US embassy cable - 04ANKARA1372

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TURKEY WARILY EMBRACING PSI

Identifier: 04ANKARA1372
Wikileaks: View 04ANKARA1372 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Ankara
Created: 2004-03-08 14:50:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PARM MOPS PREL TU
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001372 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2014 
TAGS: PARM, MOPS, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY WARILY EMBRACING PSI 
 
 
REF: ANKARA 1120 
 
 
(U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy A. Betts, reasons 
1.4, b/d. 
 
 
1. (C) TGS Deputy J-5 MG Arslan told Pol-Mil Counselor 
February 18 that the GOT intended to act primarily as an 
observer of PSI in 2004 and planned more active participation 
in PSI activities in 2005.  Earlier Arslan had joked with 
PolMilOff that Turkey planned to be involved in PSI "as 
little as possible."  He noted that Turkey wanted to be 
involved in this important initiative but had reservations 
about some of the legal questions surrounding the activities. 
 (With Pol-Mil Counselor, he indicated these questions had 
more to do with domestic Turkish statutes than international 
law.)  In addition, resources in Turkey are always scarce. 
 
 
2. (C) Comment: At the February 18 Joint Staff Talks the GOT 
shared the recent communique from its BLACKSEAFOR political 
consultations (reftel).  The communique clearly indicates a 
regional willingness to use multinational forces to counter 
asymmetric threats, but GOT officials noted that Russia in 
particular was not ready to conduct PSI-like activities with 
the US in the Black Sea.  The Turks share our concerns about 
proliferation and smuggling but are likely waiting to see how 
the international community writ large accepts another bold 
US initiative and to ensure that their eventual contribution 
is consistent with domestic law before jumping in with both 
feet. 
EDELMAN 

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