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. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LEBARON