GOC COMPLAINS ABOUT EXCLUSION FROM "ANATOLIAN SUN"

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000685 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2021 TAGS: PREL PGOV TU CY SUBJECT: GOC COMPLAINS ABOUT EXCLUSION FROM "ANATOLIAN SUN" REF: PALMER-SILLIMAN 5/9 E-MAIL Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher; Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request -- See paragraph 4. ¶2. (SBU) We received a note verbale from the Cypriot MFA on May 9 (text forwarded in ref e-mail) complaining that Ankara had failed to invite Cyprus to participate in the multilateral PSI exercise "Anatolian Sun 2006" scheduled to be held in Turkey May 24-26. The MFA note requests that the United States "exercise its influence on Turkey" and encourage Ankara to extend an invitation to Cyprus to participate. In addition, the MFA reiterates earlier complaints about a map that Turkey introduced at a previous PSI meeting showing Cyprus as divided. ¶3. (C) The question of Cypriot participation in a formal PSI exercise is worth serious consideration. As the MFA is careful to point out, Cyprus was an early and strong supporter of the Proliferation Security Initiative and was the first EU country to negotiate and sign a shipboarding agreement with the United States under PSI auspices. ¶4. (C) We recommend supporting the GOC request for an invitation to Anatolian Sun, as indeed we would advocate including Turkey in multilateral PSI exercises that might be organized by the ROC. We understand, of course, that it is highly unlikely Ankara will agree. Even so, making the case with Turkey will go a long way towards demonstrating to the GOC that we see Nicosia as a serious partner in the PSI process. This will be important as we continue to press the GOC for specific and concrete action in the areas of counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation. SCHLICHER