TURKEY: USD(P) EDELMAN AND A/S FRIED DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002539 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2022 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR TU AR AF IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY: USD(P) EDELMAN AND A/S FRIED DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION, ISRAELI ATTACK ON SYRIA, WITH D/CHOD SAYGUN Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: USD(P) Edelman and EUR A/S Fried told Deputy Chief of Defense GEN Ergin Saygun October 13 that the Administration regrets House Foreign Affairs Committee passage of HR 106 and will continue to strongly oppose its passage by the House. They urged the Turkish military to avoid reactions that would irrevocably damage the US-Turkish partnership. Saygun termed HR 106 passage as a heavy blow at a time when Turkey was seeking to improve bilateral military ties and wondered at the timing. He criticized Israel for violating Turkish airspace during its September 6 attack on Syrian targets. End summary. ¶2. (C) Edelman and Fried expressed gratitude for Saygun's willingness to meet at short notice on a holiday weekend. They explained that Secretaries Rice and Gates had asked them to come to Ankara to express regret for the passage of HR 106 in the HFAC and assure Turkish authorities of the Administration's intention to do everything possible to prevent approval by the House. They described in detail Administration efforts before the HFAC vote from the President on down. Even senior military officers got involved -- not the usual practice but indicative of the importance we attach to this matter. Edelman acknowledged that the Turkish public and government would have to react to HR 106 passage in the House. Those reactions should not undermine our ability to work together on crucial security and other issues that has been a bedrock of our relations for sixty years. ¶3. (C) Saygun described HFAC passage of HR 106 as a "heavy blow" and stated that "we are extremely upset." He hoped that US-Turkey bilateral military ties would not deteriorate, "but we don't see any way out." He described recent Turkish efforts to improve cooperation. He expressed appreciation for the Administration's efforts to stop HR 106, but wondered why the House would be "so short-sighted" to consider passing such a resolution at this time. He stated that damage has been done and asked what the US planned to do about it. ¶4. (C) Saygun then launched into a criticism of Israel, claiming that Israeli aircraft had locked on to Turkish ships serving in UNIFIL with weapons radars. He also complained that Israeli warplanes had violated Turkish airspace during their September 6 attack on targets in Syria, stating the aircraft had no right to violate Turkish airspace no matter what their mission. ¶5. (C) Edelman noted that ADM Mullen had called CHOD GEN Buyukanit, as one of his first calls as CJCS, to stress the Administration's intent to continue to fight HR 106. Edelman and Fried noted that the US expects Turkey to be upset by House passage, but urged Saygun to keep a sense of proportion and not lose sight of our important common interests. Our partnership that has endured since the Cold War and now we have to face critical regional challenges together. We must maintain a basis of cooperation. Addressing Saygun's complaints about the airspace violation, Edelman urged Saygun to hear the Israelis out. ¶6. (U) USD(P) Edelman and A/S Fried did not have the opportunity to review this cable. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON