TURKISH MFA INTERESTED IN EU OBSERVER MISSION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001624

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO TU GG
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA INTERESTED IN EU OBSERVER MISSION IN
GEORGIA

REF: STATE 96122

Classified By: DCM Doug Silliman for Reason 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) During a meeting to deliver reftel demarche (reported
septel),MFA NATO Security Affairs Section Head M. Turker Ari
took the opportunity to note Turkey's interest in the
proposed EU observer mission in Georgia. Ari inquired
whether the US has received any information from the EU about
the mission. He noted that Turkey has not received any
information about the proposal except through press
reporting, and has not been invited to participate in the
mission. While acknowledging the EU's right to discuss the
mission at 27, Ari expressed his hope that Turkey would be
consulted earlier on about the mission, and not simply be
asked to contribute observers once mission planning has
already been finalized. He underscored Turkey's good
relationship with Georgia and its intense interest in
developments there, and predicted that Turkey would respond
positively if invited to contribute toward the mission.

Comment and action request
--------------


2. (C): Turkey has consistently complained (including during
U/S Burns' September 5 consultations in Ankara with MFA U/S
Apakan - reported septel) about the EU's unwillingness to
consult with Turkey on ESDP missions before final decisions
have been taken.


3. (C) If the French or EU international staff were to
approach Ankara at a senior level to brief Turkey on the
Sarkozy-Medvedev meeting and provide an outline of the
proposed EU observer mission to Georgia before the EU reaches
a final decision on the mission, this would serve as tangible
evidence of the EU being more sensitive to Turkish concerns.
Such a move would help improve Franco-Turkish relations and
might even soften Turkish opposition to NATO-EU cooperation,
especially on-the-ground collaboration in Kosovo. The EU
mission would also benefit as we expect Turkey will be eager
to make a significant contribution to the mission.
Conversely, if the EU makes its final decisions on a mission
in Georgia without consulting Turkey, Ankara would view this
as further evidence of EU disregard for Turkey's legitimate
interests, making Turkish flexibility on KFOR-EULEX
on-the-ground cooperation even more unlikely.


4. (C) We request Department consider reaching out to
appropriately senior GOF and/or EU officials to suggest
France discuss this mission with Turkey before any final EU
decision is taken.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

WILSON