Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2282
2006-04-26 04:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
GETTING TURKEY ON BOARD WITH NATO'S MIDDLE EAST
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002282
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016
TAGS: NATO PREL MARR TU
SUBJECT: GETTING TURKEY ON BOARD WITH NATO'S MIDDLE EAST
SECURITY COOPERATION CENTER
REF: STATE 63202
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002282
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016
TAGS: NATO PREL MARR TU
SUBJECT: GETTING TURKEY ON BOARD WITH NATO'S MIDDLE EAST
SECURITY COOPERATION CENTER
REF: STATE 63202
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Drawing on reftel, we raised the proposal for a NATO
Middle East Security Cooperation Center with MFA NATO Affairs
DDG Serdar Kilic on April 25 after coordinating with the
Norwegian and Italian embassies. Kilic said he had read the
US-Italy-Norway paper on the subject and agreed with its
thrust. While Turkey would be willing to include African
nations in the proposal now, it was also willing to support a
consensus to focus on Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and
Mediterranean Dialogue countries for the time being.
2. (C) Kilic said he believed Turkey would be prepared to
provide trainers for the center, but was less forthcoming
about funds and students. Recalling discussions in Brussels
during which alternative methods of funding were discussed,
he recommended the Alliance seek contributions from Gulf
Cooperation Council countries before looking to Allies for
budget support. He did not think the GOT would send students
to the center since Turkey had adequate training facilities
of its own. We argued that often students learn as much from
each other than from formal instruction and we urged Turkey
to consider sending students who might serve as informal
mentors for their counterparts from partner nations. Kilic
said sending Turkish students could be reexamined, but a
convincing case would need to be made to the Turkish military
on the benefits of doing so.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016
TAGS: NATO PREL MARR TU
SUBJECT: GETTING TURKEY ON BOARD WITH NATO'S MIDDLE EAST
SECURITY COOPERATION CENTER
REF: STATE 63202
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Drawing on reftel, we raised the proposal for a NATO
Middle East Security Cooperation Center with MFA NATO Affairs
DDG Serdar Kilic on April 25 after coordinating with the
Norwegian and Italian embassies. Kilic said he had read the
US-Italy-Norway paper on the subject and agreed with its
thrust. While Turkey would be willing to include African
nations in the proposal now, it was also willing to support a
consensus to focus on Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and
Mediterranean Dialogue countries for the time being.
2. (C) Kilic said he believed Turkey would be prepared to
provide trainers for the center, but was less forthcoming
about funds and students. Recalling discussions in Brussels
during which alternative methods of funding were discussed,
he recommended the Alliance seek contributions from Gulf
Cooperation Council countries before looking to Allies for
budget support. He did not think the GOT would send students
to the center since Turkey had adequate training facilities
of its own. We argued that often students learn as much from
each other than from formal instruction and we urged Turkey
to consider sending students who might serve as informal
mentors for their counterparts from partner nations. Kilic
said sending Turkish students could be reexamined, but a
convincing case would need to be made to the Turkish military
on the benefits of doing so.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON