Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ANKARA172
2010-02-03 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY'S VIEWS ON NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT'S

Tags:  PARM EAID TBIO IAEA AORC ENRG MNUC PGOV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #0172/01 0340756
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY-ADX1AFED6-MSI9161-413)
P 030756Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1978
INFO RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 6896
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4285
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0214
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)

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"