TURKEY'S VIEWS ON NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000172 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SUBJECT LINE) SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/TR AMBASSADOR JENKINS, EUR/SE, NSC FOR HOLGATE AND CONNERY E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2020 TAGS: PARM EAID TBIO IAEA AORC ENRG MNUC PGOV SUBJECT: TURKEY'S VIEWS ON NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT'S FEBRUARY 9-11 SHERPA MEETING REF: SECSTATE 7493 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (SBU) Together with Dutch Embassy PolCouns Sander Jansen, we delivered the note verbale contained in reftel to MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Section Chief Mustafa Yurdakul, Turkey's sous-Sherpa. Yurdakul confirmed that he has registered Dr. Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Sherpa for the Nuclear Security Summit, for the February 9-11 meeting at the Hague. He cautioned, however, that Fidan is frequently called upon to accompany PM Erdogan on overseas travel and that such trips are sometimes planned with little advanced notice. As a result, it is not certain that Fidan will be able to attend the meeting. Yurdakul himself, along with Turkish Atomic Energy Authority's Nuclear Safety and Security Department Head Mehmet Ceyhan and Prime Ministry expert Celalletin Celik will accompany Fidan to the Hague meeting. He also reaffirmed PM Erdogan's intention to attend the summit in April. Beyond the substantive work, Yurdakul said the Turkish delegation hopes that the logistics and administrative details of the summit would also be addressed. He noted in particular concerns about the restriction on the delegation size and expressed hope that the U.S. can provide guidance on the appropriate composition of the delegation. He noted FM Davutoglu's interest in accompanying PM Erdogan to the event, but asked whether ministers would be expected to play a role at the meeting beyond back-benching their head of state or government. ¶2. (SBU) Turning to the substantive issues expected at the summit, Yurdakul said he believed that any communique issued by summit participants should be a "declaration of intent" and be as specific as possible in identifying common threats and help develop a common understanding on nuclear security. A clear, realistic assessment of the threat focusing on the "clear and present dangers" -- and avoiding "exaggerated claims" -- is necessary to achieve such an understanding. He said the summit declaration should be "concise, public, and guiding" and express both international resolve and commitment to meet these threats. ¶3. (C) Noting that the summit presents an opportunity to promote international cooperation, he said it would be appropriate for leaders to express support for the various international initiatives already in existence that contributes to nuclear security and develop a sense of burdensharing in confronting the international challenge. The declaration should also strengthen existing mechanisms, especially the IAEA and its role in confirming the security of nuclear material. When asked whether Turkey would support an inclusion of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) among the initiatives acknowledged by leaders, Yurdakul stated that a "neutral reference" would be acceptable, but Turkey would be reluctant to agree to an explicit endorsement for GICNT in a summit statement (Comment: Turkey is a partner in GICNT and was active until Cyprus joined the initiative over Turkey's objections in ¶2007. Turkey has minimized its participation in GICNT since. We take Yurdakul's comment to mean that Turkey could support the inclusion of GICNT in a list of initiatives acknowledged in a summit statement, but would not support singling out GICNT for recognition or endorsement in the statement. End Comment). ¶4. (SBU) Yurdakul said he expects the summit to have a positive effect on the May Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference (RevCon),and that in order to make sure that this is the case, participants should avoid creating the perception that the summit is being used as a forum to pre-empt critical discussions that should take place at the NPT RevCon related to nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. For Turkey, Yurdakul stressed, peaceful uses of nuclear energy is an especially important and sensitive topic. ¶5. (SBU) He indicated that he has already sent comments on the draft work plan to the NSC's POC for the meeting, but did not go into detail about these comments. ¶6. (C) Comment: Although relatively junior in rank, Yurdakul is influential on nonproliferation issues and has been the focal point for Turkey's preparations for the Nuclear Security Summit. He led Turkey's delegation at the Tokyo Sherpas meeting in December when Hakan Fidan had to drop out at the last minute. End Comment. Jeffrey "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"