US embassy cable - 04ANKARA1318

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001318 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR AFGHAN COORDINATOR TAYLOR 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2029 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRT PROPOSAL:  HMG TELLS TURKS NO 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 1005 
     B. ANKARA 1162 (NOTAL) 
 
 
(U)  Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch.  Reasons:  1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
 
1.  (C)  MFA DDG for South Asia Aydin Evergin informed 
PolMilCouns March 4 that the GOT had informed the UK of its 
intent to establish a PRT in Maimana, Afghanistan (reftels) 
on March 2.  On March 4, HMG responded by informing the Turks 
that London intended to establish a PRT there and that Norway 
had already expressed a willingness to contribute to the 
effort.  The UK Embassy here also informed MFA that SACEUR 
was satisfied that stage 1 of NATO's expansion effort was 
done.  As a result, HMG encouraged the GOT to consider 
contributing Turkey's PRT to stage 2, which would require 
establishing it in the west or southwest of Afghanistan. 
Ankara responded that Turkey was only prepared to consider 
operating a PRT in the north. 
 
 
2.  (C)  On March 3, Evergin continued, D/SACEUR sounded the 
Turks out on possibly establishing a PRT in Feyzabad 
(Badakhstan province in NE Afghanistan).  After considering 
the idea, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) refused, responding 
that it would be too difficult there.  Evergin told 
PolMilCouns that an alternative might be to set up the 
Turkish PRT in Takar province and cover the Badakhstan from 
there.  Conditions were easier there and Turkey already 
funded some reconstruction projects in the province. 
However, he understood that the German PRT in Konduz already 
covered Takar. 
 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  Ankara approached the British (and SACEUR) 
even without comments from us on its proposal because the 
Turks feared discussions about locations at NATO were 
progressing without their proposal being considered.  They 
continue to insist that they are only interested in 
establishing a PRT in the north, but Evergin's comment about 
Takar indicates that they are more flexible about where in 
the north than he indicated to us last week (ref a).  End 
comment. 
EDELMAN