Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1323
2007-05-31 08:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAKA #1323 1510804 ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZUI RUEWMCE0574 1510750 P 310804Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000 INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE NATO EU COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA//
UNCLAS ANKARA 001323
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S
UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT
REF: 06 ANKARA 5149
UNCLAS ANKARA 001323
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S
UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT
REF: 06 ANKARA 5149
1. (SBU) ON MAY 29, THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
APPROVED THE EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S DEPLOYMENT TO UNIFIL UNTIL
AUGUST 31, 2008. THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE MOTION AT
THIS TIME IN THE EXPECTATION THAT PARLIAMENT WOULD NOT BE IN
SESSION FOLLOWING JULY 22 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WHEN THE
CURRENT MANDATE EXPIRES. MFA UNDERSECRETARY APAKAN, WHO HAD
BEEN PRESENT FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE, TOLD AMBASSADOR
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO OVERCOME STRONG OPPOSITION FROM
THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLES PARTY (CHP). PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN
TOLD VISITING CODELS NELSON AND WHITFIELD ON MAY 28 THAT THE
GOT IS EXTENDING ITS DEPLOYMENT BECAUSE BELIEVES IT MUST
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STABILITY IN LEBANON.
2. (U) THE CHP HAD OPPOSED THE INITIAL DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH
TROOPS TO UNIFIL DURING A SIX-HOUR DEBATE ON SEPTEMBER 5,
2006 AND POLLING AT THE TIME SHOWED THE MAJORITY OF THE
PUBLIC OPPOSED TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN UNIFIL (REFTEL).
3. (U) TURKEY CONTRIBUTES A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING UNIT AS
WELL AS NAVAL VESSELS TO UNIFIL, AND HAS OFFERED CONTRIBUTING
NATIONS ACCESS TO SELECTED TURKISH SEA AND AIRPORTS, AS WELL
AS AIRLIFT ASSETS, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. TURKEY HAS ALSO
OFFERED TO COMMAND THE UNIFIL NAVAL COMPONENT AT THE END OF
GERMANY'S ROTATION.
VISIT ANKARA'S CLASSIFIED WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ANKARA/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S
UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT
REF: 06 ANKARA 5149
1. (SBU) ON MAY 29, THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
APPROVED THE EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S DEPLOYMENT TO UNIFIL UNTIL
AUGUST 31, 2008. THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE MOTION AT
THIS TIME IN THE EXPECTATION THAT PARLIAMENT WOULD NOT BE IN
SESSION FOLLOWING JULY 22 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WHEN THE
CURRENT MANDATE EXPIRES. MFA UNDERSECRETARY APAKAN, WHO HAD
BEEN PRESENT FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE, TOLD AMBASSADOR
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO OVERCOME STRONG OPPOSITION FROM
THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLES PARTY (CHP). PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN
TOLD VISITING CODELS NELSON AND WHITFIELD ON MAY 28 THAT THE
GOT IS EXTENDING ITS DEPLOYMENT BECAUSE BELIEVES IT MUST
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STABILITY IN LEBANON.
2. (U) THE CHP HAD OPPOSED THE INITIAL DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH
TROOPS TO UNIFIL DURING A SIX-HOUR DEBATE ON SEPTEMBER 5,
2006 AND POLLING AT THE TIME SHOWED THE MAJORITY OF THE
PUBLIC OPPOSED TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN UNIFIL (REFTEL).
3. (U) TURKEY CONTRIBUTES A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING UNIT AS
WELL AS NAVAL VESSELS TO UNIFIL, AND HAS OFFERED CONTRIBUTING
NATIONS ACCESS TO SELECTED TURKISH SEA AND AIRPORTS, AS WELL
AS AIRLIFT ASSETS, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. TURKEY HAS ALSO
OFFERED TO COMMAND THE UNIFIL NAVAL COMPONENT AT THE END OF
GERMANY'S ROTATION.
VISIT ANKARA'S CLASSIFIED WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ANKARA/
WILSON