TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, February 2006

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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
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-- 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
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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.

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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
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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

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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