Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1457
2007-06-08 15:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MFA; PRESSES GOT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001457
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON MOPS PARM MARR KNNP ETRD TSPL EU
NATO, IR, SY, TU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MFA; PRESSES GOT
ON UNSC REPORTING
REF: ANKARA 1417
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001457
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON MOPS PARM MARR KNNP ETRD TSPL EU
NATO, IR, SY, TU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MFA; PRESSES GOT
ON UNSC REPORTING
REF: ANKARA 1417
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador pressed MFA U/S Apakan in a June
8 meeting on Iran issues, including implementation of UNSC
Resolutions 1737 and 1747 and on reporting the May 25 train
incident involving Iranian arms bound for Syria to the
Security Council. On the train incident, Apakan noted Deputy
U/S Sinirlioglu is traveling to Tehran this weekend for
political consultations, after which the GOT hopes to have
additional information related to the incident that will bear
on any report to the UNSC. Ambassador noted U.S. efforts in
Brussels to support Turkey's position related to its concerns
on ESDP and also pressed for responses on draft bilateral
agreements that await GOT action, including a bilateral
Science and Technology Agreement and the Container Security
Initiative. END SUMMARY
REPORTING ON IRAN SANCTIONS/TRAIN INCIDENT
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador reiterated points to MFA Under Secretary
(D-equivalent) Ertugrul Apakan he made June 5 to Deputy Under
Secretary Sinirlioglu regarding the need for Turkey to
SIPDIS
implement UNSC resolutions 1737 and 1747 as well as to report
to the Security Council details of the May 25 incident
involving Iranian-origin arms discovered on a Syria-bound
train in eastern Turkey. U/S Apakan said the GOT is very
irritated with Iran over the incident and noted he had
convoked the Iranian Charge May 28 to issue a strongly-worded
protest and to demand an official explanation. Turkey still
awaits an explanation from Tehran. Apakan said Deputy U/S
for Middle East and South Asia Feridun Sinirlioglu is
traveling to Tehran June 9-10 for political consultations
during which he will press the Iranians hard for an
explanation. Thereafter, according to Apakan, the GOT will
report details of the incident to the Security Council.
3. (C) Apakan noted Turkey's decree for implementing UNSCR
1737 awaits one signature before it is approved by the
Council of Ministers and issued. He said MFA is currently
coordinating with other GOT ministries on the implementation
decree for UNSCR 1747 and, expecting no difficulties, hopes
to have that issued soon as well.
NATO/ESDP
--------------
4. (C) Ambassador informed Apakan that the U.S. had not
attended an informal NAC-PSC meeting on Afghanistan June 7 in
Brussels as a show of support for Turkey's position on ESDP.
However, he emphasized, if the focus of Turkey's demands
becomes the exclusion of Cyprus from joint EU-NATO
operations, especially in Kosovo, Washington's attitude may
change, including in light of planned Cypriot and Maltese
contributions to the Kosovo mission. Apakan expressed
Turkey's thanks for U.S. support on this issue, as well as
the hope that NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer will come to Ankara
with an open mind regarding Turkish concerns when he visits
June 11-12. He did note, however, that the presence of
Cyprus in any peacekeeping mission involving Turkey will be a
big problem.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
--------------
5. (C) Ambassador noted that we await responses from the GOT
on two bilateral agreements, one on Science and Technology,
the other on the Container Security Initiative (CSI). He
urged GOT action on both so that our bilateral cooperation in
both areas can move forward. Apakan agreed that the GOT
needs to provide responses as soon as possible. On the
Science and Technology agreement, Apakan said the view in MFA
was that the draft text is too long and complex. They will
be proposing a streamlined, simplified text.
ANKARA 00001457 002 OF 002
6. (SBU) Apakan also thanked the Ambassador for the embassy's
work and cooperation on the op-ed piece by A/S Sullivan on
the Economic Partnership Commission which will be placed in
Turkish press next week.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON MOPS PARM MARR KNNP ETRD TSPL EU
NATO, IR, SY, TU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MFA; PRESSES GOT
ON UNSC REPORTING
REF: ANKARA 1417
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador pressed MFA U/S Apakan in a June
8 meeting on Iran issues, including implementation of UNSC
Resolutions 1737 and 1747 and on reporting the May 25 train
incident involving Iranian arms bound for Syria to the
Security Council. On the train incident, Apakan noted Deputy
U/S Sinirlioglu is traveling to Tehran this weekend for
political consultations, after which the GOT hopes to have
additional information related to the incident that will bear
on any report to the UNSC. Ambassador noted U.S. efforts in
Brussels to support Turkey's position related to its concerns
on ESDP and also pressed for responses on draft bilateral
agreements that await GOT action, including a bilateral
Science and Technology Agreement and the Container Security
Initiative. END SUMMARY
REPORTING ON IRAN SANCTIONS/TRAIN INCIDENT
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador reiterated points to MFA Under Secretary
(D-equivalent) Ertugrul Apakan he made June 5 to Deputy Under
Secretary Sinirlioglu regarding the need for Turkey to
SIPDIS
implement UNSC resolutions 1737 and 1747 as well as to report
to the Security Council details of the May 25 incident
involving Iranian-origin arms discovered on a Syria-bound
train in eastern Turkey. U/S Apakan said the GOT is very
irritated with Iran over the incident and noted he had
convoked the Iranian Charge May 28 to issue a strongly-worded
protest and to demand an official explanation. Turkey still
awaits an explanation from Tehran. Apakan said Deputy U/S
for Middle East and South Asia Feridun Sinirlioglu is
traveling to Tehran June 9-10 for political consultations
during which he will press the Iranians hard for an
explanation. Thereafter, according to Apakan, the GOT will
report details of the incident to the Security Council.
3. (C) Apakan noted Turkey's decree for implementing UNSCR
1737 awaits one signature before it is approved by the
Council of Ministers and issued. He said MFA is currently
coordinating with other GOT ministries on the implementation
decree for UNSCR 1747 and, expecting no difficulties, hopes
to have that issued soon as well.
NATO/ESDP
--------------
4. (C) Ambassador informed Apakan that the U.S. had not
attended an informal NAC-PSC meeting on Afghanistan June 7 in
Brussels as a show of support for Turkey's position on ESDP.
However, he emphasized, if the focus of Turkey's demands
becomes the exclusion of Cyprus from joint EU-NATO
operations, especially in Kosovo, Washington's attitude may
change, including in light of planned Cypriot and Maltese
contributions to the Kosovo mission. Apakan expressed
Turkey's thanks for U.S. support on this issue, as well as
the hope that NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer will come to Ankara
with an open mind regarding Turkish concerns when he visits
June 11-12. He did note, however, that the presence of
Cyprus in any peacekeeping mission involving Turkey will be a
big problem.
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
--------------
5. (C) Ambassador noted that we await responses from the GOT
on two bilateral agreements, one on Science and Technology,
the other on the Container Security Initiative (CSI). He
urged GOT action on both so that our bilateral cooperation in
both areas can move forward. Apakan agreed that the GOT
needs to provide responses as soon as possible. On the
Science and Technology agreement, Apakan said the view in MFA
was that the draft text is too long and complex. They will
be proposing a streamlined, simplified text.
ANKARA 00001457 002 OF 002
6. (SBU) Apakan also thanked the Ambassador for the embassy's
work and cooperation on the op-ed piece by A/S Sullivan on
the Economic Partnership Commission which will be placed in
Turkish press next week.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON