TURKEY: WILLING TO CONSIDER INFORMAL KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000410 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - REV CLASSIFIED BY SIPDIS EUR/RPM FOR CARLAND, SHINAGEL, EUR/ERA FOR DEAN, OSD FOR FABRYCKY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2018 TAGS: NATO EU PREL PGOV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: WILLING TO CONSIDER INFORMAL KOSOVO MEETING, DOUBT EU SINCERITY REF: A. STATE 20333 ¶B. SECDEF 282352Z FEB 08 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for NATO Affairs Serdar Kilic told us February 28 Turkey was willing to consider informal consultations among "Kosovo Contributors," but emphasized that a formal response to ref a points will have to wait until the March 6 NATO Foreign Ministers meeting. He asked Allies not to put undue pressure on FM Babacan, warning that such pressure would be counterproductive. If informal consultations were to occur, Kilic said they should take place at a "neutral" site, not at NATO Headquarters. He indicated it would be useful to include representatives of UNMIK and other non-NATO, non-EU contributors in Kosovo to put further distance between such consultations and NATO-EU discussions. However, Kilic questioned the utility of such consultations, noting NATO and EU staff on the ground are working well together. Kilic stressed that Turkey has not blocked such cooperation. Kilic also questioned EU motivation in seeking consultations on Kosovo, suggesting the goal for some EU members is not to discuss Kosovo, but to advance their own national agenda. On ISAF, Kilic confirmed that Turkey is pledging one OMLT to ISAF, and is favorably considering offering an additional OMLT. Noting possible French plans to redeploy some of its forces currently in Kabul to the south, Kilic said this would create a gap in RC Capital. Ambassador Nuland's Speech, Canceled NATO-EU Meeting -------------- -------------- 2.(C) We delivered ref a points to MFA DDG for NATO Affairs Kilic on March 1. Kilic began by expressing disappointment in a part of Ambassador Nuland's February 22 speech in Paris which suggested that NATO, in response to the EU granting Turkey status in the European Defense Agency, concluding a security agreement with Turkey, and consulting Turkey on operational issues, should open the doors of partnership fully to Cyprus. Kilic said offering Partnership for Peace to Cyprus before a final settlement of the Cyprus question is a non-starter for Turkey, and will be pronounced "Dead on Arrival" the instant it is proposed. Kilic underscored that no political leadership in Turkey will ever agree to giving Cyprus any status at NATO without a resolution of the island's states. ¶3. (C) Kilic blamed the canceling of the February 26 NAC-PSC on NATO SecGen de Hoop Scheffer's unwillingness to respect Turkey's position, and his attempt to bypass Turkey. Kilic expresed appreciation for the US and other Allies for supporting Turkey, and said Turkey plans to send a forceful response to de Hoop Scheffer's letter. INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS PROPOSAL -------------- ¶4. (C) Kilic said he did not see the point in holding consultations, either formal or informal, in Brussels on Kosovo as NATO and EU staff on the ground are communicating and working together well. Kilic stressed that Turkey has not blocked such cooperation. Kilic also asserted that there have never been political consultations, formal or informal, between NATO and the UN regarding UNMIK, yet no one would dispute UNMIK's success to date. Calling into question the EU's sincerity in seeking consultations on Kosovo, Kilic said some EU members are not aiming to improve coordination on Kosovo, but to advance their own national agendas. As evidence of the EU's disingenuousness, Kilic noted that until last month, the EU had never invited the NATO Secretary General to participate in PSC meetings. This is in stark contrast to the open invitation High Representative Javier Solana has received to attend NAC meetings. Kilic also said concerns regarding Kosovo could have been raised at the formal NAC-PSC meeting on February 25, but no one did so. ¶5. (C) Despite his skepticism, Kilic indicated that he is open to the idea of holding informal consultations among "Kosovo contributors," but will have to consult first with superiors and other institutions. Kilic underscored the fact that Turkey will not be able to provide a formal response before March 6. Kilic suggested that if such consultations were to be held, they should occur at a neutral site, mentioning the Belgian Defense or Foreign Ministry as possible venues. Kilic also suggested that it would be useful to include non-NATO, non-EU actors contributing to the security of Kosovo, including UNMIK, to increase the distance between these consultation and formal NATO-EU meetings. Kilic asked Allies not to try to place undue pressure on FM Babacan during the March 6 meeting, warning that such pressure would be counter-productive. AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶6. (C) Kilic confirmed that the offer of one Operational Mentoring Liaison Team (OMLT) in Minister of Defense Gonul's February 18 letter to SecDef is the same offer that was made in December, although Kilic said the GOT was considering favorably the possibility of pledging one additional OMLT to ISAF. (Note: Minister Gonul suggested to SecDef on February 28 that Turkey may be able to contribute more OMLTs, but only if logistical support was provided - see ref b). Noting possible French plans to redeploy part of its contingent in RC-Capital to the South, Kilic said such a move would impact the 750 Turkish troops currently in Kabul as part of the multinational command. When asked, Kilic said it was too early to comment on whether Turkey would consider backfilling the French. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON