Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1282
2007-05-25 11:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: DIRECT LEBANESE REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION
how-toVZCZCXRO6655 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHAK #1282 1451111 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251111Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2269 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0519 RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001282
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER TU LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY: DIRECT LEBANESE REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION
COULD EXPEDITE ACTION
REF: A. MAY 23 CAGAN-WILSON EMAIL
B. ANKARA 1259
C. STATE 70499
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001282
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER TU LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY: DIRECT LEBANESE REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION
COULD EXPEDITE ACTION
REF: A. MAY 23 CAGAN-WILSON EMAIL
B. ANKARA 1259
C. STATE 70499
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On May 24, DCM and visiting TRANSCOM Commander Gen.
Schwartz raised the LAF ammunition request with Deputy Chief
of Staff GEN Ergin Saygun and J-4 Logistics Chief LTG Arslan.
We also notified the MFA Middle East Department and the
Turkish General Staff (TGS) of the specific request for 105MM
tank rounds. Both the MFA and TGS agreed to consider the
request and Arslan confirmed the presence of 105MM tank
rounds in the TGS inventory. DCM also spoke with Lebanese
Ambassador to Turkey Georges Siam.
2. (C) Military officials have expressed some hesitation.
DCHOD Saygun noted that this is a politically sensitive issue
and expressed uncertainty about the availability of
sufficient surplus ammunition, but, following our insistence
on the importance and urgency of the matter, undertook to see
what could be provided. Major General Kocak, TGS J-3, asked
whether the Lebanese government had made a direct request of
Turkey for this ammunition, echoing a colonel in the J-5
Agreements Department, who opined that the Lebanese should be
making this request, not the United States.
3. (C) Given the urgency of the situation, we also contacted
the Lebanese embassy to encourage a direct outreach to the
Turkish government. Ambassador Siam agreed with this
approach and subsequently advised us that he had contacted PM
Siniora's office to recommend a direct GOL request to Turkey.
He expressed confidence that the PM would agree and expected
that a message would be sent either through the Turkish
Defense Attache in Beirut or that he would be asked to submit
a diplomatic note conveying the request.
4. (C) We will continue to press both the MFA and TGS for a
positive response.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER TU LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY: DIRECT LEBANESE REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION
COULD EXPEDITE ACTION
REF: A. MAY 23 CAGAN-WILSON EMAIL
B. ANKARA 1259
C. STATE 70499
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On May 24, DCM and visiting TRANSCOM Commander Gen.
Schwartz raised the LAF ammunition request with Deputy Chief
of Staff GEN Ergin Saygun and J-4 Logistics Chief LTG Arslan.
We also notified the MFA Middle East Department and the
Turkish General Staff (TGS) of the specific request for 105MM
tank rounds. Both the MFA and TGS agreed to consider the
request and Arslan confirmed the presence of 105MM tank
rounds in the TGS inventory. DCM also spoke with Lebanese
Ambassador to Turkey Georges Siam.
2. (C) Military officials have expressed some hesitation.
DCHOD Saygun noted that this is a politically sensitive issue
and expressed uncertainty about the availability of
sufficient surplus ammunition, but, following our insistence
on the importance and urgency of the matter, undertook to see
what could be provided. Major General Kocak, TGS J-3, asked
whether the Lebanese government had made a direct request of
Turkey for this ammunition, echoing a colonel in the J-5
Agreements Department, who opined that the Lebanese should be
making this request, not the United States.
3. (C) Given the urgency of the situation, we also contacted
the Lebanese embassy to encourage a direct outreach to the
Turkish government. Ambassador Siam agreed with this
approach and subsequently advised us that he had contacted PM
Siniora's office to recommend a direct GOL request to Turkey.
He expressed confidence that the PM would agree and expected
that a message would be sent either through the Turkish
Defense Attache in Beirut or that he would be asked to submit
a diplomatic note conveying the request.
4. (C) We will continue to press both the MFA and TGS for a
positive response.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON