US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6323

UNCLAS ANKARA 006323 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MOPS, KPKO, PREL, TU, FR, AF, NATO 
SUBJECT: ISAF: TURKEY AND FRANCE AGREE TO SHARED COMMAND OF 
KABUL MULTINATIONAL BRIGADE 
 
 
1. On Oct. 18, PolMilOff discussed with COL Yakub Battal of 
the TGS J3 the state of play of negotiations between France 
and Turkey on their proposal to jointly command ISAF's Kabul 
Multinational Brigade beginning in mid-2006.  Battal reported 
that France and Turkey have reached agreement, and would 
announce this at a joint briefing in Paris on Oct. 21. 
 
2. Battal faxed the following notification to the Embassy the 
same day.  Informal Embassy translation follows (note 
internal paragraph numbering): 
 
BEGIN TEXT 
 
Reference: French General Staff's fax of September 22, 2005 
 
1. Meetings were held on September 7, 2005 in Ankara and on 
October 14, 2005 in Paris between Turkey and France related 
to the Kabul Regional Command, which is to be established in 
summer 2006. 
 
2. As a result of the meetings, Turkey and France reached a 
mutual understanding to serve as the leadership countries for 
the Kabul Regional Command. 
 
3. Information will be provided at a briefing on October 21, 
2005 in Paris, France, to be co-chaired by Turkey and France. 
 France has sent an invitation for the meeting by letter and 
through the Defense Attache Offices in Paris. 
 
4. Our country will be pleased to contribute to the Kabul 
Regional Command. 
 
END TEXT 
MCELDOWNEY