Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA3047
2007-12-28 11:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT OSLO PROCESS, BUT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #3047 3621139 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281139Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4787 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 6150
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003047
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/WRA FOR BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL NATO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT OSLO PROCESS, BUT
PLANS TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING
REF: STATE 164503
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, Reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003047
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/WRA FOR BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL NATO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT OSLO PROCESS, BUT
PLANS TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING
REF: STATE 164503
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, Reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) We delivered reftel papers on December 17 to MFA
Department Head for Arms Control and Disarmament Elif Ulgen,
who was a member of the Turkish delegation to the Oslo
Process meeting in Vienna on 5-7 December. Ulgen stated
that, as a country with cluster munitions in its arsenal,
Turkey shares many of the concerns raised in reftel papers.
In particular, Turkey is concerned about the impact that the
proposed Convention would have on NATO interoperability.
Ulgen said the GOT agrees that the most appropriate channel
to conduct negotiations on cluster munitions, and to strike a
balance between humanitarian concerns and military
requirements, is within the Convention on Certain
Conventional Weapons (CCW) framework.
2. (C) However, with all EU member states and over 130
countries participating in the Oslo Process, Ulgen said the
GOT decided that it was necessary to have a seat at the
table, even if it found some of the provisions in the
discussion text that was circulated for the Vienna meeting
problematic. Ulgen noted that the December meeting in Vienna
was the first Oslo Process meeting to which Turkey was
formally invited, and Turkey does not want to be seen as
being isolated on the issue. Turkey is planning to send a
delegation to the next meeting in Wellington, New Zealand on
18-22 February, 2008.
3. (C) Ulgen, who also serves as the coordinator for GOT
efforts to fulfill its obligations under the Ottawa
Convention, said Turkey is behind schedule in destroying its
stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines, and had
underestimated the costs of the process. In her estimation,
based on Turkey's experience with the Ottawa Convention, the
GOT would probably be disinclined to sign on to any other
protocols in the near horizon that would call for the
mandatory destruction of other types of weapons stockpiles.
She also expressed confidence that the discussion text
circulated for the Vienna meeting will be "diluted" before a
final agreement can be reached among State Parties.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/WRA FOR BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL NATO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SHARES USG CONCERNS ABOUT OSLO PROCESS, BUT
PLANS TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING
REF: STATE 164503
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, Reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) We delivered reftel papers on December 17 to MFA
Department Head for Arms Control and Disarmament Elif Ulgen,
who was a member of the Turkish delegation to the Oslo
Process meeting in Vienna on 5-7 December. Ulgen stated
that, as a country with cluster munitions in its arsenal,
Turkey shares many of the concerns raised in reftel papers.
In particular, Turkey is concerned about the impact that the
proposed Convention would have on NATO interoperability.
Ulgen said the GOT agrees that the most appropriate channel
to conduct negotiations on cluster munitions, and to strike a
balance between humanitarian concerns and military
requirements, is within the Convention on Certain
Conventional Weapons (CCW) framework.
2. (C) However, with all EU member states and over 130
countries participating in the Oslo Process, Ulgen said the
GOT decided that it was necessary to have a seat at the
table, even if it found some of the provisions in the
discussion text that was circulated for the Vienna meeting
problematic. Ulgen noted that the December meeting in Vienna
was the first Oslo Process meeting to which Turkey was
formally invited, and Turkey does not want to be seen as
being isolated on the issue. Turkey is planning to send a
delegation to the next meeting in Wellington, New Zealand on
18-22 February, 2008.
3. (C) Ulgen, who also serves as the coordinator for GOT
efforts to fulfill its obligations under the Ottawa
Convention, said Turkey is behind schedule in destroying its
stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines, and had
underestimated the costs of the process. In her estimation,
based on Turkey's experience with the Ottawa Convention, the
GOT would probably be disinclined to sign on to any other
protocols in the near horizon that would call for the
mandatory destruction of other types of weapons stockpiles.
She also expressed confidence that the discussion text
circulated for the Vienna meeting will be "diluted" before a
final agreement can be reached among State Parties.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON