US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3552

S E C R E T ANKARA 003552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PM A/S BLOOMFIELD, EUR/SE AND EUR/RPM; OSD FOR 
DASD HOEHN; EUCOM FOR RADM GOODWIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE (GDP) REVIEW:  TURKS NOT 
LIKELY TO HAVE MORE INFORMED JUDGMENT ON STATIONING OF F16S 
BEFORE NATO SUMMIT 
 
REF: ANKARA 3499 
 
Classified By: (U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman.  Reasons: 
 1.5 (B and D). 
 
1. (S) MFA Deputy U/S Baki Ilkin told the Ambassador June 23 
that the Turks would not have a more informed view of the 
potential request concerning stationing of F-16s in Turkey 
before the NATO Summit next week.  (Note:  MFA U/S Ziyal told 
visiting State PM A/S Bloomfield at the close of their June 
17 meeting that he would try to provide us such a view before 
the Summit, reftel.  End note.)  Ilkin said there had been 
discussions between MFA and the Turkish General Staff (TGS) 
following A/S Bloomfield's meetings, but nothing concrete had 
materialized thus far.  He said there were some things the 
Turks likely could support; others they might not be able to 
support.  Ilkin said MFA and TGS officials would continue to 
discuss the potential request involving F-16s, and that the 
MFA would advise us once it had a more informed view. 
 
2. (S) TGS/J5 Strategy Branch Chief Col Erdem told deputy 
pol-mil counselor earlier June 23 that TGS had spent "a lot 
of long hours" on the GDP review following A/S Bloomfield's 
visit.  He said TGS was "working hard" on the issue and added 
that TGS CHOD GEN Ozkok would be a position to have "a very 
fruitful discussion with GEN Jones" when the two meet on the 
margins of the NATO Summit. 
EDELMAN