Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA388
2007-02-22 16:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY CONFIRMS OFFER TO COMMAND UNIFIL NAVAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5243 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #0388 0531605 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221605Z FEB 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1065 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0510 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000388
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2027
TAGS: PREL PARM UNIFIL CY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY CONFIRMS OFFER TO COMMAND UNIFIL NAVAL
ELEMENT, DENIES CAVEATS
REF: NICOSIA 0127
Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR CARL SIEBENTRITT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000388
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2027
TAGS: PREL PARM UNIFIL CY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY CONFIRMS OFFER TO COMMAND UNIFIL NAVAL
ELEMENT, DENIES CAVEATS
REF: NICOSIA 0127
Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR CARL SIEBENTRITT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) MFA Middle East Department Head Sedat Onal and Turkish
Navy Plans and Policy CDM Cem Gurd to take oveQ after Germany.
2. (C) Both officials insist%d that the Turkish offer was
made without Cyprus-related caveats. Turkish command of the
force would not prejudice the ability of contributing nations
to use any ports or facilities in the region they wish.
Customary restrictions on Turkish forces connected with the
Cyprus dispute remain, however. Turkish vessels, for
example, will not call at Republic of Cyprus ports. By the
same token, Turkish naval vessels would continue to make use
of ports and facilities in northern Cyprus.
3. (C) Onal stated that the Turkish parliament may be
required to authorize Turkey's assumption of command.
Gurdeniz said that Turkey would assign additional naval
assets to UNIFIL should it be offered the command. Turkey
currently has one frigate assigned to the naval force and has
offered two corvettes as well naval facilities at Aksaz and
the port of Mersin for UNIFIL use. A Turkish construction
engineering company is assigned to the UNIFIL land component.
4. (C) Comment. Turkey is set to assume command roles in
other peacekeeping operations, taking charge of ISAF's
Regional Command Capital in April and KFOR's Multi-National
Task Force South in May. Turkey may see a leadership role in
a UN mission as helping its bid for a UN Security Council
seat in 2009-2010. End Comment.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2027
TAGS: PREL PARM UNIFIL CY LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY CONFIRMS OFFER TO COMMAND UNIFIL NAVAL
ELEMENT, DENIES CAVEATS
REF: NICOSIA 0127
Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR CARL SIEBENTRITT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) MFA Middle East Department Head Sedat Onal and Turkish
Navy Plans and Policy CDM Cem Gurd to take oveQ after Germany.
2. (C) Both officials insist%d that the Turkish offer was
made without Cyprus-related caveats. Turkish command of the
force would not prejudice the ability of contributing nations
to use any ports or facilities in the region they wish.
Customary restrictions on Turkish forces connected with the
Cyprus dispute remain, however. Turkish vessels, for
example, will not call at Republic of Cyprus ports. By the
same token, Turkish naval vessels would continue to make use
of ports and facilities in northern Cyprus.
3. (C) Onal stated that the Turkish parliament may be
required to authorize Turkey's assumption of command.
Gurdeniz said that Turkey would assign additional naval
assets to UNIFIL should it be offered the command. Turkey
currently has one frigate assigned to the naval force and has
offered two corvettes as well naval facilities at Aksaz and
the port of Mersin for UNIFIL use. A Turkish construction
engineering company is assigned to the UNIFIL land component.
4. (C) Comment. Turkey is set to assume command roles in
other peacekeeping operations, taking charge of ISAF's
Regional Command Capital in April and KFOR's Multi-National
Task Force South in May. Turkey may see a leadership role in
a UN mission as helping its bid for a UN Security Council
seat in 2009-2010. End Comment.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON