Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5200
2006-09-08 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/LEBANON: TURKEY'S LEBANON PEACEKEEPING
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005200
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2026
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/LEBANON: TURKEY'S LEBANON PEACEKEEPING
CONTRIBUTION TAKING SHAPE
REF: A. ANKARA 05149
B. STATE 148157
Classified By: A/DCM Dan Sreebny for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005200
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2026
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/LEBANON: TURKEY'S LEBANON PEACEKEEPING
CONTRIBUTION TAKING SHAPE
REF: A. ANKARA 05149
B. STATE 148157
Classified By: A/DCM Dan Sreebny for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Summary. Following a contentious parliamentary vote
and the September 6 visit of UNSYG Annan to Ankara, Turkey
has promised naval assets as well as the use of seaports and
airports for Lebanon peacekeeping operations. In addition,
the GOT is planning a ground contingent to engage in
humanitarian/reconstruction activities and logistics support
to UNIFIL, although details remain to be worked out. A
military survey team is on its way to Lebanon. Turkey is
also discussing training needs with the LAF. A Turkish
UNIFIL deployment would represent the first significant
Turkish military presence in the Middle East since the bloody
withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from that region nearly a
century ago. End summary.
2. (C) We made ref b points to MFA Middle East Department
Head Sedat Onal on September 8. Onal said the GOT is
currently working out the details of the Lebanon peacekeeping
contribution approved by a special session of the Turkish
Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on September 5 (ref a) and
discussed with UNSYG Kofi Annan during his September 6 visit
to Ankara. Onal noted that the resolution passed by the TBMM
specifies Turkey's UNIFIL contribution will be in the
logistics and humanitarian area; any combat troops committed
to UNIFIL will act as force protection for Turkish
humanitarian and logistics activities.
3. (C) Onal said that Turkey has promised the UN a naval
contribution of one frigate and two corvettes, and has
offered the ports of Mersin and Iskenderun, as well as Adana
airport and Istanbul's secondary Gokcen airport, for use by
UNIFIL contributing countries. Turkey is also prepared to
assist allied UNIFIL contributing countries with air and sea
lift on a case-by-case basis; however, no Turkish units will
be specifically dedicated to that purpose. Onal was not
willing to speculate on the final size of the Turkish UNIFIL
contribution on the ground in Lebanon (separate from naval
forces),although press reporting suggests up to 1000 Turkish
personnel may be sent.
4. (C) The land component of the Turkish contribution to
UNIFIL is still being considered, Onal said. The GOT is
discussing with the UN how civilian humanitarian and
reconstruction elements, such as the Turkish Red Crescent and
Turkey's development agency TIKA, would be integrated into
UNIFIL. He confirmed press reports that a military
engineering unit would be included in Turkey's contribution
and would be engaged in infrastructure repair. Once the GOT
determines the size, composition, and integration of its
humanitarian and logistics package, force protection and
service support units will be added as necessary.
5. (C) Onal said that Turkey is considering a substantial
training package for the Lebanese Armed Forces and is
coordinating needs directly with the LAF. He was not aware
of any Turkish equipment earmarked for the LAF at this time.
He indicated the Turkish military is fully on board with a
training mission.
6. (C) Onal confirmed press reports that military officers,
likely from Turkey's Ankara-based peacekeeping unit, the 28th
Mechanized Infantry Brigade, are heading to Lebanon to survey
conditions for an eventual Turkish deployment. He predicted
that it will take another week to ten days for the GOT to
finalize its UNIFIL contribution, and then an additional
couple of weeks to complete their deployment.
7. (C) Onal closed by emphasizing that participation in
UNIFIL will be Turkey's first significant military
involvement in the Middle East since the end of the Ottoman
Empire and constitutes an historic event. He noted that the
September 5 TBMM debate on the deployment resolution was
heated and that there is significant popular opposition to
ANKARA 00005200 002 OF 002
sending forces to Lebanon while the PKK is still attacking
Turkish security forces and civilians in Turkey from
sanctuaries in northern Iraq. However, having called for a
cease-fire early in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Turkey feels
obliged to adopt a principled stand and contribute to the
peace.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2026
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/LEBANON: TURKEY'S LEBANON PEACEKEEPING
CONTRIBUTION TAKING SHAPE
REF: A. ANKARA 05149
B. STATE 148157
Classified By: A/DCM Dan Sreebny for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Summary. Following a contentious parliamentary vote
and the September 6 visit of UNSYG Annan to Ankara, Turkey
has promised naval assets as well as the use of seaports and
airports for Lebanon peacekeeping operations. In addition,
the GOT is planning a ground contingent to engage in
humanitarian/reconstruction activities and logistics support
to UNIFIL, although details remain to be worked out. A
military survey team is on its way to Lebanon. Turkey is
also discussing training needs with the LAF. A Turkish
UNIFIL deployment would represent the first significant
Turkish military presence in the Middle East since the bloody
withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from that region nearly a
century ago. End summary.
2. (C) We made ref b points to MFA Middle East Department
Head Sedat Onal on September 8. Onal said the GOT is
currently working out the details of the Lebanon peacekeeping
contribution approved by a special session of the Turkish
Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on September 5 (ref a) and
discussed with UNSYG Kofi Annan during his September 6 visit
to Ankara. Onal noted that the resolution passed by the TBMM
specifies Turkey's UNIFIL contribution will be in the
logistics and humanitarian area; any combat troops committed
to UNIFIL will act as force protection for Turkish
humanitarian and logistics activities.
3. (C) Onal said that Turkey has promised the UN a naval
contribution of one frigate and two corvettes, and has
offered the ports of Mersin and Iskenderun, as well as Adana
airport and Istanbul's secondary Gokcen airport, for use by
UNIFIL contributing countries. Turkey is also prepared to
assist allied UNIFIL contributing countries with air and sea
lift on a case-by-case basis; however, no Turkish units will
be specifically dedicated to that purpose. Onal was not
willing to speculate on the final size of the Turkish UNIFIL
contribution on the ground in Lebanon (separate from naval
forces),although press reporting suggests up to 1000 Turkish
personnel may be sent.
4. (C) The land component of the Turkish contribution to
UNIFIL is still being considered, Onal said. The GOT is
discussing with the UN how civilian humanitarian and
reconstruction elements, such as the Turkish Red Crescent and
Turkey's development agency TIKA, would be integrated into
UNIFIL. He confirmed press reports that a military
engineering unit would be included in Turkey's contribution
and would be engaged in infrastructure repair. Once the GOT
determines the size, composition, and integration of its
humanitarian and logistics package, force protection and
service support units will be added as necessary.
5. (C) Onal said that Turkey is considering a substantial
training package for the Lebanese Armed Forces and is
coordinating needs directly with the LAF. He was not aware
of any Turkish equipment earmarked for the LAF at this time.
He indicated the Turkish military is fully on board with a
training mission.
6. (C) Onal confirmed press reports that military officers,
likely from Turkey's Ankara-based peacekeeping unit, the 28th
Mechanized Infantry Brigade, are heading to Lebanon to survey
conditions for an eventual Turkish deployment. He predicted
that it will take another week to ten days for the GOT to
finalize its UNIFIL contribution, and then an additional
couple of weeks to complete their deployment.
7. (C) Onal closed by emphasizing that participation in
UNIFIL will be Turkey's first significant military
involvement in the Middle East since the end of the Ottoman
Empire and constitutes an historic event. He noted that the
September 5 TBMM debate on the deployment resolution was
heated and that there is significant popular opposition to
ANKARA 00005200 002 OF 002
sending forces to Lebanon while the PKK is still attacking
Turkish security forces and civilians in Turkey from
sanctuaries in northern Iraq. However, having called for a
cease-fire early in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Turkey feels
obliged to adopt a principled stand and contribute to the
peace.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON