Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USEUBRUSSELS3050
2007-10-02 13:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EU TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS TURKEY'S ESDP CONCERNS

Tags:  PREL EUN TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBS #3050/01 2751341
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O 021341Z OCT 07 ZDK
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 003050 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA (NDEAN),EUR/RPM (HNICKERSON),AND
EUR/SE.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017
TAGS: PREL EUN TU
SUBJECT: EU TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS TURKEY'S ESDP CONCERNS

REF: BRUSSELS 02000 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: USEU Pol-Mil Chief Jeremy Brenner for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 003050

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA (NDEAN),EUR/RPM (HNICKERSON),AND
EUR/SE.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017
TAGS: PREL EUN TU
SUBJECT: EU TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS TURKEY'S ESDP CONCERNS

REF: BRUSSELS 02000 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: USEU Pol-Mil Chief Jeremy Brenner for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).


1. (C) Summary. The EU has proposed a series of nine steps
designed to address Turkey's concerns over its role within
the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). The steps
envisioned consist largely of broader and more frequent
consultations. More meaningful changes in Turkey's status
will require Cypriot approval, and there is a recognition
within the EU that pressure will have to be applied on
Nicosia to agree. End Summary.


2. (C) USEU pol-mil officer met September 29 with Helena
Boguslawska of the Directorate for Defense Aspects of ESDP
within the European Union Council Secretariat. USEU officer
sought details of EU efforts to address Turkish concerns
regarding their role in ESDP. Boguslawska listed nine
proposals offered by ESDP Director General Robert Cooper to
the Turks during a September 18 meeting in Lisbon between a
special EU Troika and the Turkish MFA Strategic Director.
The proposals called for consultations with Turkey before the
launching of any ESDP civilian mission. The EU also
committed itself to an ongoing strategic dialogue between the
Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the three non-EU
European ESDP partners, Turkey, Iceland, and Norway. They
would be joined by Macedonia and Croatia as EU acceding
countries to create a PSC plus 5 format. The EU also
proposed crisis management consultations with Turkey early in
the internal deliberations process. This would be part of an
enhanced overall bilateral relationship on crisis management.
Cooper pledged particular attention to close consultations
when the EU envisions any actions in proximity to Turkey or
in areas of strategic interest to Turkey.


3. (C) According to Boguslawska, Cooper also offered closer
political dialogue with Ankara. One possibility would be to
include the Strategic Director in the EU-Turkey Troika
meetings. The EU proposed to convene the Committee of
Contributors (of any ESDP mission) at a higher level, and to
provide updates from the relevant Operation Commander to the
Committee. The EU also reportedly offered to allow a Turkish

presence within the EU Operational Headquarters for missions
to which Turkey contributes, even though there is no security
agreement between Turkey and the EU. Cooper also is reported
to have offered Turkey increased involvement in the
activities of the EU Institute for Strategic Studies (EUISS).


4. (C) Boguslawska said that the Turkish Prime Minister
recently sent letters to many, but not all, member states to
complain about the lack of consultations with Turkey on
civilian missions being run in proximity to Turkey, notably
the EUPOL COPPS mission in Ramallah, the EU Border Assistance
and Monitoring mission in Rafah, and the EU JUST THEMIS rule
of law mission in Georgia. In general, the EU has felt a
greater obligation to consult with Turkey regarding EU
military missions, but Cooper told the Turks that there is no
opposition to consultations on a case-by-case basis. Cooper
pointed out that Turkey needs only to request such
consultations, something Ankara so far has not done.


5. (C) The meeting in Lisbon was the more recent of two
meetings since June at which the EU proposed these
"enhancements" of Ankara's relationship with ESDP. The EU's
initial take on the discussions is that Turkey is "not
prepared to absorb the proposal," based on continued Turkish
blockage of closer NATO cooperation with the EU in
Afghanistan. According to Boguslawska, these overtures to
Ankara are contingent upon signs of flexibility from Turkey
regarding Kosovo and Afghanistan in return. The EU already
held one PSC plus 5 meeting on September 5 to discuss a
potential mission to Chad. The EU hopes that this meeting
will break new ground in relations with Turkey and intends to
have at least four such meetings on special topics per year.
In addition, the PSC plus 5 received high-level briefings
from the Chairman of the EU Military Committee and the
Director General of the EU Military Staff on Darfur. The
Turkish FM reportedly met with Council HR Solana on September
25 to discuss this list of suggestions.


6. (C) In Boguslawska's view, the EU has seen some positive
signals from Ankara, but is concerned that since there has
been only interaction with the MFA, and not the MOD, the
outcome remains uncertain. The EU hopes that the next time
Turkish MOD representatives come to Brussels, they will visit
with the EU Council General Secretariat in addition to NATO.
Boguslawska said that there is also concern that continued
Cypriot refusal to allow Turkey to establish arrangements
with the European Defense Agency (EDA) and to conclude a
security agreement with the EU (the two things Ankara wants
most from the EU at this juncture),the "window of
opportunity" may close without concrete movement. Within the
Secretariat, there is a hope that French President Sarkozy
will weigh in with strong support for positive movement.


7. (C) Comment: Although the pace may be glacial, there have
been several indications recently of a possible way forward
on the Turkey-EU security relationship. The conversation
above, reinforced by others with member state permreps,
suggests that the EU has at least begun to address Turkish
complaints. Contacts at the local Turkish mission have also
told us that EDA and the security agreement remain Ankara's
exclusive focus. This message has been received: French
deputy PSC ambassador told us last week that the French are
thinking seriously about the Turkish problem and understand
that a solution will ultimately require pressure on the
Cypriots by major member states. The likely solution, he
said, was a narrow security-focused agreement that would not
compromise the larger Cyprus territorial question. Although
he had no illusions about easy Cypriot acquiescence, in the
end, he said, Cyprus would not want to become completely
isolated. The EU understands that they have to get their own
house in order, but they hope that the U.S. will back them in
getting Ankara to sign on to a deal. End Comment.

GRAY
.