TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, July 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002049 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR PREL UP GR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, July 2007 (Note: This is one of a regular series of unclassified reports on significant Turkish defense and national security issues in the press and other open sources. End note.) Contents -------------- -- Silk Road-2007 Flag Officers Seminar in Antalya -- Turkish Admiral Takes over Command of NATO's SNMG-2 -- SEEBRIG Moved to Istanbul -- Former Turkish Naval Commander Imprisoned for Corruption -- Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -- Defense Industry Activity Silk Road-2007 Flag Officers Seminar in Antalya -------------- -- ¶1. The Silk Road-2007 Flag Officers Seminar (the 8th annual seminar) was held on July 2-6 in Antalya. Defense ministers and army chiefs from NATO, Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative countries participated in the seminar. In the keynote address, Chief of Defense Staff GEN Yasar Buyukanit complained about the lack of international support for Turkey's struggle against the PKK. Chairman of the European Union Military Committee GEN Henri Bentegeat and NATO Military Committee Chairman GEN Raymond Henault held a joint press conference underlining the importance of cooperation with Turkey. Turkish Admiral Takes over Command of NATO's SNMG-2 -------------- -------------- ¶2. Rear Admiral Michael R. Groothousen, USN, handed over the command of NATO's Standing Naval Mission Group (SNMG-2) to Turkish Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugrul in a ceremony at Aksaz Naval Base in the Aegean city of Marmaris/Mugla on July 5. SNMG-2 consists of vessels of member countries the US, Turkey, Greece, Italy and the UK. Commander of NATO's Maritime Component Command, Naples, Italian Vice Admiral Roberto Cesaretti delivered a speech at the ceremony defining the SNMG-2's mission as providing humanitarian aid, preserving the peace, evacuation of wounded civilians in times of disaster, and carrying out counter-terrorist activities in the Mediterranean. SEEBRIG Moved to Istanbul -------------- ¶3. On July 10, the Southeastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) Headquarters was relocated from Constanta, Romania to Istanbul. SEEBRIG is a multinational and military organization formed by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey in 1999 to develop cooperation and dialogue among southeastern European countries, contribute to regional security and stability as well as foster closer bilateral relations among member countries. Istanbul will host the SEEBRIG HQ from 2007 to 2011, when the HQ will be relocated to Greece. Former Turkish Naval Commander Imprisoned for Corruption -------------- ¶4. Ret. Admiral Ilhami Erdil, the first Turkish service commander to be incarcerated, was imprisoned on July 3. Ret. ADM Erdil was sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment on charges of fraudulent acquisition of personal wealth during his tenure as Naval Forces Commander between 1999 and 2001. The court expelled him from the military and stripped him of all privileges as a retired force commander. Erdil returned all military medals, insignia and documents certifying a military career in Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). Only one other Turkish general officer has served jail time: MG Mustafa Muglali, who was tried and convicted of executing 33 villagers in Mugla province in 1948. Five other generals convicted by the TGS Military Court received prison sentences; however, none of the sentences were carried out. Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -------------- --- ANKARA 00002049 002 OF 002 ¶5. Ukraine: Turkish Naval Forces participated in the Sea Breeze-2007 Exercise at Odessa on July 9 with several frigates, a submarine and a helicopter. The objective of the exercise was to improve cooperation among multinational forces by performing practical sea training. The US, Georgia, Greece and Turkey participated. ¶6. Greece: TGS reported 30 interceptions by Greek jets in international airspace over the Aegean Sea, six violations of territorial water in Aegean Sea and one violation of airspace during the month of July. Defense Industry Activity -------------- ¶7. Murad Bayar, Undersecretary of Defense Industry (SSM),said on July 10 that 1,932 million Euro, the highest offer for the public tender to construct the new international flights terminal of the government owned Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Anatolian side of Istanbul, will be allocated to new defense industry projects. ¶8. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in close cooperation with Lockheed Martin, will equip F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Forces with sophisticated weapons and flight systems under the 'Peace Onyx (PO) III' program. The program began with the delivery of the first four F-16s to the TAI facilities in Ankara on July 2, as reported by the semi-official Anatolian News Agency (ANA). ¶9. TAI signed an agreement with South Korean 'Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd' on July 18 to acquire 40 basic trainer aircraft for Turkish Air Forces Command. Under the program, TAI will complete the manufacturing, assembly, flight test and delivery of 40 basic trainer aircraft to replace the existing T-37s that are in the inventory of Turkish Air Forces Command (ANA). ¶10. The large government owned communication company Aselsan signed on July 27 a $ 2.8 million contract with Uruguayan Armed Forces for the delivery, installation and training activities for radio and communication systems software (ANA). MCELDOWNEY