EUCOM D/COM GENERAL WARD'S INTRODUCTORY CALLS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006598

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2026
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR IZ IR TU
SUBJECT: EUCOM D/COM GENERAL WARD'S INTRODUCTORY CALLS IN
ANKARA


Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

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Summary
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1. (C) EUCOM Deputy Commander General William Ward restated
EUCOM's commitment to work closely with Turkey on security
issues during November 7 introductory calls on CHOD Yasar
Buyukanit, DCHOD Ergin Saygun, and MFA Deputy Undersecretary
for Security Affairs Rafet Akgunay. Buyukanit described his
unprecedented visit to Greece and expressed his satisfaction
with U.S. - Turkey bilateral military relations. On
Afghanistan, he emphasized the importance of not alienating
the population, while expressing frustration at the slow pace
of reconstruction there. DCHOD Saygun said he was
particularly concerned about the impact of growing friction
between Russia and Georgia on regional stability and energy
security. On Iran, Saygun expressed concern for worsening
Iranian behavior in the region but alluded to Iran-Turkey
cooperation in border operations against PKK terrorists. MFA
D/US Akgunay stressed Turkey's concerns about the possible
break-up of Iraq as well as instability in the Caucasus. He
said Turkey would continue to be cooperative on Black Sea
security. Ward asked for Akgunay's assistance with the U.S.
request for additional CFE flank entitlements from Turkey to
facilitate U.S. training activities in Romania and Bulgaria.
End Summary

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CHOD Buyukanit - Don't Alienate the Afghans
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2. (C) Buyukanit described his recent visit to his
counterpart in Athens as unprecedented and productive, noting
that militaries on both sides of the Aegean understand each
other despite POLITICAL disputes. In the same manner, U.S. -
Turkey bilateral military RELATIONS have weathered POLITICAL
storms. Turning to Afghanistan, Buyukanit expressed concern
for resurgent Taliban activity in the south, associating this
with the slow pace of economic reconstruction. He deflected
SACEUR and U.S. appeals for additional Turkish forces. He
described Turkey's support for the Afghan people since the
days of Ataturk in the 1920s, stressing that Turkey is
careful not to alienate the Afghan population. He suggested
that other ISAF contributors need to keep in mind the key
goal of winning the hearts of the people. Referring to his
own experience fighting the PKK in northern Iraq, Buyukanit
said Turkey has sought to avoid alienating innocent civilians
in all of its anti-PKK
operations.

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DCHOD Saygun - Caucasus Tensions, Iran and Lebanon
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3. (C) Saygun raised concerns with growing tensions in the
Caucasus, particularly between Russia and Georgia. He noted
increasing Russian pressure on Georgia, especially on natural
gas, and worried about the effects on stability and energy
security in the region. Saygun characterized Iranian
behavior in the region as worsening; Iran is also capable of
using energy as a weapon. He noted, however, that the
Iranian border is Turkey's quietest and, in contrast to the
situation in Iraq, Turkey can discuss matters with Iran. He
alluded to Turkish-Iranian cooperation along their respective
borders with Iraq in combating PKK terrorists operating there.


4. (C) Saygun opined that the U.S. had lost influence in the
Middle East to Iran, pointing out that Iran has gained ground
on the Arabian peninsula through its ties to Iraqi Shi'a.
Many Muslims now look approvingly at Iran as a symbol of
resistance to the U.S. and Israel. Saygun claimed that the
division between Sunnis and Shi'a is greater than that
between Muslims and Christians. He expressed frustration
with Turkey's RELATIONS with Iraq, complaining that there is
no reliable Iraqi government authority for Turkey to talk to.
Meanwhile, he pointed out, Turkey has lost numerous truck
drivers to terrorist attacks in Iraq.

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U.S. Needs Regional Allies
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5. (C) Turning to U.S. - Turkey ties, Saygun commented that
the U.S. has grown "too big" since the end of the Cold War.
Allies cannot keep up. The U.S. can load troops on its
transport aircraft and send them around the world, but must
remember most other allies cannot do this as easily.
Therefore, successful combined operations in the NATO context
are difficult. In this context, Saygun concluded, the U.S.
needs to cultivate regional allies on which it can count.

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MFA - Iraq, Caucasus, and Black Sea
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6. (C) During his call on MFA D/US Akgunay, Gen Ward noted
the strains in bilateral RELATIONS since the Iraq war but
thanked Turkey for its assistance and cooperation on Iraq.
Akgunay stressed the Turkish government's fears for the
consequences of Iraq's breaking apart, focusing on Kirkuk as
a microcosm of all of Iraq's ethnic and sectarian problems
and the need to find a widely acceptable solution to Kirkuk's
status. Akgunay stated that the GOT welcomes the
collaboration between U.S. Special Envoy Ralston and Turkish
envoy Baser and is showing restraint, hoping the initiative
will have positive and concrete results. A good outcome to
the Ralston mission would go far to change anti-U.S. public
sentiment, he asserted.


7. (C) Responding to EUCOM POLAD Ambassador Yates' question
about the situation in the Caucasus, Akgunay noted that
Russia is on the defensive while the FSU states often
exercise their freedoms in a provocative manner. Turkey is
encouraging all sides not to push Russia into a corner.
Akgunay stressed that Turkey supports NATO goals for the
region. On Black Sea issues, Akgunay stressed that Turkey is
not conspiring with Russia to keep NATO out of the Black Sea.
NATO has been in the Black Sea since 1952, the year Turkey
joined the Alliance. Akgunay noted that Operation Black Sea
Harmony is providing a constant stream of information to NATO
commands. Turkey understands Russia's historical drive for a
warm water port but is trying to convince Russia "this is not
the 17th century."

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CFE Flank Entitlements
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8. (C) Raising the U.S. request for CFE flank entitlements,
Ward expressed appreciation for Turkey's willingness to
contribute 63 tank entitlements from Turkey's headroom. The
U.S. needs more help, however, to make up a shortfall of some
75 armored combat vehicle (ACV) entitlements. Akgunay
replied that Turkey's offer 63 tank entitlements had been the
maximum the Turkish military felt it could provide after
thorough consideration. He undertook to reconsider the
Turkish offer following the HLTF meeting in Brussels.


9. (U) This cable was cleared by General Ward.

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WILSON