US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3117

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003117 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2029 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, ETTC, TU 
SUBJECT: PSI: TURKEY COMMITTED TO EARNING CORE GROUP 
MEMBERSHIP 
 
REF: A. MOSCOW 7566 
     B. ANKARA 2719 
 
 
(U)  Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch.  Reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
 
1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 7. 
 
 
2. (C) Summary:  The GOT is committed to earning membership 
in the PSI and asks what it would take.  They also ask how 
Russia made the cut given Ankara's belief that Moscow has not 
participated in PSI activities.  MFA DG Morali expressed some 
disappointment with the Warsaw PSI anniversary meeting.  We 
urge Washington to take advantage of Turkey's new-found 
commitment to contributing to PSI.  End Summary. 
 
 
------------------------------------- 
A New-Found Commitment to Participate 
------------------------------------- 
 
 
3. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Disarmament/Arms 
Control Haluk Ilicak called in PolMilCouns June 3 to discuss 
PSI.  Ilicak said that he had attended an interagency meeting 
on June 1 convened by Turkish General Staff (TGS) J5 LTG 
Babaoglu and TGS J2 LTG Goksu on PSI.  At that meeting, the 
TGS briefer showed a slide indicating Turkey was a "core 
member" of PSI.  Ilicak said he noted the error, which lead 
to a discussion and the decision for the meeting with the 
Polmilcouns.  He said Turkey wanted to become a member of the 
core group and wanted to know what the criteria was to be 
included.  In response to a question, he confirmed that the 
determination to qualify for core group membership was not 
restricted to the military but was an official GOT position. 
This was later confirmed by MFA International Security 
Affairs Director General Morali in a June 4 discussion with 
the DCM.  Ilicak confided that TGS's enthusiasm would be key 
to ensuring a robust Turkish participation, and a concrete 
answer to the question of what it would take for Turkey to 
gain core group membership (and, conversely, why Turkey 
cannot be a core group member now) was important to 
maintaining that enthusiasm.  Ilicak accepted PolMilCouns 
explanation that, to date, Turkey had not actively 
participated in most PSI activities but merely observed, so 
core group membership was not yet appropriate.  He 
nonetheless reiterated his request for core group membership 
criteria. 
 
 
4. (C) Ilicak said that his office was working to complete a 
matrix of PSI-relevant domestic legislation and pertinent 
international treaties and agreements to which Turkey is a 
party.  He expected this would be concluded this summer. 
Then, the GOT would address what new legislation or 
amendments might be necessary to be able to better contribute 
to PSI activities. 
 
 
------------------------- 
The Core Group and Russia 
------------------------- 
 
 
5. (C) The Turkish Embassy in Moscow had reported a GOR 
announcement on May 31 that it was now a member of the PSI 
core group.  An Australian announcement welcoming Moscow's 
membership was read in Ankara as confirmation of the Moscow 
announcement, Ilicak said.  Referring to his request for 
criteria for core group membership, he commented that to the 
best of Ankara's knowledge, Russia had not participated in 
any PSI activities to date.  Ilicak asked what criteria had 
been applied for Russia's entry to the core group. 
 
 
------------------------- 
Unhappy Warsaw Experience 
------------------------- 
 
 
6. (C) Morali told the DCM that he had been disappointed by 
his experience at the Warsaw PSI anniversary meeting.  First, 
the invitation from the Poles was only for foreign ministry 
officials.  Morali thought Turkish Customs officials, among 
others, would had benefited from participation.  He also was 
irritated that some officials in Washington evidently thought 
Turkey was missing from the session.  He had gone out of his 
way to ensure Turkey had senior representation at the 
meeting--himself.  The DCM assured him that we appreciated 
his attendance.  (Ilicak had earlier explained that Morali 
had had to attend the meeting alone as Turkish President 
Sezer was visiting Poland at the same time and the Turkish 
Embassy was entirely occupied with that visit.) 
 
 
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Comment and Action Request:  Maintaining Turkish Enthusiasm 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
7. (C) Since Turkey was invited to participate in PSI its 
participation has been disappointing -- Embassy notetakers 
attended expert group meetings and military observers watched 
some exercises.  NP PDAS Burk's May visit (ref b) cleared up 
many of the misunderstandings the Turks had about what 
constitutes PSI participation.  They now understand that it 
is not necessary to dispatch a squadron of naval vessels to 
patrol the high seas; participation can be effective with 
only a modest expenditure of resources.  Nonetheless, the GOT 
(particularly the TGS) see PSI as an activity where Turkey 
can and should make a significant contribution, but it is 
still a bit confused over what and how to do that.  The 
answer to the question on core group membership criteria will 
help Ankara develop a road map to robust PSI participation. 
We request Washington provide us with an answer with as much 
specificity as possible.  We also request guidance to answer 
the question about Russia's accession to the core group. 
EDELMAN