US embassy cable - 05ISTANBUL1968

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001968 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR, EUR/SE, EUR/ACE AND EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2015 
TAGS: ECIN, ETRD, TU, PREL, Istanbul 
SUBJECT: DOD A/S FLORY'S BSEC CONSULTATIONS 
 
 
Classified By: Consul General Deborah K. Jones, Reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: In an extended November 11 briefing and 
subsequent private meeting with Ambassador Tedo Japaridze, 
Secretary General of the Organization for Black Sea Economic 
 
SIPDIS 
Cooperation, visiting DOD Assistant Secretary for 
International Security Policy Peter Flory explored areas 
where the United States can use its newly-obtained 
observership to make a "practical and valuable" contribution 
to the organization.  Flory noted that the USG is in the 
process of establishing the inter-agency process to guide its 
BSEC participation, but outlined DOD's interest in such 
topics as border and maritime security, WMD, and other "soft 
security" topics.  He stressed that other U.S. agencies will 
be focused on other topics as well.  Japaridze welcomed the 
U.S. role and expressed the hope that it would help further 
his efforts to make the organization "energetic and 
efficient."  Privately, he noted that the U.S. will have to 
work carefully with leading members such as Turkey and 
particularly Russia to address their suspicions about its 
desire to play a role in the region.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) In the November 11 briefing with Flory and his 
delegation, Japaridze was joined by his deputies, Atai 
fendiev of Azerbeijan and Andrey Urnov of Russia, as well as 
the organization's executive manager Stefana Greavu. 
Japaradize expressed pleasure with the recent decision by the 
BSEC Council of Ministers to approve the United States' 
request for observer status, and looked forward to the U.S. 
bringing new ideas and projects to the table.  This should 
further his efforts to make the organization "more energetic 
and efficient," he said.  Urnov took the opportunity to 
remind Flory and his delegation of BSEC's by-laws, by which 
observers are required to make a "practical and valuable 
contribution" to the organization.  Japaridze added that as 
an observer the United States will be invited to all 
organization working groups and conferences.  He provided a 
draft program of activities for the upcoming Romanian 
chairmanship, which he said would be approved at a "Troika" 
meeting later in the day.  (Summary in para 5; complete text 
also available on ConGen Istanbul's classified website.) 
 
3. (C) Flory expressed appreciation for the Secretary 
General's support for the U.S.'s observer request, as well as 
pleasure at being the first visiting American official to 
call on the organization following its approval.  He noted 
that he had had the opportunity to discuss BSEC issues in the 
context of his earlier defense consultations in Ankara, and 
that DOD is eager to explore working with BSEC as part of its 
"Black Sea Strategy" to address such soft security issues as 
counter terrorism, border and maritime security and WMD.  He 
noted that the Turks have some concerns about this interest, 
fearing that it will bring too heavy a U.S. military 
footprint in its wake, but emphasized that this is not the 
intent.  He added that the USG is only now putting into place 
its interagency structure for addressing BSEC issues, and 
that other agencies will come forward with other interests as 
well. 
 
4. (C) In a subsequent private conversation with Flory and 
his delegation, Japaridze conceded that some BSEC members 
harbor suspicions about the U.S.'s interest in the 
organization.  "It will depend on how you approach them," he 
said, advising that the U.S. would be well advised to work 
bilaterally with BSEC members before raising proposals or 
ideas in its multilateral fora.  He stressed that the 
organization is currently working on a range of issues, that 
encompass not just soft security, but also economic 
development, including electrical transmission, air traffic, 
and disaster response.  He expressed pleasure that Flory was 
visiting BSEC headquarters even as EUR DAS Bryza was 
consulting with the Russians in Moscow on BSEC issues. 
 
5. (U) Excerpts from the Program of Upcoming Activities 
(complete list available on the Congen Istanbul classified 
web site): 
 
Seminar on Tourism: "Bring BSEC closer to Europe: Train the 
Trainers Tourism Program, 6-17 November, Athens 
 
Seminar on SME, 7-10 November, Israel 
 
Meeting of the Working Group on Transports, 8-9 November, 
PERMIS Headquarters 
 
International Seminar in the field of Agriculture, 10-11 
November, Chisinau 
 
Annual Seminar on the implementation of the Agreement on 
collaboration regarding emergency disaster assistance, 13-15 
December, Sofia 
 
Meeting of the Ad-hoc Group of Experts on custom Services, 
February 2006, PERMIS Headquarters 
 
Meeting of the Working Group on environmental protection, 
preceding the Ministerial, 1-2 March 2006, Bucharest 
 
Meeting of the Ministers of Environment, 3 March 2006, 
Bucharest 
 
Meeting of the working Group on Transports, preceding the 
Ministerial Meeting, 13-14 March 2006, Bucharest 
 
Meeting of the Ministers of Transport, accompanied by a 
Business Forum, 15 March 2006, Bucharest 
 
Common Meeting on the Working Group on combating organized 
crime and of Liaison Officers' Network, 23 March 2006, 
Bucharest 
Meeting of the Ministers of Interior/Public Order, 24 March 
2006, Bucharest 
 
Meeting of the Working Group on Energy, March 2006, Bucharest 
 
Regional Conference on Energy, March 2006, Bucharest 
 
Meeting of the Working Group on Tourism, April 2006, Tulcea, 
Romania 
 
Meeting of the Working Group on emergency assistance in case 
of disasters, April 2006, Bulgaria 
 
Ad-hoc Group of experts on Draft memorandum of 
recommendations in the sphere of development of shipbuilding, 
ship repairing, and shipping, April 2006, Odessa 
 
6. (U) This cable was not cleared by ASD Flory or his party. 
JONES