TURKEY: CLUSTER MUNITIONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001309 SIPDIS PM/WRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL MOPS KPOA NATO SUBJECT: TURKEY: CLUSTER MUNITIONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 73257 Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, Reasons 1.4 ( b,d) ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to acting Deputy Director General for Nonproliferation and Disarmament Elif Ulgen on July 22. Ulgen expressed appreciation for the information, and said although Turkey has not used cluster munitions in operations for over a decade, it retains a significant stockpile of cluster munitions in its inventory as a military necessity. Ulgen said Turkey's view on cluster munitions remains close to the U.S. position, and the Turkish delegation to the Geneva negotiations on a new Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons related to cluster munitions appear to be on the same "wavelength" as the U.S. delegation. ¶2. (C) Ulgen also told us Turkey is not planning to sign on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions "any time soon," noting that the GOT is still working hard to implement its commitments under the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel land mines Ulgen said until Turkey has fulfilled its obligations under the Ottawa Convention. it is unlikely to take on additional commitments. However, Ulgen said the GOT is considering ways to update its acquisition policy so that new military acquisitions would not violate the terms of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON