Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA3549
2006-06-15 15:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY LIKELY TO SEEK COMPENSATION FOR F-16

Tags:  PREL MOPS MARR NATO TU GR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0431
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #3549 1661513
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151513Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6612
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE//SA/SACEUR// PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003549 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR NATO TU GR
SUBJECT: TURKEY LIKELY TO SEEK COMPENSATION FOR F-16
COLLISION

REF: A. ANKARA 3387 AND PREVIOUS


B. ANKARA 3542

Classified By: Counselor for Political-Military Affairs Timothy A. Bett
s for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003549

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR NATO TU GR
SUBJECT: TURKEY LIKELY TO SEEK COMPENSATION FOR F-16
COLLISION

REF: A. ANKARA 3387 AND PREVIOUS


B. ANKARA 3542

Classified By: Counselor for Political-Military Affairs Timothy A. Bett
s for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) In his weekly press briefing on June 14, MFA
Spokesman Namik Tan -- in apparently attempting to dodge a
loaded question from a reporter -- stated that Turkey may
seek compensation for the F-16 Turkey lost in the mid-air
collision with a Greek F-16 on May 23. Tan tersely confirmed
that if a report on the incident finds Greece at fault,
compensation will come to the agenda. He refused to
elaborate further, but this was nonetheless a major story in
the Turkish press on June 15.


2. (C) We contacted MFA Deputy Director General for Maritime
and Aviation Affairs Vakur Gokdenizler to follow up.
Gokdenizler reported that the TUAF was in the preliminary
stages of its investigation (press reports erroneously
claimed this was a joint MFA-TGS report). He said it would
be normal for both sides to reserve their rights to claim
against whichever party was proven to be at fault. He
believed this was a prudent position for the GOT to take.


3. (C) We asked why Turkey felt it necessary to speak
publicly on this issue. Gokdenizler responded that a person
whose car had been destroyed by a rear-end collision would
have the right to request compensation. However, he admitted
that it had been premature for the spokesman to go public
since the investigation is only in the early stages. He
speculated that Tan had been caught flat-footed by a
reporter's question and said more than he should have. He
was not aware that Ankara had made any decision on whether to
claim compensation. The GOT would want to see the TUAF
investigation results before deciding how to proceed.


4. (C) COMMENT: As noted ref a, we will continue to advise
the GOT to work to ease tensions in the Aegean. END COMMENT.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON