Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2625
2006-05-10 15:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
COG COMPLAINS OF EXCLUSION FROM PSI EXERCISE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0064 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #2625 1301517 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101517Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5484 INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 7178 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3005 RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA PRIORITY 6578 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1594 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002625
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2021
TAGS: CY PGOV PREL PARM TU
SUBJECT: COG COMPLAINS OF EXCLUSION FROM PSI EXERCISE
"ANATOLIAN SUN"
REF: A. NICOSIA 00685
B. STATE 56944 (NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002625
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2021
TAGS: CY PGOV PREL PARM TU
SUBJECT: COG COMPLAINS OF EXCLUSION FROM PSI EXERCISE
"ANATOLIAN SUN"
REF: A. NICOSIA 00685
B. STATE 56944 (NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) We do not believe that it would be productive to
approach the GOT again to invite Cyprus to the May 24-26 PSI
exercise "Anatolian Sun" at this late date, as recommended
ref a. We agree with Embassy Nicosia that Turkey will not
issue this invitation.
2. (C) In October, Turkey requested the USG provide a list of
countries appropriate to invite to this exercise. We
included the Republic of Cyprus on our response in December.
While the GOT accepted almost all of our suggestions then and
more recently (ref b),it has not been willing to invite
Cyprus. We followed up with MFA on May 10; officials were
aware of press reports that Cyprus wished to be included, but
Ankara was not prepared to invite the ROC. The GOT's focus
was on having a successful exercise, we were told, and Turkey
did not want to detract from this by creating a domestic
controversy over Cypriot involvement.
3. (C) To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time
Cyprus has expressed an interest in observing this exercise,
despite being present at discussions of the exercise at every
quarterly Operational Experts Group (OEG) meetings since
Ankara announced it would host this exercise in April, 2005.
Other countries have approached Turkey at the OEG to request
invitations and have received them; we are not aware that the
ROC has tried.
4. (C) We were surprised that the GOC complained about the
map issue (Turkey's initial briefings to the OEG included a
map showing a divided Cyprus, prompting Cyprus and Greece to
walk out of one meeting last year). For the March exercise
planning meeting and the April OEG meeting in Miami, Turkey
cropped the maps in its presentation to exclude the island.
5. (C) We recommend that Embassy Nicosia be authorized to
inform the GOC that
-- The USG did ask that Cyprus be invited to "Anatolian Sun."
-- Although the GOT decided against extending an invitation,
it did address Cypriot objections to the map and that issue
appears resolved.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2021
TAGS: CY PGOV PREL PARM TU
SUBJECT: COG COMPLAINS OF EXCLUSION FROM PSI EXERCISE
"ANATOLIAN SUN"
REF: A. NICOSIA 00685
B. STATE 56944 (NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) We do not believe that it would be productive to
approach the GOT again to invite Cyprus to the May 24-26 PSI
exercise "Anatolian Sun" at this late date, as recommended
ref a. We agree with Embassy Nicosia that Turkey will not
issue this invitation.
2. (C) In October, Turkey requested the USG provide a list of
countries appropriate to invite to this exercise. We
included the Republic of Cyprus on our response in December.
While the GOT accepted almost all of our suggestions then and
more recently (ref b),it has not been willing to invite
Cyprus. We followed up with MFA on May 10; officials were
aware of press reports that Cyprus wished to be included, but
Ankara was not prepared to invite the ROC. The GOT's focus
was on having a successful exercise, we were told, and Turkey
did not want to detract from this by creating a domestic
controversy over Cypriot involvement.
3. (C) To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time
Cyprus has expressed an interest in observing this exercise,
despite being present at discussions of the exercise at every
quarterly Operational Experts Group (OEG) meetings since
Ankara announced it would host this exercise in April, 2005.
Other countries have approached Turkey at the OEG to request
invitations and have received them; we are not aware that the
ROC has tried.
4. (C) We were surprised that the GOC complained about the
map issue (Turkey's initial briefings to the OEG included a
map showing a divided Cyprus, prompting Cyprus and Greece to
walk out of one meeting last year). For the March exercise
planning meeting and the April OEG meeting in Miami, Turkey
cropped the maps in its presentation to exclude the island.
5. (C) We recommend that Embassy Nicosia be authorized to
inform the GOC that
-- The USG did ask that Cyprus be invited to "Anatolian Sun."
-- Although the GOT decided against extending an invitation,
it did address Cypriot objections to the map and that issue
appears resolved.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON