TURKISH STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCHES

UNCLAS ANKARA 003943

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM KN TU IR
SUBJECT: TURKISH STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCHES

REF: STATE 111144


1. The Turkish MFA released the following statement on North
Korea's missile launches on July 5. We will follow up with
the GOT on reftel points and report septel.


2. Text of Turkish statement (informal Embassy translation):

BEGIN TEXT

July 5, 2006

We view the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's long and
medium-range missile tests - conducted on July 5, 2006
despite warnings of the international community - with
serious concern.

After the DPRK announced that it had nuclear weapons on April
24, 2003, it is obvious that these tests - which were carried
out without considering the security of its neighbors - would
not contribute to genuine efforts being carried out to
maintain regional peace and stability.

There is no doubt that the long-range missile test of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea causes negative
consequences for international peace and security.

We support the endeavors of the international community,
initially the United Nations Security Council, for adopting a
united and determined approach on the matter.

We call on the government of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea to bring its missile program to an end as soon as
possible in order to conform to the moratorium the DPRK
announced on long-range missile tests in the past, to comply
with the principles of the Missile Technology Control Regime,
and to comply with the Hague Code of Conduct Against
Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

We expect the government of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea to resume the Six-Party Talks immediately, to
fulfill its commitments stemming from the Joint Statement of
September 19, 2005, and to re-open its nuclear program to the
international inspection system.

END TEXT

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

WILSON