Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1370
2007-06-04 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY ON RUSSIA'S CFE CONCERNS AND HLTF
how-tonull Dianne Wampler 06/06/2007 11:50:15 PM From DB/Inbox: Dianne Wampler Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 01370 SIPDIS CX: ACTION: PMA INFO: AMB POL DCM FCS CONS DAO RAO ECON TSR PA DISSEMINATION: PMA /1 CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: PMA:CSIEBENTRITT DRAFTED: PMA:CSIEBENTRITT CLEARED: NONE VZCZCAYI782 OO RUEHC RUEHXP RUCNCFE DE RUEHAK #1370 1551353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041353Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2391 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCFE/CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001370
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: KCFE NATO PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ON RUSSIA'S CFE CONCERNS AND HLTF
REF: STATE 75293
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001370
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: KCFE NATO PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ON RUSSIA'S CFE CONCERNS AND HLTF
REF: STATE 75293
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
.
1. (C) We shared reftel points with MFA Deputy Director
General for Arms Control and Disarmament Ahmet Muhtar Gun on
June 1. Gun subsequently called us in on June 4 to provide
MFA feedback in advance of the HLTF meeting. Gun reported
that the Russians had circulated a second, more focused paper
in Vienna proposing elements of a concluding document for the
Vienna conference. For the MFA, Gun said, the second Russian
paper is a "non-starter." Turkey's principal redline is any
attempt to change or eliminate the CFE flank regime. The
Russian paper mentions the flank issue in three places in a
manner Turkey finds "outrageous."
2. (C) Turkey will press for a strong, unified allied
position at the HLTF to head off divisive Russian tactics.
The allies must be direct and frank with Russia on what can
and cannot be done. The CFE regime must be preserved at all
costs. At the same time, Gun stated, allies must be ready to
discuss any areas in which Russia could be accommodated
without harming core treaty interests. When asked about the
Istanbul Commitments, Gun said the Germans had put forth a
roadmap for reviewing those commitments with the Russians and
offering faster allied ratification of the Adapted Treaty as
the Russians fulfill the ICs. Gun saw value in such a tactic
but agreed it should be discussed further among allies
beforehand.
3. (C) Gun said his delegation will propose the following at
the HLTF:
-- allies may wish to consider circulating a paper to counter
the Russian one;
-- allies need to agree on the elements of a unified
position, then press those points in public. Turkey is not
opposed to a joint declaration, but at a minimum allies
should come up with agreed building block points for the
public.
-- Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland, which are
specifically named in the Russian paper, should take the
floor and explain their positions. The rest of the allies
should show strong support, including referring to positions
already taken by the Baltic allies.
-- Finally, if Russia goes through with its threat to
withdraw from CFE, allies should be prepared to follow-up
rapidly and constantly with each other.
4. (C) Gun said Turkey will also be consulting with Germany.
He welcomed any additional U.S. thinking on CFE in advance of
the HLTF meeting and requested consultations with DAS Karin
Look on the margins. The Turkish delegation will arrive in
Brussels early in the afternoon of June 6.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: KCFE NATO PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY ON RUSSIA'S CFE CONCERNS AND HLTF
REF: STATE 75293
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
.
1. (C) We shared reftel points with MFA Deputy Director
General for Arms Control and Disarmament Ahmet Muhtar Gun on
June 1. Gun subsequently called us in on June 4 to provide
MFA feedback in advance of the HLTF meeting. Gun reported
that the Russians had circulated a second, more focused paper
in Vienna proposing elements of a concluding document for the
Vienna conference. For the MFA, Gun said, the second Russian
paper is a "non-starter." Turkey's principal redline is any
attempt to change or eliminate the CFE flank regime. The
Russian paper mentions the flank issue in three places in a
manner Turkey finds "outrageous."
2. (C) Turkey will press for a strong, unified allied
position at the HLTF to head off divisive Russian tactics.
The allies must be direct and frank with Russia on what can
and cannot be done. The CFE regime must be preserved at all
costs. At the same time, Gun stated, allies must be ready to
discuss any areas in which Russia could be accommodated
without harming core treaty interests. When asked about the
Istanbul Commitments, Gun said the Germans had put forth a
roadmap for reviewing those commitments with the Russians and
offering faster allied ratification of the Adapted Treaty as
the Russians fulfill the ICs. Gun saw value in such a tactic
but agreed it should be discussed further among allies
beforehand.
3. (C) Gun said his delegation will propose the following at
the HLTF:
-- allies may wish to consider circulating a paper to counter
the Russian one;
-- allies need to agree on the elements of a unified
position, then press those points in public. Turkey is not
opposed to a joint declaration, but at a minimum allies
should come up with agreed building block points for the
public.
-- Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland, which are
specifically named in the Russian paper, should take the
floor and explain their positions. The rest of the allies
should show strong support, including referring to positions
already taken by the Baltic allies.
-- Finally, if Russia goes through with its threat to
withdraw from CFE, allies should be prepared to follow-up
rapidly and constantly with each other.
4. (C) Gun said Turkey will also be consulting with Germany.
He welcomed any additional U.S. thinking on CFE in advance of
the HLTF meeting and requested consultations with DAS Karin
Look on the margins. The Turkish delegation will arrive in
Brussels early in the afternoon of June 6.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON