Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA522
2007-03-08 09:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
RUSSIAN THREATS AGAINST MISSILE DEFENSE IN POLAND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #0522 0670909 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 080909Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1252 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000522
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PL CZ RU TU
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN THREATS AGAINST MISSILE DEFENSE IN POLAND
AND CZECH REPUBLIC: NO PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM TURKS
REF: A. ANKARA 00403
B. STATE 21640
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 000522
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PL CZ RU TU
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN THREATS AGAINST MISSILE DEFENSE IN POLAND
AND CZECH REPUBLIC: NO PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM TURKS
REF: A. ANKARA 00403
B. STATE 21640
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons
1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) MFA Arms Control Acting DDG Serhan Yigit told us March
7 that Turkey had decided against making any public statement
concerning Russian threats to Poland and the Czech Republic
as we had urged MFA officials to do on February 22 and 23
(ref a).
2. (C) Yigit told us the MFA is concerned that a public
statement from Ankara could be interpreted as antagonistic by
Iran, and could push Tehran to toughen its stance on the
nuclear issue. The MFA is also concerned that a public
statement on this issue might draw attention to Israel's
nuclear weapons capability, a topic the MFA wished to avoid
having to address publicly.
3. (C) We pushed back, emphasizing our belief that this is
not about Iran but rather about allied solidarity for Poland
and the Czech Republic in the face of unjustified Russian
threats. Yigit was sympathetic to our points, but said the
Turkish decision had been taken at very senior levels. We
suggested Turkey at least consider a private approach to the
Russians expressing concern for General Solovstov's threats
against NATO allies and their patently unjustified nature.
Yigit agreed to consult with his superiors on such an
approach.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PL CZ RU TU
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN THREATS AGAINST MISSILE DEFENSE IN POLAND
AND CZECH REPUBLIC: NO PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM TURKS
REF: A. ANKARA 00403
B. STATE 21640
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons
1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) MFA Arms Control Acting DDG Serhan Yigit told us March
7 that Turkey had decided against making any public statement
concerning Russian threats to Poland and the Czech Republic
as we had urged MFA officials to do on February 22 and 23
(ref a).
2. (C) Yigit told us the MFA is concerned that a public
statement from Ankara could be interpreted as antagonistic by
Iran, and could push Tehran to toughen its stance on the
nuclear issue. The MFA is also concerned that a public
statement on this issue might draw attention to Israel's
nuclear weapons capability, a topic the MFA wished to avoid
having to address publicly.
3. (C) We pushed back, emphasizing our belief that this is
not about Iran but rather about allied solidarity for Poland
and the Czech Republic in the face of unjustified Russian
threats. Yigit was sympathetic to our points, but said the
Turkish decision had been taken at very senior levels. We
suggested Turkey at least consider a private approach to the
Russians expressing concern for General Solovstov's threats
against NATO allies and their patently unjustified nature.
Yigit agreed to consult with his superiors on such an
approach.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON