US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2542

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002542 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR SA/FO - AMB. TAYLOR; JCS FOR J5 COL SCHRADER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2029 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN/TURKISH PRT: FM GUL INFORMS NATO SYG 
THAT GOT WANTS TAKHAR 
 
 
REF: ANKARA 2465 
 
 
(U) Classified by PolMil Counselor Timothy A. Betts.  Reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 
1. (C) MFA NATO DDG Fatih Ceylan informed PolMilCouns May 5 
that NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer called FM Gul yesterday (5/4) 
about summit preparations.  The SYG took advantage of the 
call to also urge Turkey to work with Italy to establish a 
PRT in Herat.  Ceylan recalled that Turkey had had polmil 
talks with Italy on May 3 where the Italians made the same 
proposal.  Both the Italians and the SYG were told that 
Ankara's "priority is to establish a PRT in Takhar."  This 
position was floated with deputy permreps in Brussels on May 
4 as well.  Ceylan reiterated that TU has no intention of 
going outside of the stage 1 area (reftel).  Turkey's Embassy 
in Kabul was being instructed to inform the PRT ESC of 
Turkey's intention to establish a PRT in Takhar before the 
ESC's May 10 meeting so it might considered then. 
 
 
2. (C) PolMilCouns urged the GOT to consult with SHAPE and 
the PRT ESC about the most appropriate location for a Turkish 
PRT.  Ceylan replied that a Turkish delegation had gone to 
Afghanistan and talked to most of the responsible parties 
there, and Turkish officials had discussed options during 
Afghanistan Coordinator Amb Taylor's visit here.  A number of 
interlocutors encouraged Turkey to look at Baghlan, but that 
has now been taken by the Dutch, leaving Turkey few options 
for a location in the north.  He concluded by saying Turkey 
would look to its allies to the support and assist the 
realization of a Turkish PRT in Takhar. 
 
 
3. (U) Kabul minimize considered. 
EDELMAN