US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3482

S E C R E T ANKARA 003482 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PM A/S BLOOMFIELD, EUR/SE AND EUR/RPM; OSD FOR 
DASD HOEHN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2014 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: WEAPONS DEPLOYMENT TRAINING (WTDS) AT KONYA:  TGS 
CONSIDERS ISSUE "OPEN," WILLING TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman.  Reasons:  1.5 
(B and D). 
 
1. (S) During discussions with PM A/S Bloomfield's delegation 
on Global Force Posture review June 17 (septel), Turkish 
General Staff (TGS) DCHOD GEN Basbug said that TGS was 
prepared to continue discussions on USAFE's proposed 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Weapons Deployment 
Training (WTDs) at Konya if the US was still interested. 
Basbug said there appeared to be some misunderstanding and 
confusion surrounding this issue.  In the beginning, TGS 
found the issue to be complex and confusing.  Now, it seems 
more clear.  Based on his understanding of the issue, Basbug 
said USAFE's proposed MOU does not appear to be breaking "new 
ground."  Rather, it appears to take into consideration new 
dimensions in training such as night flying, low-altitude 
flying, use of live fire, and chaff and flares.  Basbug said 
that he considers these issues "military technical problems" 
that can be discussed.  While he made clear he could not 
guarantee that all of USAFE's requests would be approved, TGS 
considers the issue "open" and is willing to discuss it 
further. 
 
2. (S) Basbug said that if the US "insists on using Konya for 
training," it can be discussed.  However, if the US is 
"looking to station aircraft there," that would have to be 
discussed elsewhere, since that is "outside of the DECA." 
 
3. (S) Comment:  Basbug's decision to re-open the issue of 
the use of Konya for WTDs is a positive one.  Only last 
month, after months of back-and-forth discussions between TGS 
and USAFE on an MOU for the use of Konya, TGS rejected 
USAFE's proposal on the grounds that the Defense and Economic 
Agreement (DECA) of 1980 already provides for training 
opportunities at Incirlik Air Base and therefore there was no 
need to negotiate a separate MOU.  TGS's decision came as a 
surprise to us, since USAFE decided in part to pursue WTDs 
using Konya range and operating out of both Incirlik and 
Konya ABs in response to requests from Turkish Air Force 
Commander GEN Firtina, who has encouraged USAFE and other US 
military officials to fly out of both Konya and Incirlik ABs. 
 We understand that USAFE would generally prefer to operate 
out of IAB, to take advantage of the existing infrastructure, 
but would like to include Konya in the MOU/TA to both support 
GEN Firtina and have at least one other base approved for 
training operations should there be some reason that Incirlik 
was not available (avoid Incirlik as "single point of 
failure" for WTD planning). 
 
4. (S) ODC Chief intends to follow up with TGS/J5 for 
Agreements Major General Acar (who is currently TDY and did 
not participate in the meeting) early next week to identify 
TGS process to discuss the "military technical problems" and 
gain approval for USAFE's MOU/TA requirements. 
EDELMAN