TURKEY CAUTIOUS, SUPPORTS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001978 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY CAUTIOUS, SUPPORTS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP IN 2008 REF: A. STATE 56334 ¶B. USNATO 213 Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reason s 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) We discussed NATO's Global Partnership initiative (reftels) with MFA NATO Political Department Head Vural Altay on April 11. In response to ref a points, Altay said this was a sensitive issue which Turkey was approaching carefully. Ankara worried that a hasty decision could have a negative impact on existing partnerships. Specifically, this new partnership initiative could degrade existing partnerships or establish different levels or classes of partners. No partner should see itself as having a second-class status. That said, Altay said he understood this initiative would likely be discussed at the ministerial in Sofia. He expected discussions to continue into 2008, but believed having global partnerships implemented that year was a realistic goal. ¶2. (C) We underscored our desire to make an announcement at the Riga Summit. We also argued that our proposal would not create second-class partners, but would permit partners to have the kind of relationship with NATO that fit their situation and desires. Altay took the point, but reiterated that there were many sensitive issues that needed to be worked through. He characterized as worrisome a passage in an International Staff paper that suggested ways should be found to involve partners in the "regular work of the NAC." Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON