Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA1841
2008-10-22 12:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY OPPOSES BLANKET MTCR OUTREACH, CONCERNED

Tags:  MTCRE ETTC PREL PARM KSCA TU 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #1841 2961213
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221213Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7759
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001841 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, ISN/MTR FOR DURHAM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: MTCRE ETTC PREL PARM KSCA TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY OPPOSES BLANKET MTCR OUTREACH, CONCERNED
ABOUT CYPRUS

REF: STATE 106288

Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001841

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, ISN/MTR FOR DURHAM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: MTCRE ETTC PREL PARM KSCA TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY OPPOSES BLANKET MTCR OUTREACH, CONCERNED
ABOUT CYPRUS

REF: STATE 106288

Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Head of Section
Mustafa Yurdakul convoked us on October 17 to raise GOT
concerns about the US proposal on technical outreach at the
MTCR (reftel). Yurdakul, who will lead the Turkish
delegation to the MTCR Plenary in Canberra , said while
Turkey supports the general principle of MTCR outreach to
non-partners, Turkey continues to support a case-by-case
approach for selecting the non-partners with whom MTCR
engages in outreach. He emphasized that Turkey would not
support a "one size fits all" approach on reaching out to
non-members. Yurdakul said the Turkish delegation to the
MTCR Plenary will be prepared to defend this position and
asked the US to take Turkey's position into consideration.
When asked whether Turkey's position is related to Cyprus,
Yurdakul acknowledged that MTCR outreach to and potential
membership for Cyprus would be "politically problematic" for
Turkey. We reminded Yurkdakul that the purpose for MTCR is
to promote international cooperation to fight the global
threat of missile technology proliferation, and that
expanding the adoption of MTCR guidelines and standards by
interested non-members is in our common interest. Yurdakul
accepted our point, but reiterated that Turkey cannot agree
to issue a "blank check" on MTCR outreach to or admission of
new partners, and said again that Turkey will argue for a
"case-by-case" approach in Canberra.


2. (C) Comment: The GOT has opposed Cyprus' membership in or
even contact with any international organization or regime in
which Turkey is a member and Cyprus is not. Yurdakul's
comments echo Turkey's position in opposing Cypriot
participation in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism (GI). In the case of GI, Turkey was initially an
enthusiastic partner, hosting the second meeting of GI
partners in February 2007. Since Cyprus joined GI, Turkey
has dramatically scaled back its engagement in GI activities.
While unfortunate, we can expect the GOT to take a similar
approach regarding MTCR outreach to and membership for Cyprus.


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

WILSON