TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, March & April 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001219 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR PREL FR AJ PK KS MK YI GM BU AL IT SI AF, GR, UK, TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, March & April 2007 (Note: This is one of a regular series of unclassified reports on significant Turkish defense and national security issues in the press and other open sources. End note.) Contents -------------- -- CHOD GEN Buyukanit Speaks at War College -- Anti-Terrorism High Council Convenes -- Defense Industry Executive Committee Convenes -- National Security Council Convenes -- BLACKSEAFOR Maneuvers Takes Place in Eregli/Zonguldak -- Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -- Defense Industry Activity CHOD GEN Buyukanit Speaks at War College -------------- ¶1. Chief of the Turkish General Staff (CHOD) General Yasar Buyukanit gave his annual speech to the War College in Istanbul on March 16. In contrast to previous years, the speech was closed to the press, but was subsequently leaked to the media. In the speech, Buyukanit refrained from comment about the upcoming presidential election, noting that it was not military's duty to comment on political issues. Touching upon various issues like Cyprus, Turkey's contributions to peacekeeping operations, ISAF, the fight against the PKK terrorist organization and the PKK's presence in northern Iraq, GEN Buyukanit listed ethnic separatism, terrorism and fundamentalism as the primary threats facing Turkey. Buyukanit underscored the constitutional responsibility of the Turkish Armed Forces to preserve the unitary structure of the country against such threats, and stressed the military's determination to safeguard the Republic. Anti-Terrorism High Council Convenes -------------- ¶2. Turkey's Anti-Terrorism High Council, chaired by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, with participation of Interior Minister Abddulkadir Aksu, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Jandarma Commander Gen Isik Kosaner, Deputy CHOD Gen Ergin Saygun, National Security Council Secretary General Yigit Alpogan, Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer, Turkish National Intelligence Organization Undersecretary Emre Taner, Turkey's Special Envoy to Combat the PKK Terrorist Organization GEN Edip Baser and Security Services General Director Oguz Kagan Koksal, convened on March 13. This is the fourth meeting of the council in nine months, but only the fifth since 1997. Counterterrorism activities were discussed in the meeting, as reported by center-left Radikal daily. Defense Industry Executive Committee Convenes -------------- ¶3. Turkey's top decision making body on defense industrial procurement, the Defense Industry Executive Committee (DIEC), convened on March 30 under Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, with the participation of CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Head of Plans and Principles Department GEN Hilmi Akin Zorlu, Defense Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar, Deputy Undersecretaries and Heads of Departments of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). Agusta Westland of Italy was selected over South Africa's Denel for Turkey's purchase of up to 50 tactical and reconnaissance Attack (ATAK) Helicopters, while Otokar of Turkey was selected over the BMC-FNSS Partnership for the Turkish National Main Battle Tank Project. DIEC also decided on a number of procurement projects under the 10-Year Procurement Program, including the ANKARA 00001219 002 OF 004 Turkish National Main Battle Tank Program, New Type Patrol Boat Project and SAR-35 Boat Modernization (Turkish Defense and Aerospace Update magazine). National Security Council Convenes -------------- ¶4. Turkey's National Security Council (NSC) held its bi-monthly meeting on April 10. Domestic and foreign developments affecting Turkey's security and public order topped the agenda. Within this context, the continuation of military operations against the PKK in southeast Turkey was noted; the activities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization and measures taken against them were also reviewed. Recent developments in Iraq were also discussed and the importance of preserving Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity was underscored. BLACKSEAFOR Maneuvers Take Place in Eregli/Zonguldak -------------- -------------- ¶5. The BLACKSEAFOR April 2007 exercise organized by Turkish Naval Forces under the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group was held from April 27 to May 3 at the port of Eregli in Zonguldak. The first phase of the three-phase exercise featured port and humanitarian aid training, while the second phase included sea surface, submarine and air defense combat and search and rescue training. One corvette each from the Romanian and Russian Federation Naval Forces participated in the exercise and observers from Russia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Romania, Egypt, Pakistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Algeria and Italy attended the third phase of the exercise which ended in Istanbul. Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -------------- --- ¶6. France: The Turkish Foreign Ministry (MFA) expressed its concern over the bilateral military agreement signed between France and Cyprus on March 1. Stating that the Greek Cypriot administration was not eligible to sign such an agreement, the MFA noted that the agreement did not comply with resolution parameters established by the UN and might jeopardize stability and security in the eastern Mediterranean. ¶7. Azerbaijan: There was significant Turkish/Azerbaijani interaction during the reporting period: - Turkish Deputy CHOD GEN Ergin Saygun met the commander of the Azerbaijani National Security Forces GEN Zakir Hasanov in Baku on March 1. During the visit, a high-level military commission was established for military cooperation, as reported by the semi-official Anatolian News Agency (ANA). - A delegation led by Turkish Land Forces Commander GEN Ilker Basbug met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev in Baku on March 6. GEN Basbug said his visit was aimed at learning more about reforms in the Azerbaijani military and discussing the prospects for cooperation between the two countries, according to the APA News Agency in Azeri. The same source quoted GEN Basbug as saying the visit was not related to US-Iranian relations. - Turkish Coastguard Commander GEN Can Erenoglu received his Azeri counterpart on April 17 in Ankara. Security in Caspian Sea and Black Sea and bilateral cooperation on the matter were discussed during the four-day visit (ANA). ANKARA 00001219 003 OF 004 ¶8. Pakistan: Naval Forces from nine countries (USA, Turkey, China, Britain, Italy, France, Malaysia and Bangladesh) participated in the week-long 'Aman' military exercise aimed at consolidating efforts in the war against terrorism in the Arabian Sea/Pakistan on March 6 (Reuters). Turkey signed an MoU to collaborate in naval research, technology and development with Pakistan on March 26 during the visit of Turkish Naval Forces Commander ADM Yener Karahanoglu to Islamabad (Turkish Defense and Aerospace Update Magazine). ¶9. Macedonia: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit received his Macedonian counterpart GEN Miroslav Storanovski. Modalities to promote bilateral cooperation with a main focus on logistics support within the NATO-led missions abroad as well as possibilities for strengthening training cooperation for special units were discussed during the three-day visit, as reported by independent private Skopje MAKFAX in English. ¶10. Kosovo: The Chief of Turkish police forces assigned to the Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Yuksel Celik, said on March 12 that 180 police officers from Kosovo will receive professional training on intelligence, the fight against terrorism and narcotics in Turkey. One hundred forty-two Turkish policemen are currently participating in UNMIK (ANA). ¶11. Germany: Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul received his German counterpart Joseph Jung on March 13. In a joint press conference with Minister Jung, Gonul said that Turkey is not planning to take part in the NATO's missile defense shield project and will build its own air defense system based on its national capabilities. Noting that bilateral defense relations will be promoted, Gonul added that Germany is Turkey's biggest partner in the production of minesweepers and submarines (ANA). ¶12. Bulgaria: Turkish Land Forces Commander GEN Ilker Basbug received his Bulgarian counterpart GEN Ivan Dobrev on March 20. No information about the subject of their meeting was made public. ¶13. Albania: Turkish CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit received his Albanian counterpart GEN Luan Hoxha on March 27. No information about the meeting was made public. A 10-member delegation of Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) led by GEN Hasan Memisoglu was received by Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu on April 6 (ANA). ¶14. Italy: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit received Italian Naval Forces Commander Vice Admiral Paolo La Rosa on April 4. No information about the purpose of the visit was made public. ¶15. Slovenia: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit received his Slovenian counterpart GEN Albin Gutman on April 6. No information on the content of the meeting was made public. Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul received his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec on April 24. ¶16. Afghanistan: Turkey took over the regional Kabul Command from France under the International Assistance Force in Afghanistan on April 6. The number of Turkish troops in Afghanistan increased to 1125 after Turkey assumed command. The additional 400 troops, including 65 officers and non-commissioned officers, will provide logistics, communication and security services (ANA). ¶17. Greece: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit participated in the Meeting of Balkan Chiefs of Staff on April 18 in Thessaloniki, Greece. ANKARA 00001219 004 OF 004 Chiefs of staff from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece attended the meeting. Rejecting accusations that Turkish jets violated Greek airspace, GEN Buyukanit said the planes only crossed the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) which is not a border of sovereignty. According to GEN Buyukanit, the reports of airspace violations were based on each crossing of the Athens' FIR (ANA). ¶18. Britain: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit received British Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup on April 24. No information about the subject of their meeting was made public. Defense Industry Activity -------------- ¶19. Korea: Defense Minister Gonul received his Korean counterpart Jang-Soo on March 7. Noting that Korea was among the strongest candidates for the 'national tank' project', Gonul stated that Turkey produced the Panter obus with technical support from Korea and produced simulators of the high tech CASA airplanes for Korea. Both ministers reiterated their intention to boost cooperation in the field of defense industry. ¶20. SSM announced that CESSNA Aircraft Company, EADS, Diamond Aircraft Inc., Shinyoung Heavy Industries Co, Alenia Aermachhi, Aero Vodochody, Morovan Aviation and Cirrus Desing Corporation received the RFP (Request for Proposal) for a Basic Trainer Aircraft for the Turkish Land Forces. ¶21. SSM announced that Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, EADS, Bombardier Inc, and Boeing received the RFP for a Command and Control Aircraft (KKU) Procurement Project for Turkish Air Forces. ¶22. SSM issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure 45 Low Altitude Air Defense Missile Systems to meet Turkish Land Forces Command's requirement and 12 Low Altitude Air Defense Missile Systems to meet Turkish Naval Forces Command's requirement. The deadline for responding to the RFI is May 31. ¶23. SSM announced that the following companies received the RFI for the Long-Range Air and Missile Defense System Program (T-LORADMIDS): Aselsan-Turkey, Ayesas-Turkey, Boeing-USA, CPMIEC-China, C-Tech-Turkey, FNSS-Turkey, Gate-Turkey, Havelsan-Turkey, IAI-Israel, Lockheed Martin-USA, Milsoft-Turkey, Raytheon-USA, Roketsan-Turkey. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have declared that they will respond to the RFI via US Government within the scope of Price and Availability (P&A) Data studies. ¶24. SSM signed a contract with Yonca-Onuk joint venture for the procurement of two fast patrol boats to be built in Turkish shipyards. The 22 meter-long new patrol boats will facilitate the early warning, reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence activities of the Turkish Naval Forces (ANA). WILSON