US embassy cable - 05ANKARA358

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 000358 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO NEA/I, S/CT AND EU/SE DOUG SILLIMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2015 
TAGS: OVIP, PTER, TU 
SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST AND 
CENTRAL ASIA WITH TURKISH NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL ALPOGAN 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (S) SUMMARY. General Abizaid held a wide-ranging 
discussion with Turkey's National Security Council (NSC) 
Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan on areas of mutual concern in 
 
SIPDIS 
the Middle East and Central Asia as well as Turkey's 
challenges in Cyprus.  Both shared the view that, despite 
periodic disagreements, the two countries' historically close 
bilateral relationship remained important and should be 
nurtured through open dialogue.  Alpogan called Turkey's 
first priority in Iraq the fulfillment of the January 30 
elections on schedule, adding that Turkey shares US concerns 
about low Sunni participation but hopes Iraqi Shiites will 
support the formation of a new Iraq and reach out to Sunnis 
after the election.  Alpogan acknowledged Syrian protection 
of Former Regime Elements (FREs) and suggested Turkish 
authorities could raise the issue with Syria.  He noted that 
Turkey will send up to 1,700 people to Afghanistan during its 
command of ISAF VII and expressed confidence that security 
would improve as the number of PRTs increased.  He 
acknowledged Turkey's suspicions about Iran's nuclear 
development program but voiced support for the EU-3 
negotiation process.  Alpogan urged Turkey and the US to work 
together against Russian designs in Turkmenistan and called a 
Cyprus settlement Turkey's biggest challenge in the coming 
year.  General Abizaid explained that the US understood 
Turkey's concerns about the PKK presence in northern Iraq, 
agreed that the PKK was a terrorist organization, and assured 
Alpogan that, in due course, measures would be taken against 
the PKK threat.  He also noted the importance to the US of a 
logistics hub operation at Incirlik Air Base to serve the 
OEF/OIF Areas of Responsibility and urged Turkey's positive 
response.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) On January 11, Commander Central Command General John 
Abizaid met with Yigit Alpogan, Turkey's first civilian NSC 
SecGen, to discuss areas of mutual cooperation in the Middle 
East and Central Asia.  Accompanying Alpogan were Special 
Advisor Kennan Ipek, Acting External Security Department 
Chief Gursel Demirok, Deputy SecGen MG Emin Unal and 
Mobilization Department Chief BG Tayyar Elmas, and MFA 
Americas Department Officers Meral Barlas and Lale Agusman. 
General Abizaid was joined by Ambassador Edelman, CENTCOM 
POLAD Ambassador Holzman, EUCOM Director of Strategy, Plans 
and Assessments MG Scott Gration, Turkey Office of Defense 
Cooperation Chief MG Peter Sutton, General Abizaid's 
Executive Officer Col Joe Reynes, Turkey DATT Roman Hrycaj, 
and DepPolMilCouns Maggie Nardi. 
 
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BILATERAL RELATIONS 
------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) General Abizaid opened by thanking Turkey for its 
support in the broader Middle East, despite periodic 
differences between the US and Turkey.  He looked forward to 
continued good relations between the two countries under the 
Turkish command of International Security Assistance Force 
(ISAF) VII in Afghanistan starting in February.  SecGen 
Alpogan responded that Turkey attached great importance to 
its relationship with the US.  In his view, there were two 
primary pillars in Turkey's relationship with the West, the 
US and the EU, which he saw as complementary, not 
contradictory.  Alpogan opined that the Turkish/US 
relationship should not be limited to the military but should 
encompass political, economic and social aspects. 
Acknowledging recent bumps in the relationship, Alpogan said 
that visits, such as the one by General Abizaid, as well as 
those by Turkish officials to the US, helped to nurture that 
relationship.   He added that dialogue was the only way to 
achieve a common understanding, suggesting that a lack of 
sufficient dialogue may have contributed to recent 
disagreements. 
 
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IRAQI ELECTIONS 
--------------- 
 
4. (S) Saying that, if there is a fire next door to your 
house, you can't remain aloof, SecGen Alpogan said Iraq was a 
major concern for Turkey.  He emphasized that Turkey shared 
the US view that Iraqi elections must be held as scheduled on 
January 30.  In his view, ensuring this outcome would be 
worth all of the current problems.  If elections were held on 
time, in a more or less orderly fashion, the process of 
democratization would move forward.  The election of a 
representative government would ensure even greater success. 
Alpogan agreed with the General that the elections were not 
just for Shiites, Sunnis or Kurds, but for all Iraqis. 
Turkey recognized the need for Sunni participation but the 
situation was fluid and Alpogan could not predict the 
outcome.  Historically, Shiites didn't participate in the 
formation of Iraq and were left out of the process.  Alpogan 
said he did not want to see the same happen with Sunnis. 
While a Shiia-dominated parliament was inevitable since they 
comprised 60 pct. of the population, Shiites living in Iraq 
were adversaries of Ayatollah Khomeini and saw themselves 
first and foremost as Iraqi Shiites.  In Alpogan's view, they 
support the creation of their own country and understand that 
all Arabs are watching their actions.  Under these 
circumstances it will be difficult for them to follow the 
Iranian model. 
 
5. (S) General Abizaid said US and Turkish interests in Iraq 
were convergent.  Elections were the best weapon against 
extremists and necessary to continue the political process. 
He welcomed Turkey's efforts to convince Sunnis to 
participate.  The transition from a selected to an elected 
government would provide a broader degree of stability and 
legitimacy to the Iraqi authorities.  Only through the 
election of a government and drafting of a new constitution 
could the goal of stability be achieved.  The General 
emphasized a well-trained and equipped Iraqi Security Force 
was also critical to the achievement of that goal, adding 
that Iraqis were fighting for their country every day and he 
hoped that Turkey and other countries would assist in 
training and advising the new Iraqi Security Forces. 
 
6. (S) Kirkuk Provincial Elections: Alpogan underscored that 
provincial elections in Kirkuk must be held at the same time 
as the general elections.  After all his government had done 
for them, Alpogan said Turkey resented the approach of 
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Talabani and 
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Barzani to Iraq, 
including their efforts to postpone the Kirkuk elections. 
However, he added that Turkey was a big country and the Kurds 
were relatives, so Turkey would tolerate them.  General 
Abizaid responded that, based on his conversations with 
Barzani and Talabani, both were listening to Turkey and 
recognized Turkey's power and its interests in Iraq.  In the 
General's view, both were trying to hold Iraq together, not 
take it apart and create an independent Kurdistan.  Alpogan 
expressed appreciation for this feedback and reiterated 
Turkey's interest in a single, united Iraq. 
 
7. (S) Insurgency: Regarding insurgent activity, General 
Abizaid said Zarqawi and others wanted to disturb the Persian 
Gulf oil flow.  They had dark ideas but no vision for the 
future.  In his view, their ideology was not gaining ground 
but still the international community had to remain steadfast 
and strong.  He added that al Qaida was in Saudia Arabia and 
spreading.  He considered the Iraqi resolve against al Qaida 
to be stronger than that of the Saudis but still in need of 
confidence-building. 
 
------------------------ 
PKK - YOU KNOW OUR VIEWS 
------------------------ 
 
8. (S) Turning to the PKK, Alpogan said the US was aware of 
Turkey's concerns.  Noting the PKK trilateral talks going on 
at the same time (septel), he said would not dwell on the 
subject but hoped the discussion would be fruitful.  General 
Abizaid acknowledged US recognition of Turkey's concerns with 
the PKK and our agreement that the PKK was a terrorist 
organization.  He underscored the US commitment to work in 
conjunction with Turkey and Iraq against the PKK at the 
appropriate moment but emphasized that the first and foremost 
US objective was to deal with the current threats from the al 
Zarqawi group and former Baathists. 
 
---------------------- 
SYRIAN SUPPORT OF FRES 
---------------------- 
 
9. (S) In the General's view, it was clear the Syrians were 
allowing Baathists to operate from Damascus.  Syria had also 
permitted Baathist infiltration into Mosul and Fallujah to 
fight coalition forces.  The US had sent a sharp reminder to 
Syria that it should work with the US.  Alpogan responded 
that Syria had made some positive gestures, including the 
release of funds belonging to the former regime.  He agreed, 
however, that it was a fact that former regime elements 
(FREs) were being treated well in Syria.  Saying that Turkey 
frequently visited Syria, Alpogan urged the General to raise 
US concerns with FM Gul and ask for Turkey's assistance. 
 
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TURKISH COMMAND IN AFGHANISTAN 
------------------------------ 
 
10. (S) ISAF VII: General Abizaid welcomed Turkish command of 
ISAF VII beginning in February and looked forward to 
continued good relations between our two countries in 
Afghanistan under Turkish leadership.  The US was looking for 
a greater NATO role, particularly in the West.  Alpogan said 
that Turkey, particularly the military, fully backed the US 
effort in Afghanistan.  He viewed the security situation 
there as stabilizing, and said he expected this to spread 
further as the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams 
(PRTs) increased.  The official Turkish presence in 
Afghanistan would increase from 242 people and three 
helicopters to almost 1,700 people when Turkey took over in 
February. 
 
11. (S) Counter-Narcotics:  The General noted widespread 
concern among the Central Asian Republics about Afghanistan's 
opium crop and emphasized that the countries in the region 
must work together against this problem.  Intel-sharing was 
key. 
 
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CARGO HUB 
--------- 
 
12. (S) Noting logistical issues related to supplying 
international operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, General 
Abizaid reminded Alpogan of the US request to establish a 
logistics hub at Incirlik Air Base to serve Operation 
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  For Iraq in 
particular, a cargo hub could ease pressure on the Ground 
Line of Communication (GLOC) at Habur Gate and assist Force 
Protection efforts.  After clarifying that the hub would 
serve for the transport of cargo only, Alpogan said that, in 
the end, this was a political decision.  He offered to speak 
with his counterparts but urged the US to talk with the other 
involved government entities. 
 
------------------------- 
IRANIAN NUCLEAR AMBITIONS 
------------------------- 
 
13. (S) General Abizaid underscored that Iran's nuclear 
ambitions were a bad idea.  Alpogan agreed, opining that Iran 
could not use "security needs" as an excuse to continue its 
uranium enrichment and re-processing program because no 
country had territorial designs on Iran.  Given its large 
natural gas supply, and its oil supply, neither could it 
claim the excuse of "energy needs."  Turkey recognized that 
Iran might have ulterior motives but was awaiting the outcome 
of the EU-3 discussions with Iran and hoping Iran would make 
the right decision.  Alpogan advised approaching the 
situation cautiously. 
 
-------------------------------- 
OUR NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IS CYPRUS 
-------------------------------- 
 
14. (S) With the December 17 EU decision to give Turkey a 
date to start accession negotiations behind Turkey, Alpogan 
said getting a peace agreement on Cyprus was the government's 
biggest problem, and Greek Cypriot President Papadopolous the 
root of the problem.  Alpogan said Turkey wanted to find a 
solution and would look for help from the US and UK.  We 
could not allow the problem to drag on, or let one man hold 
up the process.  It was unfortunate that the Annan Plan was 
rejected but the future of the island could not be at the 
mercy of one person - Papadopolous.  Alpogan said that the 
groundwork for a solution could be laid before the February 
20 elections in the north.  After the elections, negotiations 
could begin.  According to Alpogan, no decision had been made 
regarding PM Erdogan's travel to the Davos conference to 
discuss this. 
 
--------------------- 
TURKISH ROLE IN MEPP? 
--------------------- 
 
15. (S) With the passing of Chairman Arafat, Alpogan said he 
saw a window of opportunity for a solution to achieve peace 
in the Middle East.  FM Gul was pleased with his trip to 
Israel and his meeting with the Palestinians, according to 
Alpogan.  If there was a role for Turkey, the government 
would take it.  General Abizaid acknowledged that a possible 
Turkish role could be a positive factor. 
 
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BALANCING THE RUSSIANS IN TURKMENISTAN 
-------------------------------------- 
 
16. (S) Noting that he had served as Turkey's Ambassador to 
Turkmenistan for three years, Alpogan highlighted his 
positive relationship with US officials there.  While 
pointing out that PM Erdogan was currently in Moscow meeting 
with President Putin to strengthen those relations, he said 
the US and Turkey must work together to balance the large and 
influential Russian presence in Turkmenistan.  Turkey had 
linguistic and cultural ties there but this alone was not 
enough. 
 
17. (U) This cable was cleared by General Abizaid. 
 
18. (U) Minimize considered. 
EDELMAN