US embassy cable - 05ANKARA353

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2030 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, PGOV, TU, AF, UK 
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: TURKEY CONSIDERING UK REQUEST TO TAKE 
OVER PRT IN NORTH 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 7. 
 
2. (C) Summary:  Turkey is positively considering a request 
by HMG to assume responsibility for the UK PRT in Mazar-e 
Sharif to help free up resources for the UK to lead a PRT in 
ISAF's Stage 3 expansion region, according to the Turkish MFA 
and confirmed by the British Embassy in Ankara.  Ankara has 
not yet responded to London, preferring first to hear 
Washington's view after exploring the subject with the 
British.  Turkey will not consider leading a PRT in ISAF 
stage 2 or stage 3 areas.  Instead, the GOT will abandon the 
idea of leading a PRT if this proposal doesn't work.  We 
understand from USNATO that some Nordics have already stepped 
up to take over Mazar.  If this is true and we and the HMG no 
longer need or want the Turks to lead an existing PRT in the 
north, we recommend telling the GOT this as soon as possible. 
 End summary. 
 
3. (C) Following up on Foreign Minister Gul's remark to 
CENTCOM Commander GEN Abizaid January 11 that Turkey was 
again considering leading a PRT in Afghanistan (septel), on 
Jan. 18 PolMilCouns called on MFA South Asia DDG Aydin 
Evirgen.  Evirgen confirmed that Turkey was again looking at 
leading a PRT in the north.  "We have no intention to go into 
Stage 2 or 3," he said, due to "logistic and security 
problems."  The British had approached the GOT several times 
over the past several months about the possibility of Turkey 
taking over one of its PRTs in the north -- either Meymaneh 
or Mazar-e Sharif, most recently during TGS Chief GEN Ozkok's 
visit to London.  (The British Embassy later confirmed that 
the British Chief of Defense raised the possibility with 
Ozkok on Jan. 10.)   This would free up resources for the 
British to take over the US PRT in Kandahar, Evirgen said. 
The Norwegian Embassy had informed the Turks that Oslo was 
interested in taking Meymaneh.  After consultations between 
MFA and TGS, Turkey would take Mazar sometime after the Turks 
relinquish command of ISAF VII "if offered," Evirgen declared. 
 
4. (C) In discussing the meaning of "if offered," Evirgen 
explained that after last year's experience of offering PRTs 
in certain locations only to have them rejected by SHAPE and 
the US, Ankara wanted Washington and London to discuss the 
possibility first.  If the USG, HMG and SACEUR agreed that 
this arrangement was desired, then the GOT would express its 
willingness at NATO.  He said that Turkey had not indicated 
its willingness to take over the PRT in Mazar to the UK; 
Ankara preferred the British hear it from the US.  (We have 
alerted the British Embassy here to this.)  In any event, a 
decision would be needed in the next few weeks for Turkey to 
be ready to assume the Mazar PRT shortly after the end of 
ISAF VII. 
 
5. (C) PolMilCouns raised the question of Turkey's historic 
ties to Afghan warlord Dostum.  Evirgen said that he 
understood sensitivities about this had factored into 
rejecting Turkey's original proposal to establish a PRT in 
Meymaneh.  He thought these concerns were unfounded at that 
time, and argued that the situation in Afghanistan had 
evolved so this should not be a factor any longer.  In any 
event, the GOT was advising Dostum and others in Afghanistan 
that "the time of the warlords is over; only political 
leaders will count now."  He said Turkey had encouraged 
Dostum to support the political and DDR processes. 
 
6. (C) Evirgen said that NATO was currently looking at 
establishing stage 2 PRTs in Baghdis and Goh.  PolMilCouns 
recalled Turkey's willingness to cover Baghdis from Meymaneh 
when Ankara proposed having a PRT there and asked whether 
Ankara would consider establishing a new PRT there.  Evirgen 
responded that the conditions there were very tough and while 
Turkey had been willing to visit Baghdis periodically from 
Meymaneh, it would not consider a PRT outside of the north. 
He thought that the suggestion to take over a British PRT 
would be Ankara's last offer on PRTs. 
 
7. (C) Action request:  The Turks are clearly a bit reluctant 
to move forward on this due to their previous experience of 
the alliance's rejection of their previous PRT offers.  If 
this is a nonstarter, either because London has already lined 
up others to assume control of their PRTs or for other 
reasons, we should let the Turks know as soon as possible. 
We request Washington consult with HMG and provide guidance 
on how we should proceed. 
 
8. (U) Kabul minimize considered. 
EDELMAN