US embassy cable - 05ANKARA1319

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Identifier:	05ANKARA1319
Wikileaks:	View 05ANKARA1319 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Ankara
Created:	2005-03-11 05:40:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL MOPS MARR GR TU
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001319 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE AND PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, GR, TU 
SUBJECT: GOT PROTESTS PORT VISIT BY US NAVY TO RHODES 
 
REF: 2003 ANKARA 140 
 
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Tim Betts, reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1. (U) The Embassy received on March 8 a Diplomatic Note 
dated March 4 regarding a Jan. 22-25 port visit to the island 
of Rhodes by the US Navy ship The Sullivans-DDG 68 
(DDG-Guided Missile Destroyer).  Text is at para. 3. 
 
2. (C) COMMENT: We believe this is the first formal protest 
by the GOT about a USN ship visit to Rhodes in almost two 
years (see reftel).  The GOT position as described in the 
Diplomatic Note is consistent with Ankara's long-standing 
position that any activity by an official military body, 
including port visits, is a violation of the 1947 treaty. 
Turkish officials well understand our differences over the 
interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Paris Peace 
Treaty, yet periodically believe they must restate their 
position. END COMMENT. 
 
3. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF MFA NOTE NO. 2005/DHGY/90426: 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey 
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States 
of America and has the honour to bring the following to the 
kind attention of the Embassy. 
 
The Ministry has been informed that the US navy vessel, THE 
SULLIVAN-68, paid a visit to the Island of Rhodes between 
22-25 January 2005. 
 
The Ministry would like to emphasize that Rhodes and other 
Dodecanese islands have been placed under a permanent 
demilitarized status by the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty which 
excludes all forms of military presence and activities on the 
said islands including port visits by naval vessels. 
 
Therefore, the Ministry requests the US Government to 
continue supporting the regime elaborated in the l947 Paris 
Peace Treaty. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey 
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of 
the United States of America the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
Ankara, 4 March 2005 
 
END TEXT. 
 
 
 
 
 
EDELMAN