US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3618

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003618 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE, SA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, AF, TU 
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN:  GOT'S DECISION NOT TO ESTABLISH A 
PRT REMAINS UNCHANGED 
 
REF: A) ANKARA 3121 B) ANKARA 3511 
 
Classified By: (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert S. Deut 
sch.  Reasons:  1.4 (B and D). 
 
1. (C) Deputy pol-mil counselor contacted MFA DDG for South 
Asian Affairs Aydin Evirgen June 25, following up on the 
Ambassador's earlier conversation with MFA U/S Ziyal on 
Turkish thinking on PRTs (ref a).  Evirgen said that Turkey 
had completely abandoned its proposal to establish a PRT in 
Takhar.  He noted that PM Erdogan recently had sent a letter 
to NATO SYG advising of Turkey's decision to abandon its PRT 
proposal, and added that the PM and other senior government 
officials had reiterated that position during a meeting June 
23.  Evirgen noted that Turkish General Staff (TGS) CHOD GEN 
Ozkok and SACEUR GEN Jones had discussed Afghanistan and PRTs 
the night before (June 23), but he did not elaborate further. 
 
2. (C) Evirgen said Turkey has shifted its focus in 
Afghanistan to preparing to deploy the NATO Rapid Deployment 
Corps-Turkey to Afghanistan in February 2005 if chosen by 
NATO.  Echoing TGS DCHOD GEN Basbug's earlier comment to the 
Ambassador (ref b), Evirgen said there were two issues that 
required clarification before the GOT could say "yes" to 
assuming ISAF command:  first, nailing down a rotation plan 
with a commitment from whomever would follow the Turks; and 
second, what percentage of the cost of the deployment would 
be paid by NATO.  On the former, Evirgen stressed that Turkey 
wanted to avoid a repeat of its experience in commanding ISAF 
II, when the Turks were required to remain on for an 
additional two months while they waited for Germany and the 
Netherlands to agree to assume command.  On the latter, he 
said the NATO budget committee was already considering what 
the Alliance's policy should be. 
EDELMAN