US embassy cable - 02ANKARA8373

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 008373 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR P, EUR AND PM; JCS FOR VCJCS, J5 LTG CASEY AND 
J3; OSD FOR ASD RODMAN AND ASD CROUCH; CENTCOM FOR POLAD 
AND J5 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2012 
TAGS: MOPS, MARR, PREL, TU, UK, AF 
SUBJECT: ISAF COMMANDER MG ZORLU'S VISIT TO THE US - 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEETINGS WITH USG OFFICIALS 
 
(U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch. 
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  See para 5. 
 
 
2. (C) MFA DDG for South Asian Affairs Aydin Evirgen recently 
informed Deputy Pol-Mil Counselor that ISAF Commander MG 
Zorlu would be traveling to the US November 20-26 to meet 
with USG and UN officials and private organizations to 
discuss Turkey's experience as ISAF lead nation and the 
general security situation in Afghanistan.  Zorlu is 
scheduled to be in Washington November 21-22 and in New York 
November 25-26.  Evirgen said the visit was MG Zorlu's idea, 
but stressed that it enjoyed widespread support within the 
Turkish General Staff (TGS) and the MFA. (TGS Navy Captain 
Sinani separately told Deputy Pol-Mil Counselor November 15 
that the TGS leadership supported the visit as an opportunity 
to increase awareness in the US of the role that Turkey is 
playing in Afghanistan and in the larger global war on 
terrorism.) 
 
 
3. (C) Evirgen said the Turkish Embassy in Washington was 
attempting to schedule meetings with senior USG officials and 
asked that the Embassy support these efforts.  According to 
Evirgen, the Turkish Embassy initially requested appointments 
with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, but has since learned the two will be in 
Prague for the NATO Summit.  The Turkish Embassy reportedly 
is now trying to schedule meetings with the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense and VCJCS Gen Pace.  Evirgen also noted that the 
MFA believed it would be a good idea for MG Zorlu to meet 
with a senior State Department official and said he would ask 
the Turkish Embassy in Washington to request a meeting with 
U/S Grossman. 
 
 
4. Comment: Given that MG Zorlu has been stationed in Kabul 
since June and focusing his attention on ISAF-related issues, 
we do not expect him to initiate discussion with USG 
officials on Iraq, nor do we expect him to be intimately 
familiar with the details of the discussions between US and 
Turkish officials on Iraq. 
 
 
5. (C) Action request:  The Embassy strongly supports the 
visit of MG Zorlu to the US and recommends that the 
Department of Defense (OSD and JCS) and the State Department 
receive MG Zorlu at the highest possible level.  By all 
accounts, MG Zorlu -- who was hand-picked by TGS CHOD Ozkok 
-- has done an excellent job as ISAF commander since taking 
over in June.  By receiving Zorlu at an appropriately high 
level, the USG can reinforce the importance we attach to the 
strategic partnership and our appreciation for Turkey's 
performance as ISAF lead nation. 
 
 
PEARSON