US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3575

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003575 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014 
TAGS: MARR, MOPS, PREL, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: TURKEY EXTENDS DECREE ALLOWING USE OF TURKISH 
FACILITIES TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION 
EFFORTS IN IRAQ 
 
REF: A) ANKARA 3495 B) ANKARA 3482 
 
Classified By: Political-Military Affairs Counselor Timothy A. Betts. 
Reasons:  1.5 (B and D). 
 
1. (C) On June 23, 2004, Turkey's Council of Ministers (COM) 
extended for one year the decree allowing the use of Turkish 
bases and ports for humanitarian and reconstruction 
operations in Iraq.  The President signed the decree later 
that day.  The decree does not require parliamentary 
approval. 
 
2. (C) Comment: During the last year, the June 2003 decree 
provided Turkish authorities sufficient legal basis to 
approve three important Iraq-related requests from the US: 
stationing of aerial refueling tankers at Incirlik Air Base 
(IAB) in support of OEF and OIF operations, blanket 
overflight clearances for aircraft supporting OIF, and the 
use of IAB to rotate US troops out of Iraq.  The extension of 
the decree should provide the necessary legal basis to allow 
the Turkish General Staff to allow the tankers to continue 
operating, as EUCOM recently requested (ref a).  (Note:  in 
fact, tanker operations at IAB continue today, June 24.  End 
note.) 
 
3. (C) Comment continued:  The decree may also provide 
sufficient legal basis for Turkish authorities to consider 
positively EUCOM's June 16 request to establish a cargo hub 
at IAB to support OEF and OIF operations (ref a), as some GOT 
officials have suggested.  TGS Deputy J5 for Agreements Major 
General Acar told ODC Chief June 24 that TGS and MFA had 
agreed during a June 23 meeting to consider EUCOM's cargo hub 
request.  On next steps, Acar said TGS and the Turkish Air 
Force would hold internal meetings and then would be prepared 
to discuss the request with appropriate US military 
representatives.  Acar said he is drafting a letter (for TGS 
DCHOD GEN Basbug's approval) to ODC Chief that will outline 
the process, but declined to elaborate further.  End comment. 
 
4. (C) Unrelated to the decree, Acar confirmed what TGS DCHOD 
GEN Basbug had told visiting State PM A/S Bloomfield June 17 
regarding Weapons Deployment Training (WTDs):  TGS and MFA 
are willing to consider USAFE's request to conduct WTDs in 
Turkey (ref b).  Acar said his forthcoming letter to ODC 
chief on the cargo hub will also outline the process for the 
way ahead on WTDs. 
EDELMAN