US embassy cable - 04ANKARA1474

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001474 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2013 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: TURKS PLEASED WITH RESULTS OF AFGHAN MINISTER OF 
DEFENSE FAHIM'S FIRST VISIT TO ANKARA 
 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch.  Reasons:  1.5 (B and 
D). 
 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) MFA officials characterized Afghan Minister of Defense 
Fahim Khan's March 8-11 visit to Turkey as successful in 
terms of beginning the process of building lasting relations 
with a key Afghan figure.  Fahim, who was in Ankara at the 
invitation of the GOT, met separately with TGS CHOD GEN 
Ozkok, Minister of Interior Aksu, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Gul, and Minister of Defense Gonul.  Khan made a number of 
general pitches for continued Turkish support for 
reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Afghanistan.  GOT 
officials expressed their interest in making sure Afghanistan 
succeeds, and pledged their commitment to working with Afghan 
authorities to maintain the country,s unity and territorial 
integrity.  Fahim expressed his appreciation for the 
outstanding performance of the Turkish soldiers during 
Turkey,s leadership of ISAF.  GEN Ozkok said that Turkey 
would continue to contribute forces to ISAF and &Turkey may 
be taking on new responsibilities (i.e. establishing a PRT) 
in the future.8  Ozkok and MOD Gonul also expressed an 
interested in continuing to support the Afghan National Army, 
while Aksu said the Turkish police were interested in 
deepening their cooperation with their Afghan counterparts. 
End summary. 
 
 
2. (C) MFA South Asian Department Head Ergin Soner provided 
deputy pol-mil counselor on March 11 the following readout of 
Afghanistan Minister of Defense Fahim's meetings with senior 
GOT officials during his March 8-11 visit to Ankara: 
 
 
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TGS CHOD Ozkok 
-------------- 
 
 
--Fahim and Ozkok stressed the long historical ties and 
friendly relations between Turkish and Afghan peoples. 
 
 
--Fahim expressed his appreciation for the outstanding 
performance of the Turkish soldiers during Turkey,s 
leadership of ISAF.  Fahim said that Afghanis were 
&saddened8 by the end of Turkey,s leadership role and the 
departure of most of the Turkish soldiers. 
 
 
--Ozkok said that Turkey would continue to contribute forces 
to ISAF.  In an indirect reference to Turkey,s proposal to 
establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Ozkok said 
&Turkey may be taking on new responsibilities in the 
future.8 
 
 
--Fahim asked the Turkish military to continue to support the 
Afghan National Army.  Ozkok expressed his interest in 
continuing to do so, but did not make any specific 
commitments.  Later in the meeting, however, Ozkok said the 
Turkish military would continue to provide uniforms and other 
supplies, assist the Afghans with the development of military 
instruction manuals, offer support for military academies in 
Afghanistan, and open Turkish military academies to Afghan 
officers and NCOs. 
 
 
--Fahim and Ozkok discussed the importance of Turkey and 
Afghanistan continuing to work together to combat terrorism 
and illicit drug trafficking in the region. 
 
 
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Minister of the Interior Aksu 
----------------------------- 
 
 
--During the brief meeting, Fahim asked the GOT to continue 
supporting the Afghan national police.  Aksu noted that 
Turkey already was providing limited training and equipment, 
and said the Turkish police were interested in deepening 
their cooperation. 
 
 
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Gul 
------------------------------- 
 
 
--Fahim and Gul focused their brief discussion on their 
shared desire to increase Turkey,s contributions to 
reconstruction and economic developments in Afghanistan. 
Both agreed that a secure and stable Afghanistan was required 
before the country could fully develop. 
 
 
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Minister of Defense Gonul 
------------------------- 
 
 
--Gonul expressed interest in exploring possible areas of 
Turkish-Afghan cooperation in the defense industry.  He 
proposed establishing joint ventures in Afghanistan to 
produce much of the military equipment (i.e. uniforms, boots) 
that Turkey and other nations currently provide from abroad. 
Fahim agreed the proposal was worth exploring, but noted that 
Afghanistan currently lacked the capability and therefore 
would have to continue to import &everything8 from abroad 
for the foreseeable future. 
 
 
--Fahim asked Turkey to continue to support the ANA.  He 
stressed the important historical role that the Turkish 
military had played in Afghanistan,s past, and said he 
wanted to boost the number of exchange and educational 
programs between Turkish and Afghan officers.  Gonul 
concurred and proposed that Afghan and Turkish MOD officials 
meet to discuss specifics. 
 
 
--Gonul expressed concern for the fate of two Turkish 
nationals who were kidnapped in Afghanistan whose whereabouts 
were unknown.  Fahim promised to look into the matter and get 
back to Gonul. 
EDELMAN