US embassy cable - 05ANKARA1900

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001900 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2024 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, TU, GR 
SUBJECT: TURKISH AEGEAN ACTIVITY RETURNING TO 2003 LEVELS 
 
REF: A. STATE 56622 
 
     B. ANKARA 1103 
     C. 04 ANKARA 6443 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman.  Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  2004 had specific events (Cyprus 
negotiations, Olympics, EU Summit) which prompted Ankara to 
hold down its flight activity in the Aegean down, but it is 
now apparently ramping its activity back up to 2003 levels. 
While the Turks see this as returning to normal, the military 
is irritated by the incessant Greek complaints, prompting TGS 
to post on its web site a counter-complaint of its own.  Most 
of the complaints come from Greek claims and requirements 
which appear contrary to international norms to the Turks. 
We have and will continue to council moderation and patience, 
and are heartened by both sides' continuing work on CBMs. 
End summary. 
 
2. (C) PolMilCouns inquired about Turkish activity in the 
Aegean with Turkish General Staff (TGS) J5 Greece/Cyprus 
Department head RADM Mucahit Sislioglu on March 30. 
Sislioglu confirmed that in February 2005, the number of 
Turkish Air Force (TUAF) flights over the Aegean (506) was up 
significantly over the previous two months (229 in January, 
220 in December), but the intent was merely to "return to 
normal."  He defined "normal" as the 2003 level, when Turkey 
flew roughly 400 sorties/month (a total of 4676 sorties). 
This was significantly lower than the 2002 level (6623 
sorties), he emphasized.  In 2004, air activity was unusually 
low, due to suppression of flights at different times during 
the year for political reasons:  Cyprus negotiations were 
early in the year, the Athens Olympics were in the summer, 
and the EU Summit that considered when to begin Turkey's 
accession negotiations was in December.  However, operational 
requirements necessitated more frequent training and 
exercises than was possible last year, he said. 
 
3. (C) Sislioglu noted that TGS was growing increasingly 
irritated by the incessant Greek complaints in the media 
about airspace violations that are really just aircraft 
entering the Athens FIR (something permitted under ICAO 
rules).  (He allowed that at times a TUAF plane might 
actually violate Greek airspace, but the irritation was not 
over complaints about those.)  In 2003, Turkey unilaterally 
reduced the number of its Aegean flights and began 
registering its daily flight schedule with NATO, "which means 
Greece also receives it."  Greece has not reciprocated with 
any positive step, he complained -- Greece still launches 
aircraft to intercept Turkish planes and still tags the 
Turkish aircraft on their radar as enemies.  When he visited 
Athens in mid-February, Greek officers admitted that the 
Hellenic Air Force releases statistics to the media, thus 
feeding the stories.  TGS' irritation was sufficient to 
warrant a review of whether the 2003 practices should 
continue.  PolMilCouns counseled patience. 
 
4. (C) On a more positive note, Sislioglu confirmed that the 
CBMs he had previewed for us last month (ref b -- mainly 
academy and staff colleges exchanges) were progressing.  In 
addition, the two sides have agreed to a June visit to Greece 
by Turkish Land Forces Commander GEN Buyukanit, the Greeks 
would send a ship to participate in the Marmaris Festival in 
late April, and the Turkish Stars aerobatics team would 
perform at an international air show in Tanagra AB (near 
Larisa) September 10.  Turkish Stars had canceled a scheduled 
appearance in Izmir to accommodate the show, Sislioglu 
observed. 
 
5. (C) Despite our counsel, TGS on March 31 posted the 
following item on its web site, alleging Greek harassment of 
Turkish planes and violation of Turkish territorial waters: 
 
Begin informal Embassy translation of TGS text: 
 
Harassment of Greek Warplanes and Violation of Karasuyu 
Territorial Water by the Greek Coast Guard Boat 
(Appeared in the TGS web site on March 31st) 
 
 
While Turkish warplanes were carrying out their routine 
flights over international air space, which is open for all 
state planes in Aegean Sea, for different training purposes 
on different times on March 25th, they were prevented by the 
Greek armed warplanes and harassed on ground of violating the 
FIR. 
 
On the mentioned date, two Greek F-4 planes which had taken 
off from Limni Square harassed two Turkish Air Force F-4 
planes in international airspace northwest of Chios, 
endangering their flight safety by approaching within 1000 
feet of them at 12:53. 
 
On the same day, two Greek M-2000 planes which had taken off 
from Skyros Square harassed two Turkish F-16 planes in 
international airspace west of Chios, endangering their 
flight safety by approaching within 1000 feet of them at 
13:05. The two Greek M-2000 planes, which took off from 
Skyros Square, have violated Turkish airspace in the 
Karaburun region between 12:48-12:50. As it is known, 
international agreements don't stipulate that state planes 
must file flight plans when they fly in international 
airspace. 
Moreover, a Greek Coast Guard boat violated our territorial 
waters in Kardak region at 11:00 on March 30, 2005. A 
patrolling Turkish Coast Guard boat went to the said region 
and warned the Greek Coast Guard boat to leave the area. 
Despite all the warnings, the Greek Coast Guard boat did not 
leave the area and continued standing still. 
 
After the mentioned Greek Coast Guard boat finally left the 
area towards Kelemez Island at 13:15, the Turkish Coast Guard 
boat left the area. 
 
The Turkish Coast Guard boat has acted cautiously not to 
cause a crisis and controlled the area without intervening 
until the Greek boat left the area. 
 
End text. 
 
6. (C) Comment:  Disputes between Turkey and Greece over 
Aegean airspace violations are nothing new.  We raise the 
issue frequently with the GOT.  But Greece and Turkey have 
different views of air space management -- Athens wants 
flight plans for aircraft in its FIR although ICAO rules 
exempt national aircraft from the requirement; the Greeks 
claim 10 rather than 6 NM of territorial air space although 
no one recognizes that claim.  Therefore, complaints will 
likely continue.  And, the Turks are indeed ramping up their 
activity after suppressing it for a specific reason -- in 
this case, the EU Summit where Turkey's eventual membership 
was hanging in the balance.  That said, even Greek Embassy 
officials in Ankara characterize their periodic formal 
protests to MFA as "routine."  Despite the exchange of words, 
we are encouraged that Ankara and Athens nonetheless seem to 
be taking additional, albeit small, steps to expand their 
mil-mil contacts.  End comment. 
EDELMAN