US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3121

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003121 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, SA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: TURKEY MAY RECONSIDER WITHDRAWAL OF 
OFFER TO LEAD PRT 
 
 
REF: ANKARA 2947 AND PREVIOUS 
 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman.  Reasons:  1.5 
(B and D). 
 
 
1. (C) During a June 4 meeting that included UK Ambassador 
Westmacott to discuss Cyprus (septel), Ambassador again 
encouraged MFA U/S Ziyal to consider establishing a 
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the west or the south 
of Afghanistan.  Ziyal was adamant that Turkey would not 
establish a PRT in either location.  He complained that 
Representative Lantos had characterized Turkey's 
contributions to Afghanistan thus far as "disgraceful," 
noting that Turkey had led ISAF II during a difficult 
eight-month period in 2002-2003, had sent three helos to 
Kabul to support ISAF operations, and was preparing to deploy 
the Istanbul High Readiness Force (HRF) to Kabul in February 
2005 to assume ISAF command if NATO so chooses.  Ambassadors 
urged Ziyal not to withdraw Turkey's offer and to consider 
working out a compromise, as US Ambassador to NATO Burns 
suggested earlier to Turkish PermRep Uzumcu.  Ziyal agreed 
that it would not look good for Turkey to "walk away" on the 
eve of the NATO Summit and said he would "think about it." 
 
 
2. (C) Earlier that day, MFA DDG for South Asian Affairs 
Aydin Evirgen told deputy pol-mil counselor that Turkey had 
withdrawn its PRT offer.  Evirgen said Ankara's decision was 
"final:"  both FM Gul and PM Erdogan had approved the 
decision, and the MFA had instructed its mission at NATO to 
advise SHAPE and NATO accordingly.  Evirgen said the GOT took 
the decision because it was clear that Turkey's thinking on 
PRTs was not consistent with SHAPE's.  He argued the "final 
straw" was a letter that the COS of SHAPE had sent recently 
to the Turkish General Staff (TGS) "pressing" the Turks to 
establish a PRT in the west or the south.  Given SHAPE's 
position, there was "no need to prolong the matter any 
further," Evirgen concluded.  When asked whether Ankara might 
reconsider its position, Evirgen replied "No.  I believe the 
decision is final." 
 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Even if Ziyal decides to try to reverse the 
decision to withdraw Turkey's PRT offer, we doubt Ankara will 
agree to locate its first PRT in the west or the south.  Our 
choice will most likely be to either agree to a location in 
the north or accept that the NATO Summit hosts will not 
contribute a PRT to Afghanistan. 
EDELMAN