UK FOREIGN OFFICE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC TURKS CAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000521

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL PARM GR TU UK
SUBJECT: UK FOREIGN OFFICE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC TURKS CAN
ADDRESS GREEK CONCERNS OVER NAVAL EXERCISE EGEMEN

REF: A. STATE 17263

B. EMBASSY LONDON-EUR/WE/UK 02/26 E-MAILS

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary. Ankara's response to a February 26 joint
UK/Belgian/Dutch demarche on the planned multilateral Egemen
naval exercise was "surprisingly positive and pragmatic,"
according to the Foreign Office's Turkish Team leader, Jason
Moore. The Turks will speak to Athens through military
channels to address Greek concerns; Turkish MFA told the
British specifically that Ankara will remove the maps
distributed through the NATO "Cronos" system that depict
demilitarized islands, as well as revise the search and
rescue component of the exercise to include coordination with
the Greek Flight Information Region (FIR). The Turks also
told the British Mission in Ankara that it will try to revise
the exercise parameters so as not to violate the Greeks six
nautical mile claims and thus avoid any transit through Greek
territorial waters. Based on this discussion, and a parallel
discussion with the Greek Government in which Athens
reiterated to the British the Greek red lines for the
exercise (ref A),the Foreign Office is "cautiously
optimistic" the Egemen exercise can proceed without producing
tensions in the region. HMG has made no final decision on
British participation, pending outcome of Turkish-Greek
military discussions, but Moore's comments suggested the
British expect to be able to move forward. End summary.


2. (C) The Foreign Office is pleased with the Turkish
response to the joint demarche delivered in Ankara regarding
Greek concerns with the Egemen Exercise. The Turks were
"pragmatic" and did not strike a legalistic tone, according
to the Foreign Office's Moore, who briefed Poloff based on
reporting from the UK Embassy in Ankara. The Turks agreed
that it was important to avoid increased tensions in the
region and the goals of the exercise would be defeated if it
provoked regional instability. To avoid this outcome, the
Turkish government agreed to engage the Greek Government
through military channels to address Greek concerns.


3. (C) The Turks specifically told the British that Ankara
was prepared to immediately address several Greek concerns,
including removing the maps distributed through the NATO
Cronos System that depict demilitarized islands and search
and rescue responsibilities. Ankara also is prepared to
revise the search and rescue component of the exercise so as
to avoid Greek concerns about lack of coordination with the
Greek FIR. Most importantly, the Turks told the British that
operational plans for the exercise "could be revised" so that
there would be no question of violating Greek territorial
waters or a requirement to seek Greek permission for passage.
Moore said that although it was too early to declare
victory, the Turkish agreement to speak with the Greeks and
look at revising operations so as not to cross Greece's
claimed territorial waters were positive signs.

Greek Red Lines
--------------


4. (C) Moore also provided information on a parallel
discussion between the UK Mission in Athens and the Greek
Foreign Ministry. The Greeks identified three red line
issues regarding the exercise, telling the British that if
these red lines were respected Athens would not object to the
exercise. Two were previously identified (ref A) -- no
operations that cross into Greek territorial waters and
coordination of the search and rescue component of the
exercise with the Greek FIR -- and that there be no violation
of Greek airspace by either fixed wing planes or helicopters
during the search and rescue portion of the exercise

British Military Working With Turkish Counterparts
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Moore said that the UK Ministry of Defense was
working with Turkish counterparts on operational plans for
the Exercise to ensure that the necessary changes can be made
to meet the Greek territorial concerns and Turkish pledges.
Moore said that the Foreign Office is waiting for a report
from the MOD on the new operational plans -- as well as a
readout of the Greek/Turkish discussions -- before finally
deciding to participate in the Exercise. Moore said the UK

wanted the exercise to go forward, with UK participation, but
the UK was prepared to press for a postponement, or to pull
out, if the two sides can not work out their differences. He
indicated, however, that the Foreign Office anticipates the
Turkish willingness to talk with Athens will resolve Greek
concerns.

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