TURKEY INFORMED THAT CYPRUS HAS JOINED THE GI; MFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001137 SIPDIS SIPDIS ISN/WMD FOR MEGAN DIETER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017 TAGS: PTER KGIC KNNP PINR PINS PARM PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY INFORMED THAT CYPRUS HAS JOINED THE GI; MFA UNDECIDED ABOUT ASTANA MEETING REF: A. STATE 58978 ¶B. STATE 62145 ¶C. ANKARA 1005 ¶D. ANKARA 954 Classified By: Acting Political Military Counselor Margaret Nardi, reas ons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) We confirmed for MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Head of Section Serhan Yigit on May 10 that the U.S. had received a diplomatic note from the Government of Cyprus advising of Cyprus' intent to join the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, Cyprus' support for the Global Initiative's Statement of Principles, and its readiness to adhere to them. We also delivered ref a points emphasizing the gravity of the threat of nuclear terrorism and the US expectation that the GI will not be forum for outside political goals. ¶2. (C) Yigit was not surprised, given previous presentations we have made regarding Cyprus, refs c and d. He noted that the MFA had not received formal notice of Cyprus' joining from the Russian Embassy in Ankara, commenting that the Russian practice in most other cases has been to forward a diplomatic note confirming the names of the new member states. He asked if the Embassy could provide such a note to the MFA regarding Cyprus. ¶3. (C) Yigit said that the MFA's position on Cyprus' joining the GI had not changed. The MFA has made no decision about what representation the GOT will have at the third GI meeting in Astana in June. MFA Deputy U/S Rafet Akgunay had warned Ambassador on April 27 that Turkey was re-evaluating its participation in the Initiative, and Deputy Director General for Arms Control Ahmet Gun further stated to us that the GOT might not send a delegation to Astana (ref c). ¶4. (C) We understand that the Turkish National Police (TNP) is currently planning to send ten officers to the June 11-15 GI Law Enforcement Conference to be held in Miami. Along with the single Customs official the MFA previously informed us would attend, there could be as many as 11 in the Turkish delegation in Miami. The high level of interest from the police is a result of post LEGATT and EXBIS Advisor's direct contact with the TNP. We do not know if TNP participation in the Miami conference has been vetted politically at the MFA. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON