Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1628
2007-06-26 07:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/NATO: TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS ON NATO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1628 1770729 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 260729Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2745 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EUN
SUBJECT: TURKEY/NATO: TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS ON NATO
RESPONSE FORCE AND NATO-EU RELATIONS
REF: ANKARA 1457
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001628
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EUN
SUBJECT: TURKEY/NATO: TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS ON NATO
RESPONSE FORCE AND NATO-EU RELATIONS
REF: ANKARA 1457
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Turkish Chief of Defense Buyukanit told visiting USAFE
Commander Gen Hobbins June 22 that Turkey supports the NATO
Response Force (NRF) concept and has earmarked forces for it.
However, he claimed, there has been an effort to change the
NRF concept from that of a "first-in/first-out" force to that
of a NATO strategic reserve. Buyukanit asserted that SACEUR
supports this change. Buyukanit said that when he had asked
at NATO for the political justification for this, he was
quoted Riga Summit language concerning "improving the
implementation of the NRF based on the Agreed Concept."
Buyukanit said he disagreed with this interpretation of the
Agreed Concept and asserted that the CHODs of several other
NATO allies had told him that their countries would withdraw
their forces from the NRF if it indeed transforms into NATO's
strategic reserve.
2. (C) In this context, Buyukanit worried about what might
happen, for example, if a new conflict arose during the
Kosovo transition necessitating deployment of additional
forces to Kosovo. In such a case, the NRF would be
particularly important in its true capacity as a rapid
reaction, rather than reserve, force. Gen Hobbins promised
to discuss the issue with SACEUR.
3. (C) Continuing with the Kosovo theme, Buyukanit recounted
NATO discussions in which he participated in May on NATO-EU
relations. He told Gen Hobbins and Ambassador that the
Europeans are caving to Cyprus and asserted that EU countries
which are also NATO allies are acting more in EU interests
than in NATO's (reftel).
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EUN
SUBJECT: TURKEY/NATO: TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS ON NATO
RESPONSE FORCE AND NATO-EU RELATIONS
REF: ANKARA 1457
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Turkish Chief of Defense Buyukanit told visiting USAFE
Commander Gen Hobbins June 22 that Turkey supports the NATO
Response Force (NRF) concept and has earmarked forces for it.
However, he claimed, there has been an effort to change the
NRF concept from that of a "first-in/first-out" force to that
of a NATO strategic reserve. Buyukanit asserted that SACEUR
supports this change. Buyukanit said that when he had asked
at NATO for the political justification for this, he was
quoted Riga Summit language concerning "improving the
implementation of the NRF based on the Agreed Concept."
Buyukanit said he disagreed with this interpretation of the
Agreed Concept and asserted that the CHODs of several other
NATO allies had told him that their countries would withdraw
their forces from the NRF if it indeed transforms into NATO's
strategic reserve.
2. (C) In this context, Buyukanit worried about what might
happen, for example, if a new conflict arose during the
Kosovo transition necessitating deployment of additional
forces to Kosovo. In such a case, the NRF would be
particularly important in its true capacity as a rapid
reaction, rather than reserve, force. Gen Hobbins promised
to discuss the issue with SACEUR.
3. (C) Continuing with the Kosovo theme, Buyukanit recounted
NATO discussions in which he participated in May on NATO-EU
relations. He told Gen Hobbins and Ambassador that the
Europeans are caving to Cyprus and asserted that EU countries
which are also NATO allies are acting more in EU interests
than in NATO's (reftel).
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON