US embassy cable - 04ANKARA1345

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2014 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, MOPS, TU 
SUBJECT: NATO SYG COMES HAT IN HAND DURING FIRST VISIT TO 
ANKARA 
 
 
REF: ANKARA 1005 
 
 
(U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy A. Betts, reasons 
1.4 b/d. 
 
 
1. (C) Summary: During his February 18 introductory visit to 
Ankara NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer met with President Sezer, PM 
Erdogan, FM Gul, and MND Gonul.  His agenda included 
Afghanistan, Iraq, terrorism and the Istanbul Summit. 
According to MFA NATO DDG Fatih Ceylan, the SYG requested 
Turkey contribute more forces to Afghanistan but reportedly 
focused on contributions to Provincial Reconstruction Teams 
(PRTs) (reftel).  De Hoop Scheffer's Turkish interlocutors 
expressed support for a larger NATO role in Iraq.  End 
Summary. 
 
 
2. (C) During his February 18 visit introductory visit to 
Ankara, NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer met with President Sezer, 
PM Erdogan, FM Gul and MND Gonul.  MFA NATO Head of 
Department Alper Coskun told PolMilOff that the SYG raised 
essentially the same issues -- Afghanistan, Iraq, terrorism, 
and the Istanbul Summit -- in each meeting without going into 
detail.  MFA NATO DDG Ceylan told Pol-Mil Counselor February 
20 that de Hoop Scheffer requested more Turkish participation 
in NATO Afghanistan activities but focused his requests on 
filling out the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).  The 
SYG reiterated in all his meetings that failure in 
Afghanistan was not an option for NATO. 
 
 
3. (C) MND Gonul told the SYG that Turkey was willing to 
study requests for Afghanistan from NATO but, as Turkey 
already lead ISAF for six months, other countries should 
shoulder their share of the burden.  De Hoop Scheffer was 
quoted in the press as having said "You have experienced 
forces.  You didn't send troops to Iraq, so you can 
contribute more to NATO."  At a press conference he said, 
"NATO may not play an active role in rebuilding Iraq." 
According to Coskun, GOT interlocutors replied that they 
would consider larger contributions to Afghanistan but were 
compelled to keep some resources available for Iraq, lest 
NATO decide to undertake action there. 
 
 
Speaking of Iraq... 
 
 
3. (C) Coskun said the SYG told the GOT that NATO would have 
a difficult time refusing an Iraqi request for NATO forces 
after the transfer of sovereignty.  Coskun said that in such 
missions, NATO needs all the forces it can muster, and the 
troops of no willing nation could be refused.  He added that 
Turkey would expect its contribution NOT to be hijacked by 
the Kurds.  At a press conference following a lunch in honor 
of the SYG, PM Erdogan said, "NATO has not yet taken over any 
duty in Iraq, but we believe that a NATO role in Iraq would 
be a good decision... In the same way that Turkey 
successfully took up its duty in Afghanistan it is also 
willing to do so in Iraq."  FM Gul told the press that Turkey 
was willing to contribute to a possible NATO role in Iraq if 
the UN were to take up a mission in Iraq and an invitation 
from the Iraqi people were extended. 
 
 
4. (C) Coskun said that the SYG only spoke of terrorism in 
general terms, noting that NATO trusted Turkey and Turkey 
could trust NATO.  On the NATO Istanbul Summit, possible 
agenda items of Afghanistan, Iraq, Med Dialogue, Relations 
with Partners and a NATO-EU Declaration were raised but 
without real discussion. 
 
 
5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
EDELMAN