Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1376
2007-06-04 14:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DISMISSES US
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1376 1551414 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041414Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2401 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001376
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DISMISSES US
F-16 OVERFLIGHT INCIDENT
REF: ANKARA 1300
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001376
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DISMISSES US
F-16 OVERFLIGHT INCIDENT
REF: ANKARA 1300
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) GEN Aslan Guner, Chief of the Turkish General Staff
(TGS) Intelligence branch (J-2) informed us on June 1 that
TGS is not upset about the May 24 incident in which a US F-16
crossed over into Turkish airspace for several minutes,
stating that the Turkish media had overblown the situation.
Given TGS access to the Coalition AIR Tasking Order (ATO) of
US flights near Turkish airspace, he said, the military was
aware of the flight in advance and understood its purpose.
That said, according to Guner, Deputy Chief of Staff (DCHOD)
GEN Ergin Saygun has initiated a program of putting every AIR
overflight violation on the TGS website, including those by
US aircraft.
2. (C) In contrast to press reports, Guner said that TGS did
not contact the media about the US violation but rather
posted it in a routine manner on their website on May 25.
(Note: The May 24 airspace violation by a US F-16 was one of
33 violations listed on the TGS site on May 25, joining 31
airspace violations by Greek aircraft and one by Syria. End
Note.) The press, which regularly checks the TGS site
according to Guner, ran with the story and TGS was unable to
contain it.
3. (C) We responded that, while private assurances to the US
about the flight are welcome, they do not go far enough. We
urged that Chief of Staff Buyukanit or DCHOD Saygun put an
end to the press speculation over the flight by publicly
stating their understanding that the violation was accidental
and of no significance. Guner agreed to pass this request to
Saygun, who was at the Istanbul War College hosting a TGS
security symposium. Subsequently on June 1, Turkish AIR
Forces Commander, Gen. Faruk Comert told assembled press
representatives that the media had needlessly inflated a
minor issue that was not a problem for TGS.
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: MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DISMISSES US
F-16 OVERFLIGHT INCIDENT
REF: ANKARA 1300
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) GEN Aslan Guner, Chief of the Turkish General Staff
(TGS) Intelligence branch (J-2) informed us on June 1 that
TGS is not upset about the May 24 incident in which a US F-16
crossed over into Turkish airspace for several minutes,
stating that the Turkish media had overblown the situation.
Given TGS access to the Coalition AIR Tasking Order (ATO) of
US flights near Turkish airspace, he said, the military was
aware of the flight in advance and understood its purpose.
That said, according to Guner, Deputy Chief of Staff (DCHOD)
GEN Ergin Saygun has initiated a program of putting every AIR
overflight violation on the TGS website, including those by
US aircraft.
2. (C) In contrast to press reports, Guner said that TGS did
not contact the media about the US violation but rather
posted it in a routine manner on their website on May 25.
(Note: The May 24 airspace violation by a US F-16 was one of
33 violations listed on the TGS site on May 25, joining 31
airspace violations by Greek aircraft and one by Syria. End
Note.) The press, which regularly checks the TGS site
according to Guner, ran with the story and TGS was unable to
contain it.
3. (C) We responded that, while private assurances to the US
about the flight are welcome, they do not go far enough. We
urged that Chief of Staff Buyukanit or DCHOD Saygun put an
end to the press speculation over the flight by publicly
stating their understanding that the violation was accidental
and of no significance. Guner agreed to pass this request to
Saygun, who was at the Istanbul War College hosting a TGS
security symposium. Subsequently on June 1, Turkish AIR
Forces Commander, Gen. Faruk Comert told assembled press
representatives that the media had needlessly inflated a
minor issue that was not a problem for TGS.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON