US embassy cable - 05ANKARA949

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000949 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATO TRAINING 
MISSION IN IRAQ 
 
REF: A. A) ANKARA 898 
 
     B. B) USNATO 110 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.4 ( 
b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) During a wide-ranging discussion of Middle East issues 
with the DCM on February 16, MFA Director General for Middle 
East and South Asia Affairs Oguz Celikkol highlighted 
Turkey's support for the NATO training mission in Iraq 
through its offer to train Iraqi Security Force leadership in 
Ankara.  He lamented that Iraq did not take Turkey up on this 
offer before the January 30 elections and emphasized his hope 
that the US would encourage the Iraqis to do so now. 
 
2. (C) While acknowledging the US appreciation for Turkey's 
contribution to the training mission, DCM took advantage of 
the opening to remind Celikol of the continuing need for 
personnel to fill NATO training slots in Baghdad.  Celikkol 
was aware of the requirement and said his government would 
review it. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Post continues to believe that Turkey would 
be more positively inclined to support the request for 
trainers in Baghdad if the Iraqis weighed in directly with 
the Turks to tell them that a Turkish contribution of 
trainers to NTM-I would be welcome.  End Comment. 
 
4. (U) Baghdad minimized considered. 
 
EDELMAN