GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM:

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001374 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017 TAGS: PTER KGIC KNNP PREL CY TU SUBJECT: GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM: TURKEY HOLDS FIRM REF: A. STATE 75225 ¶B. ANKARA 1233 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) We pressed ref a points June 4 with MFA Deputy Director General for Arms Control Ahmet Muhtar Gun, urging Turkey to consider sending a higher level delegation to the GI meeting in Astana and stressing our efforts to ensure all partners understand the GI is not an appropriate forum for airing political differences. Gun promised to consider our request, but noted that Undersecretary Apakan had made the Turkish position very clear and we should expect no change in Turkey's decision to reduce its level of participation (ref b). ¶2. (C) Comment: We believe further pressure on the MFA to change its stance will not be productive. With parliamentary elections seven weeks away and significant civil-military tensions, GOT concessions are unlikely. The GOT is pursuing a similarly unbending line on the NATO/EU relations, where Turkish concerns also relate to Cyprus. On the positive side, we understand that ten Turkish police officers are still slated to attend the U.S.-sponsored nuclear non-proliferation workshop in Miami, suggesting that other GOT agencies value the chance to participate in GI workplan activities. Officials have also emphasized with us that Turkey continues to take its international non-proliferation commitments and responsibilities very seriously. End Comment Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON