US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2736

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002736 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, S, P, D 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN:  PM APPROVES PROPOSAL FOR PRT IN 
TAKHAR; AUTHORIZES FUNDING FOR 3 HELOS FOR ISAF 
 
 
REF: A) ANKARA 2542 B) ANKARA 2465 AND PREVIOUS 
 
 
(U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch. 
Reasons:  1.5 (B and D). 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) PM Erdogan approved the MFA/TGS proposal to establish 
a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Takhar province and 
agreed to provide the requisite funding.  The MFA will 
instruct its missions in Kabul, Brussels and Washington to 
inform the appropriate authorities.  Turkey will not consider 
an alternative location, we are told.  MFA asked that the US 
back Turkey's proposal in its discussions with Allies, SHAPE 
and Afghani officials.  PM Erdogan also authorized TGS's 
request for $1.5M for spare parts and maintenance for the 
three Turkish helicopters for ISAF.  The helicopters should 
arrive in Afghanistan before the end of May 2004.  MFA denies 
press reports that Turkey is considering a request to provide 
300 troops for security during the Afghan elections.  End 
summary. 
 
 
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PM BACKS PROPOSAL FOR PRT IN TAKHAR 
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2. (C) MFA DDG for South Asian Affairs Aydin Evirgen told 
deputy pol-mil counselor May 13 that PM Erdogan had approved 
the MFA/TGS request to establish a PRT in Takhar province. 
Evirgen said the PM's approval also included necessary 
funding (NFI) to establish and maintain the PRT.  (One press 
account cited a figure of $10M/year.)  The MFA will instruct 
its missions in Kabul, Brussels and Washington to inform the 
relevant authorities of Turkey's decision.  If Turkey's 
proposal is not accepted, Turkey will not consider 
establishing a PRT in an alternative location.  "It is Takhar 
province or nothing," Evirgin said.  Evirgen said the GOT 
would appreciate the USG's support for Turkey's proposal in 
its interactions with other Allies, SHAPE and Afghan 
authorities. 
 
 
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PM AUTHORIZES FUNDING FOR THREE HELOS FOR ISAF 
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3. (C) Evirgen said PM Erdogan had approved TGS's request for 
$1.5M for spare parts and maintenance for the three Turkish 
helicopters for ISAF.  He said TGS planners were working hard 
to deliver on TGS CHOD GEN Ozkok's pledge at last week's NATO 
CHODs meeting to deliver the helos to Afghanistan by the end 
of May 2004. 
 
 
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TURKISH TROOPS FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS? 
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4. (C) Evirgen denied a Turkish press report that the GOT was 
considering a request to send 300 troops to Afghanistan to 
provide security during the Afghan elections.  He said the 
GOT had not received such a request -- "not from NATO, the 
Afghanis or any other country."  When asked how the GOT might 
respond if it were to receive such a request, Evirgen said, 
while he believed the MFA would positively consider such a 
request, he could not be certain how TGS would respond. 
 
 
5. (U) Kabul minimize considered. 
EDELMAN