TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, February 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001400 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR PREL TU UP KS TC PK SU IR AL RU SUBJECT: TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, February 2006 (Note: This is one of the regular series of unclassified reports on significant Turkish defense and national security issues in the press and other open sources. End note) Contents -------------- -- National Security Council Convenes -- Defense Industry Executive Committee Convenes -- Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -- Defense Industry Activity -- Active-Duty Commander Charged with Corruption National Security Council Convenes -------------- ¶1. Turkey's National Security Council (NSC) held its first meeting of 2006 on February 23. Turkey-Iran relations, February 4 IAEA decision on Iran's nuclear program, and Turkey's foreign assistance policy topped the agenda. Turkish media coverage of the meeting was wider than other months. The center-right Hurriyet reported that various scenarios on Iran's nuclear program were discussed but that a diplomatic solution remains possible. FM Abdullah Gul also told the meeting that Turkey had conveyed to Hamas, during the Feb. 14 visit the expectations of the international community, according to the center-daily Sabah. Defense Industry Executive Committee Convenes -------------- -- ¶2. The government's Defense Industry Executive Committee, chaired by PM Tayyip Erdogan, with the participation of Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, CHOD General Hilmi Ozkok and SSM Chief Murad Bayar, on February 17 approved a plan authorizing Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) to administer an anticipated $1 billion program for the building of a major air defense system at Turkey's most strategic locations. Procurement officials and analysts believe that the two strongest candidates are the US Patriot PAC-3 and Russia's S-300 system (the English-language Turkish Daily News). Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -------------- --- ¶3. UAE: Turkey signed a security agreement with the UAE on February 6 to formally expand bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism beyond combating weapons and ammunition smuggling (Dubai Khaleej Times). Curiously, the agreement was not reported by any Turkish media sources. On Feb. 26, Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu signed a cooperation agreement for the fight against international terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime with his UAE counterpart Saif bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (Semi- governmental Anatolian News Agency). ¶4. South Korea: CHOD General Hilmi Ozkok met with his counterpart on February 7 in Seoul during a six-day visit. As reported by the Seoul Yanhap News Agency, the primary purpose of GEN Ozkok's visit was to evaluate South Korean military weapons products for future purchase. During his visit, GEN Ozkok went to the Korea Aerospace Industry and expressed interest in procuring South Korea's T-50 advanced supersonic trainer aircraft and components for K-9 155 self- propelled howitzers. GEN Ozkok's official visit was not reported by any Turkish media sources, nor through official channels. ¶5. Pakistan: Turkish Land Forces Commander General Yasar Buyukanit called on Pakistani Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Ehran Ul Haq on February 16 to discuss defense and security cooperation issues(associated Press of Pakistan). This official visit was not reported by any Turkish source. ANKARA 00001400 002 OF 003 ¶6. Sudan: Turkey and Sudan signed a security cooperation agreement on February 18 to fight against terrorism, money laundering, illegal migration, and the proliferation of arms and ammunition. Reportedly the agreement included cooperation against the harboring of terrorist organizations and the establishment of camps by officials of terrorist organizations found in either country (Sudanese Al-Ra'y al- Amm newspaper). The agreement was not reported by any Turkish official/unofficial public sources. ¶7. Iran: A Turkish delegation attended the 11th Turkey-Iran High Security Council Meeting in Tehran on February 19. Turkish and Iranian parties signed a memorandum of understanding on the fight against terrorism and illicit trafficking during the three day meeting. The HSC focuses on border security issues; the Turkish Interior Ministry, not the Turkish General Staff, has the GOT lead in this body. Military sources tell us there is no mil-to-mil relationship between the two neighbors. ¶8. Ukraine: Commander of Ukrainian Naval Forces Admiral Ihor Kniaz met Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Yener Karahanoglu on February 21 to discuss improving relations regarding security of the Black Sea. Noting that Ukraine was ready to support Operation Black Sea Harmony, Admiral Kniaz said that Ukraine regarded the Black Sea as a sea of friendship and cooperation (The semi-governmental Anatolian News Agency). ¶9. Russia: Russian Naval Forces Commander Admiral Vladimir Masorin met Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Yener Karahanoglu in Istanbul on February 26. Speaking to journalists, Admiral Karahanoglu stated that he received his Russian counterpart to talk about security and stability in the Black Sea. A Russian navy ship visit to Istanbul occurred at the same time as Masorin's visit (The semi- governmental Anatolian News Agency). ¶10. Albania: Defense Minister Fatmir Medie of Albania visited Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul on February 27 (semi-governmental Anatolian News Agency). Defense Industry Activity -------------- ¶11. Turkish aeronautical software company Havelsan exported a second aircraft simulator (CN 235 full aircraft simulator),valued at $30M, to South Korea (the moderate pro- Islamic Zaman daily). ¶12. Turkish Air Forces Command (TAFC) cancelled the planned acquisition of Israel's Elop Electro-Optics Industries' high- altitude long-range oblique photography (LOROP) reconnaissance pods, claiming the system failed to meet required standards. TAFC also cancelled a plan to purchase two batteries of 24 Harpy II UAV systems from Israel Aircraft Industries. The American firm General Atomics Aviation had competed against the Israeli company for that tender but lost when it was awarded to Israel in advance of PM Erdogan's spring 2005 travel to Israel (Jane's Defense Weekly). ¶13. Parastatal firms MKEK and Aselsan will be subcontractors for the Miltup Project, the national tank development project announced by SSM for which BAE North America - Turkish joint venture and Turkish companies FNSS, Otokar and BMC are currently competing (the moderate pro-Islamic Zaman daily). Active-Duty Commander Charged with Corruption -------------- ¶14. Lieutenant General Ethem Erdagi, Commander of 3rd Corps, who formerly served as Turkey's ISAF Commander in Afghanistan, has been charged with corruption in a military tender. He is the third Turkish general indicted since the AKP government won the elections in 2002, but the first ANKARA 00001400 003 OF 003 active duty general officer to be tried by a military tribunal. Former Navy Commander Admiral Ilhami Erdil was the first; he was sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment on a similar charge. Military sources tell us that Erdagi is not accused of any personal gain but of violating contracting regulations in one tender. WILSON