TURKEY: U/S APAKAN'S EMOTIONAL APPEAL ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001319 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2022 TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EU TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: U/S APAKAN'S EMOTIONAL APPEAL ON ESDP/KOSOVO ISSUE REF: A. ANKARA 01232 ¶B. ANKARA 1205 ¶C. ANKARA 1192 ¶D. ANKARA 1052 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: MFA Undersecretary Apakan told Ambassador on May 29 that the Turkish government and military are irritated with NAC deliberations on NATO-EU cooperation in the Kosovo transition and oppose NATO's subordination to the EU. He repeated Turkish frustration with EU resistance to its rightful demands for a larger role in ESDP decision-making, as well as the EU's continued blockage of a Turkey-EU security agreement and Turkish membership in the European Defense Agency. Apakan stressed that Turkey's concerns must be resolved politically and not by technical fixes to various documents. Ambassador expressed U.S. support for Turkey's concerns regarding the EU, but cautioned that Turkey should not be seen blocking progress on the Kosovo mission. Comment: Apakan's protestations notwithstanding, Ankara may be prepared to accept a technical compromise on Kosovo Transition Directive language if it can be convinced we will support efforts to unblock Turkey's ESDP issues. End Summary. ¶3. (C) An emotional Apakan stressed the centrality of the NATO alliance for Euro-Atlantic security and the necessity of preserving the connection between the U.S. and Europe. NATO is not the place for the kind of dealmaking that occurs in the EU. At the same time, Turkey is demanding an upgraded status in European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) decisionmaking, given its EU candidate status and large contributions to EU security and stability missions compared to others. ¶4. (C) Apakan recalled that Turkey has shared its concerns at the highest levels with the EU and EU Member States, specifically shortfalls in the application of the Nice Implementation Agreement, along with EU stalling on arrangements between Turkey and the EDA and the Turkey-EU Security Agreement. He said the EU has given no response. ¶5. (C) While appreciating the desire of the EU to assume a greater role in both Kosovo and Afghanistan, Apakan said the GOT fears that NATO will be perceived as a "sub-contractor" to the EU in those missions. Cooperation between NATO and the EU is not a technical but rather a political matter, he insisted. Because NATO provides the security for the EU to operate in Kosovo, NATO support to the EU in Kosovo is essentially a Berlin Plus relationship, or should at a minimum be considered within the context of the NATO-EU Strategic Partnership defined by NAC decision in 2002. Furthermore, it is essential that the Technical Arrangement documents on NATO-EU cooperation in Kosovo be submitted for consensus according to established NATO procedures. Apakan concluded that it is not politically feasible for Turkey to go beyond the Agreed Framework, given the apparent lack of EU willingness to address Turkish concerns. He added that the military and entire Turkish people are in agreement on this. ¶6. (C) Ambassador assured Apakan that the U.S. shares Turkey,s view of NATO,s pre-eminent role in trans-Atlantic security and takes Turkey,s concerns seriously. He said that we agree that Ankara is being treated shabbily on multiple fronts by the EU. An approach with the EU that identifies clearly both credible requests and quid pro quos is sensible and something the U.S. can support. But holding up a NATO decision directive over EU angst would cut off Turkey,s nose to spite its face. We have worked with the Turks to remove offending language and protect Turkish equities, which we share; the Transition Document should go forward now. If it is especially important to Turkey that the NAC approve this, it should be possible. But if Turkey wants to reopen the texts, it will bear responsibility for blocking implementation of a future Kosovo UNSCR on the ground. Turkey will be the loser in making Kosovo hostage to its NATO-EU concerns. ¶7. (C) Ambassador inquired as to what instructions Turkey,s PermRep has taken back to Brussels. Apakan was unclear. The Turk was to meet with the SYG shortly. Apakan stressed that Turkey has no intention of holding the Kosovo mission hostage and disavowed any connection between Kosovo and the Cyprus issue. He said FM Gul had contacted his Indonesian counterpart to encourage that country's support of a Kosovo UNSCR. However, he insisted that Turkey wants to keep its role in a strong NATO and not subordinate it to EU "horse-trading." Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON