Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA208
2006-01-20 08:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TOPICS FOR TURKISH NSC SECGEN'S MAIDEN VOYAGE TO
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 200817Z Jan 06
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000208
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ IR SY
SUBJECT: TOPICS FOR TURKISH NSC SECGEN'S MAIDEN VOYAGE TO
WASHINGTON
REF: ANKARA 28
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000208
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ IR SY
SUBJECT: TOPICS FOR TURKISH NSC SECGEN'S MAIDEN VOYAGE TO
WASHINGTON
REF: ANKARA 28
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Kenan Ipek, Special Advisor to National Security
Council Secretary-General Ambassador Yigit Alpogan, advised
us on Jan. 17 that the SecGen is pleased with the meetings
scheduled for his Jan. 23-27 visit to Washington and looks
forward to this opportunity to discuss issues of mutual
interest. Echoing the SecGen's earlier message to the
Ambassador (reftel),Ipek stressed that Alpogan welcomes the
opportunity to bring home any messages the U.S. wishes to
send with respect to Iran, Iraq and Syria. We also updated
Alpogan on Nagorno-Karabakh and suggested Washington
interlocutors may want to discuss how Turkey can support
progress there. According to Ipek, Alpogan has already
scheduled meetings with both Prime Minister Erdogan and
President Sezer immediately upon his return to Turkey.
2. (U) In addition to his meetings at the NSC, State and DOD,
Alpogan plans to give a speech at both the Washington
Institute and the Nixon Center. The NSC is also evaluating
possible press opportunities. This will be Alpogan's maiden
trip to Washington since becoming the first civilian to head
Turkey's NSC in September 2004.
3. (C) COMMENT: Ipek's invitation to discuss Iran provides a
good opportunity to send a firm message to the Turks that the
time for fence-sitting is over and the government's public
statements must reflect a firm stance against Iran's nuclear
ambitions. Recent statements on Iran's nuclear program,
while not particularly emphatic, have been in the right
direction. However, in responding to a question at a Jan. 18
press conference, MFA spokesman Namik Tan unhelpfully
suggested that, while no plans for a visit by Iranian
President Ahmadinejad have been made, there will be a visit
and it will not be of the "slightest relevance to AMERICA or
any other country." Such patently untrue statements should
stop. WILSON
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ IR SY
SUBJECT: TOPICS FOR TURKISH NSC SECGEN'S MAIDEN VOYAGE TO
WASHINGTON
REF: ANKARA 28
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Kenan Ipek, Special Advisor to National Security
Council Secretary-General Ambassador Yigit Alpogan, advised
us on Jan. 17 that the SecGen is pleased with the meetings
scheduled for his Jan. 23-27 visit to Washington and looks
forward to this opportunity to discuss issues of mutual
interest. Echoing the SecGen's earlier message to the
Ambassador (reftel),Ipek stressed that Alpogan welcomes the
opportunity to bring home any messages the U.S. wishes to
send with respect to Iran, Iraq and Syria. We also updated
Alpogan on Nagorno-Karabakh and suggested Washington
interlocutors may want to discuss how Turkey can support
progress there. According to Ipek, Alpogan has already
scheduled meetings with both Prime Minister Erdogan and
President Sezer immediately upon his return to Turkey.
2. (U) In addition to his meetings at the NSC, State and DOD,
Alpogan plans to give a speech at both the Washington
Institute and the Nixon Center. The NSC is also evaluating
possible press opportunities. This will be Alpogan's maiden
trip to Washington since becoming the first civilian to head
Turkey's NSC in September 2004.
3. (C) COMMENT: Ipek's invitation to discuss Iran provides a
good opportunity to send a firm message to the Turks that the
time for fence-sitting is over and the government's public
statements must reflect a firm stance against Iran's nuclear
ambitions. Recent statements on Iran's nuclear program,
while not particularly emphatic, have been in the right
direction. However, in responding to a question at a Jan. 18
press conference, MFA spokesman Namik Tan unhelpfully
suggested that, while no plans for a visit by Iranian
President Ahmadinejad have been made, there will be a visit
and it will not be of the "slightest relevance to AMERICA or
any other country." Such patently untrue statements should
stop. WILSON