TURKEY/NATO: TURKEY REQUESTS SUPPORT ON EXERCISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000941 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR NATO GR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY/NATO: TURKEY REQUESTS SUPPORT ON EXERCISE NOBLE ARCHER Classified By: A/DCM Kim Deblauw for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In conversations with Ambassador on May 14 and 15, MFA Undersecretary Apakan requested the U.S. urge NATO political and military authorities to maintain NATO impartiality in Aegean disputes, stating that conduct of Exercise Noble Archer under the current scenario will escalate tensions between Greece and Turkey while undermining Alliance solidarity and credibility. MFA Maritime/Aviation Deputy Director General Ozturk convoked us May 15 to elaborate on the same points, stressing that NATO support to the current Noble Archer scenario would violate NATO's long-held policy of neutrality and could jeopardize progress being made in the bilateral dialogue, including low-key exploratory talks, between Turkey and Greece. Ozturk said Turkey would protest vigorously a NATO decision to take part in the exercise, suggesting the Turkish military may react more strongly. End Summary ¶2. (C) Apakan told Ambassador May 14 that Turkey believes the island of Aghios Efstratios, the focal point of Exercise Noble Archer proposed by the Combined Air Operations Center 7 (CAOC 7) in Larissa, is demilitarized under international agreements; any exercise involving that island would violate its demilitarized status. In line with long-established policy (the "Luns doctrine"),NATO should not get involved in the dispute nor be the venue to discuss and judge disagreements among Allies. Involving the Alliance in such bilateral disputes will not be in the interest of NATO and Allied countries. Apakan stated that conduct of the exercise under the present scenario (with NATO participation) will escalate tensions between two Allies, undermine Alliance solidarity, and call into question NATO's impartiality. Apakan noted that Greece and Turkey continue to try to solve their problems through bilateral dialogue, including via low-key exploratory talks. ¶3. (C) Ozturk told us May 15 that the May 8 meeting of Greek and Turkish officials in Istanbul, under the 39th round of exploratory talks, had gone extremely well with positive feelings on both sides. The GOT is therefore surprised and disappointed to hear the NATO Secretary General claim bilateral talks are not going well. Ozturk wondered whether the SYG is getting one-sided reporting from the Greek side, and is therefore inclined to be sympathetic to the Greek request for participation in Noble Archer. Ozturk also stated that Turkish reporting from Brussels indicates the U.S. is now leaning more toward the Greek view on Aegean exercises. In any case, Ozturk emphasized, NATO participation in Noble Archer would undermine the painstaking bilateral talks underway to resolve the entire range of complex and interlinked Aegean issues. ¶4. (C) Ozturk said the GOT would protest a NATO decision to participate in Noble Archer vigorously and at all levels. He stated he could not predict the Turkish military's reaction, but suggested it would be very strong. At the least, NATO participation under the current scenario would jeopardize chances for any future NATO exercises in the Aegean. He stated the U.S. has a great responsibility for taking a stand in favor of NATO neutrality and that Turkey is hoping for our strong support. We told Ozturk that any Turkish reaction to a NATO decision to participate in the exercise should not contribute to escalating tensions or creating dangerous situations in the Aegean. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON