TURKEY CRITICAL OF FRENCH DEFENSE AGREEMENT WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000495 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE ILAN GOODMAN, ISN/WMD THOMAS LEHRMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2017 TAGS: PREL MOPS GR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY CRITICAL OF FRENCH DEFENSE AGREEMENT WITH CYPRUS Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1.4 (b/d) 1.(U) The MFA reacted to reports that France and Cyprus have concluded a defense cooperation agreement by issuing the following statement on March 1. Informal Embassy translation follows. Begin text: We have been informed that a Defense Cooperation Agreement has been signed between France and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. Following the publication of the news in the Greek Cypriot press regarding this issue last July, in our demarches with the French authorities, we drew attention to the fact that such an agreement would be against the 1960 Treaties; would constitute a threat to the stability of in the Eastern Mediterranean; and would also adversely affect efforts for a comprehensive settlement under the UN. In this context, we asked the French authorities to refrain from taking such a step which is closely related to Turkey's rights and interests. Turkey would like to emphasize once again the following: -- The fragile balance established by the 1960 Treaties in the Island of Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean is safeguarded by the rights of the Guarantor countries. -- The said Defense Cooperation Agreement is against the 1960 Treaties on Cyprus. -- Signing of a bilateral military agreement between France and the Greek Cypriot Administration is a cause of concern. -- Moreover, this agreement runs counter to the framework and parameters of a settlement under the UN. -- This agreement will further reinforce the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot side and therefore will seriously damage efforts for a comprehensive settlement. -- The said agreement is null and void both for Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. -- The Greek Cypriot Administration, which seeks to expand the Cyprus problem to the Eastern Mediterranean by its recent attitude and actions, continues to be a source of instability in the region. End text. ¶2. (C) Comment: Turkish criticism comes at a low point in Turkish-French bilateral security relations following the passage of legislation in the French Assembly criminalizing denial of an Armenian genocide. The Turkish government has recently revoked France's blanket overflight clearance for Operation Enduring Freedom. The director of the French equivalent of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the French Embassy recently told us that he is closing his office in Ankara and does not expect to be replaced. French diplomats tell us the few government meetings they are granted come only after persistent requests. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON