
It is noteworthy that personnel of the Turkish military,
which has been the most stiff-backed on the issue, will
participate in a DIA-hosted March 9-10 symposium on Black Sea
and Caspian Sea security in Washington. USG participants
should be prepared to describe the U.S. position.
What We Are Saying
--------------
5. (SBU) For press inquiries, we are emphasizing that:
--Turkey and the U.S. have a good dialogue on issues related
to the Black Sea.
--The U.S. and Turkey share common interests in the Black
Sea, including economic matters such as energy, and security
matters such as preventing the use of the Black Sea for
trafficking in terrorists, WMD, persons, drugs, and other
illicit purposes.
--The most important consideration is what is effective. We
want to work with all littorals to ensure that the Black Sea
is secure.
6. (C) Off the record, we are telling people that we welcome
the ongoing coordination between the Turks' OBSH and OAE and
would like to see it develop further. Since last summer,
Turkey has provided information it gathers under OBSH and
feeds it to NATO. We understand that the Alliance is
satisfied with this cooperation, and uses the data to support
OAE.
Comment
--------------
ANKARA 00001069 002 OF 002
7. (C) The timing of the issue unfortunately coincides with
our request to Turkey for CFE entitlements to allow us to
train in Romania and Bulgaria (ref b),and may make this a
harder sell. We expect, however, that the press cycle will
quickly die down. Some in Turkey have always suspected that
we are seeking hegemony in the Black Sea and will not be
convinced otherwise. Most Turkish policymakers and military
leaders do not take such a paranoid view. However, going on
the record at this time as pushing OAE's expansion into the
Black Sea will lead even reasonable Turkish officials to
chide us for moving too far, too fast.
WILSON