TURKISH PRESS DOUBTS U.S. INTENTIONS IN BLACK SEA

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