Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2361
2007-09-18 10:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: MFA ON POTENTIAL LEBANON-SYRIA BORDER
how-toVZCZCXRO0271 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHAK #2361 2611023 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181023Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3775 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0536
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002361
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA ON POTENTIAL LEBANON-SYRIA BORDER
MISSION
REF: A. STATE 128335
B. ANKARA 2348
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002361
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA ON POTENTIAL LEBANON-SYRIA BORDER
MISSION
REF: A. STATE 128335
B. ANKARA 2348
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) We pulsed Turkish MFA Middle East Department desk
officer Cem Ulusoy regarding the Spanish proposal on a
potential ESDP monitoring mission on the Lebanon-Syria border
(ref A). Professing no knowledge of the Spanish proposal,
Ulusoy said Turkey shares USG concerns about weapons
smuggling from Syria to Lebanon and noted that Turkey has a
vested interest in the security situation in Lebanon,
particularly in light of the fact that Turkish military
personnel are deployed on the ground in Lebanon and in the
Mediterranean as part of UNIFIL. Ulusoy noted that Turkey is
currently considering a UN request for an additional corvette
in support of UNIFIL's maritime component.
2. (C) In principle, Turkey would support any border
monitoring force that has the consent of both Lebanon and
Syria, according to Ulusoy. While agreeing that any
potential mission should be more Lebanon-oriented, he
emphasized that Syria's sensitivities will need to be taken
into account given Damascus' ability to shape events in
Lebanon, particularly in the run up to the election period.
Turkey's approach with Syria continues to focus on steering
Damascus to play a constructive role in Lebanon. Ulusoy
commented that Syrian attitudes as reflected in recent
bilateral contacts, including Syrian FM Mouallem's September
9 visit to Ankara (ref B),suggest to Ankara that Damascus is
beginning to recognize that stability in Lebanon is in
Syria's own interest.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA ON POTENTIAL LEBANON-SYRIA BORDER
MISSION
REF: A. STATE 128335
B. ANKARA 2348
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) We pulsed Turkish MFA Middle East Department desk
officer Cem Ulusoy regarding the Spanish proposal on a
potential ESDP monitoring mission on the Lebanon-Syria border
(ref A). Professing no knowledge of the Spanish proposal,
Ulusoy said Turkey shares USG concerns about weapons
smuggling from Syria to Lebanon and noted that Turkey has a
vested interest in the security situation in Lebanon,
particularly in light of the fact that Turkish military
personnel are deployed on the ground in Lebanon and in the
Mediterranean as part of UNIFIL. Ulusoy noted that Turkey is
currently considering a UN request for an additional corvette
in support of UNIFIL's maritime component.
2. (C) In principle, Turkey would support any border
monitoring force that has the consent of both Lebanon and
Syria, according to Ulusoy. While agreeing that any
potential mission should be more Lebanon-oriented, he
emphasized that Syria's sensitivities will need to be taken
into account given Damascus' ability to shape events in
Lebanon, particularly in the run up to the election period.
Turkey's approach with Syria continues to focus on steering
Damascus to play a constructive role in Lebanon. Ulusoy
commented that Syrian attitudes as reflected in recent
bilateral contacts, including Syrian FM Mouallem's September
9 visit to Ankara (ref B),suggest to Ankara that Damascus is
beginning to recognize that stability in Lebanon is in
Syria's own interest.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON