Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA1820
2008-10-20 05:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION EXPECTED ON NATO
VZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1820 2940556 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 200556Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7722 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUFGSHZ/SACEUR MONS BE IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/SACEUR POLAD SHAPE BE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001820
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION EXPECTED ON NATO
SUPPORT TO NOBLE ARCHER
REF: A. ANKARA 941
B. ATHENS 966
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001820
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION EXPECTED ON NATO
SUPPORT TO NOBLE ARCHER
REF: A. ANKARA 941
B. ATHENS 966
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) We understand plans are moving forward to commit NATO
assets to participate in Exercise Noble Archer 2008, an
exercise scheduled to begin December 2, which includes a
flight track over Agios Efstratios, a small island in the
Aegean Sea. Turkey asserts that the demilitarized status of
this island is under dispute. A NATO decision to agree to an
exercise including overflight of this island would be
interpreted by Turkey as a NATO decision on the dispute
itself. Based on Turkey's sharp and negative reactions in
May 2008 concerning the possibility of NATO support to the
exercise then (ref a),we fully expect the GOT would have a
similar response if the exercise goes forward with NATO
support.
2. (C) Turkey will likely view a SACEUR decision to provide
support to the exercise as a policy reversal, as NATO did not
extend support to the exercise in May. Without taking a side
in the dispute and while acknowledging that the decision as
to whether NATO supports the exercise is a NATO matter, we
seek to call attention to the consequences for key US policy
interests in the region that such a decision could have.
Embassy Ankara's Recommendation
--------------
3. (C) NATO has been consistent in discouraging both Greece
and Turkey from trying to use NATO participation in national
exercises to affirm their respective claims on Aegean issues.
In this case as well, it would be helpful to have NATO
express willingness to support exercises as long as they did
not include as part of the exercise islands that have been
under dispute in the past. We are in full agreement with
Embassy Athens that we should not allow Greek and Turkish
machinations on NATO participation in national exercises in
the Aegean to become a US problem and that the issue must
remain firmly in NATO's corridors (ref b). Both sides should
be told by NATO to focus on the military preparedness of
their country and of NATO when planning exercises rather than
how NATO participation in an exercise could validate their
political position regarding the Aegean.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION EXPECTED ON NATO
SUPPORT TO NOBLE ARCHER
REF: A. ANKARA 941
B. ATHENS 966
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) We understand plans are moving forward to commit NATO
assets to participate in Exercise Noble Archer 2008, an
exercise scheduled to begin December 2, which includes a
flight track over Agios Efstratios, a small island in the
Aegean Sea. Turkey asserts that the demilitarized status of
this island is under dispute. A NATO decision to agree to an
exercise including overflight of this island would be
interpreted by Turkey as a NATO decision on the dispute
itself. Based on Turkey's sharp and negative reactions in
May 2008 concerning the possibility of NATO support to the
exercise then (ref a),we fully expect the GOT would have a
similar response if the exercise goes forward with NATO
support.
2. (C) Turkey will likely view a SACEUR decision to provide
support to the exercise as a policy reversal, as NATO did not
extend support to the exercise in May. Without taking a side
in the dispute and while acknowledging that the decision as
to whether NATO supports the exercise is a NATO matter, we
seek to call attention to the consequences for key US policy
interests in the region that such a decision could have.
Embassy Ankara's Recommendation
--------------
3. (C) NATO has been consistent in discouraging both Greece
and Turkey from trying to use NATO participation in national
exercises to affirm their respective claims on Aegean issues.
In this case as well, it would be helpful to have NATO
express willingness to support exercises as long as they did
not include as part of the exercise islands that have been
under dispute in the past. We are in full agreement with
Embassy Athens that we should not allow Greek and Turkish
machinations on NATO participation in national exercises in
the Aegean to become a US problem and that the issue must
remain firmly in NATO's corridors (ref b). Both sides should
be told by NATO to focus on the military preparedness of
their country and of NATO when planning exercises rather than
how NATO participation in an exercise could validate their
political position regarding the Aegean.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON