Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA1917
2008-11-05 14:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

FM BABACAN IN AFGHANISTAN; GILLANI, KARZAI IN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINS PTER MARR EAID EINV AF PK TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #1917/01 3101439
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051439Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7892
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001917 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, SCA/A, SCA/PB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER MARR EAID EINV AF PK TU
SUBJECT: FM BABACAN IN AFGHANISTAN; GILLANI, KARZAI IN
TURKEY

REF: ANKARA 1819

Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001917

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, SCA/A, SCA/PB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER MARR EAID EINV AF PK TU
SUBJECT: FM BABACAN IN AFGHANISTAN; GILLANI, KARZAI IN
TURKEY

REF: ANKARA 1819

Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: FM Babacan stressed Turkey's commitment to
Afghanistan during his October 26-27 visit to Kabul, Wardak
and northern Afghanistan. The Turks are pressing forward on
infrastructure and education projects, but face obstacles
from local and national authorities in Kabul. Turkey has
some specific proposals on how it can increase training of
Afghan security forces in Turkey and welcomes our
suggestions. Pakistani CHOD GEN Kayani is visiting Ankara
November 5, where he will meet with President Gul and
military leaders. The Turks will propose to him including
Afghan officers in upcoming Turkey-Pakistan joint exercises.
The GOT views the Dostum problem as resolved and has extended
an invitation to him to travel to Turkey for medical
treatment. Babacan, PM Gillani and President Karzai signed a
Joint Declaration in Istanbul October 30 continuing the
trilateral process; Turkey has proposed to host a second,
presidential-level summit in November or December. Our MFA
interlocutor voiced concern that unauthorized U.S. attacks on
Pakistan weaken the democratically-elected government in
Islamabad and bolster Taliban recruitment. Equally concerned
about the Pakistani economy, the GOT is developing proposals
for financial assistance to Pakistan that it hopes to be able
to announce at the next "Friends of Pakistan" meeting in Abu
Dhabi. The GOT is suggesting we urge the IMF and Islamabad
to reach a stand-by agreement soon, preferably before the
"Friends" meeting. END SUMMARY.

BABACAN HIGHLIGHTS TURKISH
SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN
--------------

2. (C) MFA DDG for South Asia Babur Hizlan briefed us
November 4 on FM Babacan's October 26-27 visit to
Afghanistan, where he met with President Karzai, VPs Massood

and Khalili, FM Spanta, Defense Minister Wardak and Education
Minister Wardak. (New Interior Minister Atmar was
unavailable.) Babacan also visited the Turkish-administered
PRT in Wardak and the northern cities of Mazar-e-Sharif,
Sheberghan and Aqcha, where he met with the Balakh and
Jowzjan governors and local officials, and visited some
Turkish-constructed/run schools.


3. (C) While in Kabul, Babacan reviewed ongoing and planned
Turkish education, hospital and infrastructure projects.
Along with his wife, he visited the University of Kabul,
where the Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency (TIKA)
supports a Turcology department and constructed a sports
complex, and also visited an orphanage. Hizlan informed us
that Turkey is prepared to commence work on two
long-discussed projects in Kabul: city road-paving and
construction of a new hospital. TIKA has already completed
the tenders for the paving work, awarding the contract to a
northern Afghanistan-based company. The Kabul mayor,
however, has objected to the contract not being awarded to a
Kabul-based company, according to Hizlan. Babacan and the
mayor discussed this issue, with the mayor promising to clear
any hurdles, but Hizlan said the mayor is once again blocking
the project. He noted that Turkish companies are facing
similar problems with the Kabul mayor on contracts awarded to
them by third country aid agencies. Likewise, despite funds
earmarked and contracts awarded, the Afghan Ministry of
Health is raising bureaucratic obstacles to the construction
by Turkey of a new hospital, refusing to issue the
construction permits until the MOH concludes a protocol with
Turkey on the hospital's management. (NOTE: Turkey has
already pledged to administer the hospital for an interim
period after its opening. END NOTE.)


4. (C) Babacan participated in ceremonies at two schools in
Jowzjan province: one in Sheberghan built by TIKA and
transferred to the Afghan MOE, and one -- a girls' school in
Aqcha -- built by a Turkish-Afghan citizen and Fetullah Gulen
adherent. (NOTE: Gulen is a Turkish Islamic leader
promoting interfaith dialogue whose followers sustain a
widespread educational network in Turkey and abroad,
including in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. END NOTE.) He
also visited a Gulenist boys' school in Mazar-e-Sharif.
Gulenists can be controversial in secular Turkey, Hizlan

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reminded us, but he expressed admiration for their
commitment, especially for the ten Turkish women who have
volunteered to teach girls in remote Aqcha. According to
Hizlan, the girls are receiving a high-quality education in
Dari, as well as in English and Turkish. Babacan was
reportedly impressed by the students' Turkish and the warm
reception he and his wife received.


5. (C) Hizlan was downbeat on what Babacan saw in Wardak.
All the Pashtun districts there are under Taliban control, he
said. Due to such poor security conditions, the Turks chose
not to notify the Afghans until the very last minute about
Babacan's plan to travel to Wardak, coordinating their own
security arrangements and traveling by road in armored
personnel carriers. Hizlan noted that in Wardak's Chak
district, where Turkey constructed a girls' school, the
Taliban-dominated local council has ordered that girls may
only attend school for the first few years of primary
education, and the central government is powerless to change
this.

DOSTUM INVITED TO DRY OUT IN TURKEY;
JUNBESH PARTY LEADERS VISIT ANKARA
--------------

6. (C) From Turkey's perspective, according to Hizlan, the
Dostum problem is solved: Akbar Bai dropped the charges
against him; his travel restrictions were lifted, and his
title as Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief of the Afghan
National Army restored; he should be en route north. The GOT
loathes Akbar Bai, but Hizlan credited Afghan Senate leader
Mojadeddi for mediating the reconciliation between Dostum and
his erstwhile foe. The GOT has invited Dostum to Turkey for
medical and alcoholism treatment. Hizlan reminded us that
Dostum is "not handled easily" and may not accept the
invitation.


7. (C) Junbesh party leader Said Noorullah visited Ankara
November 3 and Istanbul November 4. The GOT is expecting
Junbesh deputies to visit Turkey soon for "grass roots
political training." Turkey, according to Hizlan, has
extended such training periodically to representatives of
various Afghan political parties. Two weeks ago Turkey
hosted Hazara leader Mohaqqeq in Ankara. The Turks have
emphasized to us that Turkey seeks to maintain balanced
relations with all parties in Afghanistan, including rival
Hazara factions, urging all sides to act in the interest of
Afghanistan and to participate in the legitimate political
process.

SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS
AND SECURITY FORCES TRAINING
--------------

8. (C) Following up on our October 17 demarche on Afghan
elections (reftel),Hizlan said $5 million of the $100
million Turkey pledged for Afghanistan in Paris is already
earmarked for elections support. He asked that we convey to
him any specific suggestions we may have on how Turkey could
apply these funds (we reminded him of the UNDP "basket fund")
or how it can provide other, in-kind contributions, such as
elections training or monitoring.


9. (C) Hizlan emphasized that Turkey is ready to increase
significantly its contribution to training and equipping
Afghan police and military forces and wants to discuss with
us any suggestions we may have. He restated that Turkey can
undertake such training in Afghanistan, using the model it
applied in Bosnia, or carry out such training in Turkey,
through the Ankara-based International Academy Against Drugs
and Organized Crime (TADOC) or NATO-certified Center of
Excellence-Defense Against Terrorism (COE-DAT).

ANKARA TO PROPOSE TURKEY-PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN
JOINT EXERCISES TO KAYANI
--------------

10. (C) Pakistani CHOD GEN Kayani will visit Ankara November
5, where he will meet with President Gul, his Turkish General
Staff counterparts and, schedule permitting, PM Erdogan.
Hizlan said Turkey will propose to Kayani that Afghan
officers be invited to join future TU-PK joint exercises (the
two sides hold three to four such exercises per year),noting
an upcoming commando exercise. Hizlan said scheduling joint

ANKARA 00001917 003 OF 004


Pakistan-Afghanistan security training is not easy. Only the
day before, Afghan mid-level police officials began a course
at TADOC without their Pakistani counterparts after the
Pakistani side pulled out at the last minute for passport
issuance-related problems. (The course and all related
travel and lodging expenses were to be fully-funded by
Turkey.)

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN
--------------

11. (C) Hizlan said that Turkey, with its "meager" resources,
is thinking about how it can extend financial assistance to
Pakistan. One idea is to upgrade the Karachi
representational office of the state-owned T.C. Ziraat Bank
to a full-fledged bank, which would require a deposit into
the Pakistani Central Bank. The GOT would like to have a
concrete proposal to announce by the November 17 "Friends of
Pakistan" meeting in Abu Dhabi. Hizlan suggested the U.S.
lean on the IMF and Islamabad to reach a stand-by agreement
soon, preferably before the "Friends" meeting.

TRILATERAL MEETING ISSUES JOINT DECLARATION
--------------

12. (C) Pakistani PM Gillani visited Ankara October 28 and 29
as the guest of honor at Turkish Republic Day celebrations.
Following meetings with Gul, Erdogan and other senior
officials, as well as a trade and business-related event,
Gillani traveled to Istanbul with Erdogan for the World
Economic Forum (WEF),where Erdogan hosted a trilateral
meeting with Gillani and Karzai. Hizlan noted that Karzai
had not been expected to attend the WEF, but appeared to have
changed his mind when he learned that Gillani would be on
hand. He observed that, compared to Musharraf, Karzai has a
good rapport with Gillani and Pakistani President Zardari.
The three sides decided to reaffirm their support for the
process in a Joint Declaration (see para. 14) and even
expanded the scope of cooperation to include security. The
Declaration also welcomed the initiation of the Jirgagai
process. Hizlan said Turkey supports the process of reaching
out to so-called "nationalist" or "reformed" Taliban, so long
as it is a Pakistan/Afghanistan-led initiative. The leaders
decided to organize a second, presidential-level trilateral
summit; Hizlan said November 17 would conflict with the
"Friends of Pakistan" meeting, so Turkey is proposing
November 28 or December 5 in Istanbul. The Afghans are
perpetually ready, said Hizlan, but the Pakistanis are
tougher to nail down.

U.S. STRIKES IN PAKISTAN
UNDERMINE THE GOVERNMENT
--------------

13. (C) Hizlan underscored Turkey's concern that U.S. attacks
on targets in Pakistan, if unauthorized by Pakistani
authorities, violate Pakistan's sovereignty. Furthermore,
such strikes undermine the democratically-elected government
in Islamabad and could bolster Taliban recruitment efforts.

TEXT OF TRILATERAL MEETING JOINT DECLARATION
(AS RELEASED)
--------------

14. (U) BEGIN TEXT:

JOINT DECLARATION ADOPTED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE TRILATERAL
MEETING HELD AMONG THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
AFGHANISTAN, PRIME MINISTER OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
PAKISTAN AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the President of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan and His Excellency Syed Yousaf Raza
Gilani, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan came together for a trilateral meeting with His
Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of the
Republic of Turkey on 30 October 2008 in Istanbul on the
occasion of the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central
Asia 2008.

President Karzai and Prime Minister Gilani, during their
comprehensive, cordial and useful meeting on regional and
international issues with Prime Minister Erdogan, with
reference to the Ankara Declaration of the
Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit Meeting held on

ANKARA 00001917 004 OF 004


29-30 April 2007 and the decisions of the Joint Working Group
which convened in Ankara on 6 July 2007, reiterated their
pledge to cooperate towards promoting peace, security,
stability and economic development in the region.

During the meeting, the President of Afghanistan and the
Prime Minister of Pakistan expressed satisfaction on contacts
and cooperation between the two brotherly countries and
agreed to continue with their dialogue and to further enhance
cooperation in all fields with a view to achieving stability
and promoting prosperity of their peoples.

The three leaders welcomed the initiation of the process of
Jirgaigai and expressed the hope that it would contribute to
restoring peace and reconciliation.

The three leaders welcomed the establishment of the "Istanbul
Forum" in October 2007, on the invitation of the Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey to foster
cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry of
Afghanistan and Pakistan with a view to contributing to the
economic dimension of the Trilateral cooperation. In this
context they agreed to identify and initiate joint projects,
wherever feasible to promote development and connectivity at
the regional plane.

The three leaders, during the meeting, underlined their
commitment to the continuation of the Trilateral Summit
process, and expressed their perspectives on cooperation in
political, security, counter-terrorism, economy, education,
health, agriculture, energy and cultural fields. Prime
Minister Erdogan also communicated Turkey's sincere desire
that the Trilateral Summit process would yield a result which
directly contributes to the prosperity of the Afghan and
Pakistani people with a vision of common development.

The Prsident of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the
Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan commended
the initiative of Turkey and decided to organize the Second
Trilateral Summit at the earliest convenience of the three
Presidents.

Istanbul, 30 October 2008

END TEXT.

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

WILSON